I woke up with a pounding headache, which was a clear sign of a hangover. The sound of giggling and whispers outside my bedroom door made me groan internally. It was a routine for my children, Sir, Rumi, and Blue, to come and wake me up with breakfast in bed on Saturdays, just like how it was when their father was living with us. I forced a smile on my face as they burst into the room, carrying a tray with pancakes, bacon, and orange juice.
"Rise and shine, Mommy!" they exclaimed in unison, their grinning faces radiating with joy and enthusiasm.
"Good morning, my little munchkins," I replied, grateful for their thoughtfulness but also dreading the noise and chaos that would inevitably follow. I tried to sit up, but the throbbing in my head intensified, forcing me to lie back down.
"Did you have fun last night, Mommy?" Rumi asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
I chuckled weakly, trying to play off my hangover. "Yes, sweetie, I had a great time."
Sir nudged his sister, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "Did you dance like Tinkerbell again, Mommy?" he teased.
I shot him a playful glare, knowing full well that I was the life of the party when I had one too many drinks. They giggled, knowing exactly what he was talking about.
"mhm.. you know it, I even threw in a little Fortnite dance you taught me." I winked.
As I watched, Blue broke into a broad smile and began to mimic her brother's moves as he danced to the beat of Fortnite's music. Rumi, on the other hand, struggled to keep up, but she was determined to participate in the fun. Despite her lack of coordination, Rumi's efforts were endearing and made the moment all the more comical. I couldn't help but chuckle as I watched my babies engage in their playful shenanigans.
"Okay kiddos, did y'all do your chores today?" I said softly, watching to see their response.
Sir and Rumi both nodded eagerly, proud of themselves for completing their tasks. Blue, however, looked guilty as she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Mommy. I forgot to feed the fish," she confessed, her lower lip trembling.
I reached out and ruffled her hair. "It's okay, Blue. Just make sure you do it after breakfast, okay?"
She nodded quickly, relief flooding her small features. The three of them sat on either side of me, digging into their breakfast with gusto. I couldn't help but feel grateful for these little angels, no matter how chaotic they made my life.
As they chattered away, my phone rang. I glanced down, recognizing the number on the screen. It was their father, Jay, calling to check in. I answered with a forced cheeriness, trying to discreetly get him off the phone. I didn't want my children to hear his broken promises and excuses.
"Hey...Good morning." I said, trying to keep my voice light.
Jay was smiling from the other line I could tell by the tonality in his voice. His raspy Brooklyn New York accent always found a way to pull me in.
"Good morning Ma... how are you? the kids?" he asked, his voice so loving.
I leaned back onto my pillow cushions in my bed and sighed. I could tell he was about to go on a tangent and speak about how much he wished he was home.
"the kids are good," I said dryly. "I am too... we are living a good life."
"oh okay... I...uhh I miss you, and the kids Bey. It's good to hear from you. I've been trying to reach out to you for months." Jay said.
I wanted to tell him the truth but I just couldn't. I wanted him to know that I loved him but I hated talking to him. I hated that he broke our family apart and I wished he would have handled the situation differently.
