Chapter 143: Mommy

Chapter 143: Mommy "We’re here, Josh," Ryan announced cheerfully, as the driver finally pulled the car into a wide parking lot, and turned off the engine. Abigail saw a large school building with colorful walls. A tall gate stood open as parents led their children inside. Some wore neat uniforms. Abigail unbuckled her seatbelt and got out quickly to get Josh out of the car before Ryan could do so. Josh slid out of his seat, holding Abigail’s hand a little tighter than usual, but Abigail didn’t notice. Genevieve’s car pulled up behind them, and soon Jamal and Genevieve joined them. Jamal walked behind Genevieve, but his eyes were on Josh, who now held Abigail’s hand tightly. Josh’s grip grew tighter as they neared the school gates. "Are you coming inside with me?" he asked, looking up at her with hopeful eyes. Abigail knelt beside him and kissed his cheek. She smiled and nodded, her eyes warm as she sighed. [Of course. I should see what the inside of your school looks like.] Josh nodded bravely. But when Ryan came to take his other hand, Josh pulled back a little. "I want to go in with Abi first," he said, his voice firm. Ryan looked taken aback but said nothing, and Genevieve chuckled softly, covering her mouth with a hand. "Well, I guess not all parental bonds can easily be broken by deceit," Genevieve said, impressed, earning her a glare from Ryan. "Watch your words," Ryan warned before glancing at Jamal, who was pretending not to listen. Ryan couldn’t help but wonder why Jamal bothered to get out of the car instead of waiting inside. But he didn’t ask any question as he returned his attention back to Josh and Abigail. "Well, since you don’t want me to take you in, I will go in to finish signing the necessary documents while Abi will escort you to your class," Ryan said and walked away. Abigail glanced at Jamal briefly before turning to go in with Josh. "Have a good first day at school, Josh," Genevieve called to Josh with a wave, and then he smiled at her and waved back. Jamal waved too, and Josh hesitantly waved back at him before walking away with Abigail. Together, they walked through the gate and up the clean path leading to the school entrance. The building was tall and cheerful, with smiling teachers standing by the doors. A young lady in a navy blue suit came forward to greet them. "Welcome! You must be Josh," she said with a pleasant smile. Josh gave a shy nod, and Abigail smiled warmly at the woman. "We’ve been expecting you. And you are?" The lady asked Abigail, assuming she was his nanny. Josh looked up at Abigail and noticed her hesitance as though she was trying to figure out how best to introduce herself. Abigail took out her phone to type her name, but before she could, Josh spoke. "My mommy can’t speak. Her name is Abigail," Josh informed her, and Abigail’s heart skipped a beat as she looked down at Josh. He knew she was his mother? How? Did he follow the conversation over breakfast and pretended not to? Why did he tell the lady that she was his mother? Wouldn’t that contradict whatever else Ryan had told the school? Abigail gazed at Josh, wondering what was happening, but she returned her attention to the lady when she got over her initial shock and started speaking again. "Oh? I didn’t realize..." the lady trailed off, looking at Abigail with an unreadable expression. "It’s a secret," Josh told the woman, placing a finger on his lips. Realizing that the woman might be thinking she was Ryan’s mistress and shamelessly had Josh for an old man like Ryan, Abigail quickly typed on her phone. [Please do not mention this to anyone. My Dad would be pissed if he finds out the truth got out. He prefers people refer to Josh as his son not his grandson.] The lady frowned again as she read the text, even more confused now, but instead of asking any questions to clear her confusion, she nodded. "Come this way, please," the lady said, leading them into the school. Abigail kept glancing at Josh as they walked down the halls which were bright and sparking clean. Children’s drawings hung on the walls. The lady stopped outside Josh’s class and gestured for Josh to go in, but Abigail didn’t release Josh immediately. She typed on her phone instead and showed it to the lady. [I need to have a word with him before he goes in.] The lady nodded and excused them, and then Abigail turned back to Josh. [Why did you tell her that I’m your Mommy?] Abigail signed, watching him closely. Josh looked up at Abigail. His eyes were big and calm. He didn’t look scared. He didn’t look sorry. He just looked sure. "Because you are my mommy," he said in a small, clear voice. Abigail’s chest tightened. Her lips parted just a little, but no sound came out. Judging by his confidence, she wasn’t so sure he only found out that morning. She signed again as she crouched so could be at the same eye level with him. [Did you find out today while we were talking during breakfast?] Josh shook his head. [But... you’ve never said that before. I thought you didn’t know.] Abigail signed again. Before Josh could respond, the bell rang across the hall and all the kids and teachers started going into their classes. [You need to go in now. We can continue this discussion later.] Josh looked up at Abigail with a smile and squeezed her hands before signing to her, [I don’t mind that you can’t speak. I like signing with you like this.] Abigail stared at him, eyes blinking slowly as her heart filled with something warm and heavy. She bent and pulled him into a hug. Josh let himself sink into her arms. He didn’t pull back quickly. He stayed for a bit, then looked up. "Can I call you mommy instead of Abi when no one is there?" Abigail felt her throat tighten. She nodded and hugged him again, tighter this time. Then she pulled back and signed, [You are the smartest, kindest boy I know.] Josh smiled at her as she let go of him. "And bravest?" Abigail laughed silently, [Yes. And bravest.] Abigail hugged him tightly again. Her throat ached. She didn’t want to let go. He whispered, "I’ll be brave." [You already are,] she signed back, blinking quickly. Abigail squeezed Josh’s hand once more before she straightened up. Josh gave her a grin and walked inside, where a smiling teacher welcomed him and pointed to a little desk. Abigail stood outside the door for a long moment. She saw Josh sit down and glance back at her. She waved. He waved back. Then the door closed gently. Abigail stepped away slowly, her heart full. She turned and walked down the hall and out of the building with an extra spring in her steps. She knew that Ryan would be pissed with this new development, but she didn’t care. Josh was her son, and he had as much right to have her actively in his life as his mother. If he preferred to call her Mommy instead of Abigail, then she would joyfully accept it. The only problem she had was that she hoped he didn’t think if she was mommy and Ryan was daddy, then that meant his family was complete. Seeing how smart he was, she figured she could talk to him about certain things so that things would be easier when the time came to take him away from Ryan. "Are you ready to leave now?" Jamal, who was standing outside the car waiting for Abigail, while Genevieve was seated inside, asked as Abigail approached the car. Abigail held his gaze as she gave him a nod, knowing that he wasn’t just asking that but was trying to see if they were cool again. She signed. [I know I probably overreacted yesterday. I’m sorry I’m being this way when you left everything else to be here with me this way.] Jamal smiled, grateful that she had apologized. "I understand. Let’s talk when we can." Abigail nodded, and then she paused and looked around, noticing now that Ryan’s car was no longer there. "He left already," Jamal said, guessing she was looking for Ryan. Abigail smirked and then she went around the car to get in. She raised a brow when Jamal followed her but before he could open the back door she got into the passenger seat. Genevieve who had been engrossed on her phone looked up when she heard the door open and close. She wasn’t surprised to see Abigail in the front seat. "Has he settled into his class?" Genevieve asked, and Abigail turned in her seat and gave her a nod. Abigail then typed on her phone. [Thank you.] "Sure," Genevieve said as Jamal got into his seat, and started the car.