Rowan’s Decision
EPISODE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN
THEME: Rowan’s decision
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, USA.
Raven cried persistently, her cries seeping through the walls of the bathroom to the room. Despite her attempt to muffle the sound just to prevent her son from hearing, Rowan laid on the bed pretending to be asleep and he could hear her cries. This had become a regular pattern for her every night, she would cry for some long minutes, at times she would remain there close to an hour just shedding tears.
The little boy was getting tired of his mother’s consistent sadness and wished he could tell it to someone. He had thought of informing his father about it but Rowan knew better. He had seen the tension and heard the stiffness in their voices whenever they were together. Rowan loves his mother, he knew how much she endures to make sure he was fine. And he had never seen her so disheartened before. He felt her weight when she returned to the bed, noticing her attempt to move close to him and Rowan pretended to be deep in sleep.
Raven kissed his forehead before turning her back to sleep. Rowan waited to hear her deep slumber breath, it took time as she was heaving a whole lot of time. But he waited patiently till he could hear her snoring lightly.
Stepping down from the bed to prevent waking her up. He tiptoed carefully even though the room was a bit dark but just the little bedside lamp that she always left on for him to see was on.
Rowan crawled his way out of the room, opening the door with caution before stepping into the living room. He found the switch with his little hands and made sure the light wouldn’t stay on for too long. He didn’t want his mother to stir and notice the light from the living room. He had only switched it on to find his iPad.
Grabbing it from the dining table, he sat on the floor musing on what to do. Then a thought struck him-He knew his grandma’s contact off head. Punching the keypads and he dialed her line.
The phone rang for a long while before it was picked on the other end.
‘Hello.’ Eva’s sleepy voice rang into the receiver.
‘Grandma!’ Rowan whispered yelled in excitement.
‘Rowan! Rowan baby, is that you?!’ Eva sat up on the bed abruptly.
Rowan nodded his head along as if she could see him. ‘Yes grandma it’s me. How are you doing grandma? I have missed you so much.’
Eva gasped out as tears clouded her vision. ‘I have missed you so much too my baby. How are you and how is your mom? Is she there with you? Let me speak to her!’ She bombarded him with requests.
‘She isn’t fine grandma, keep your voice down. Mummy doesn’t know I am calling you.’ He whispered looking towards the door of the room.
‘So sorry baby. Tell me what’s wrong with your mom? Why isn’t she fine?’
‘Mom cries everyday because she misses Christopher and she is pregnant.’ He whispered.
‘What?!’ Eva exclaimed. ‘How did you know.’
‘I just heard her talking about it. Also I met with my dad. Grandma did you know Jacob Miller was my father? Can you believe it?’ He stated excitedly.
‘You met with your father?’ A whole lot must have happened to her daughter. Eva thought.
‘Yes, he stays here in Brooklyn with us. But he isn’t around at the moment, he is away at Europe for some business.’
‘Brooklyn? Wait a sec… how did your mom handle it?’
‘Mom wasn’t so happy to see dad but she let me see him and spend time with him. I asked if they could get married and be together. Mom said she can’t because she loves Christopher so much.’
‘She told you that?’
‘Yes she did. And she cries every night grandma. I don’t want to see mom so sad anymore. Can you do something? And I hope she doesn’t get mad at me for calling you.’
‘Oh no my baby. You did just the right thing. Do you know how grandma has been worried sick about you both? I have missed you so much Rowan!’
‘Me too grandma. I really wish to see you.’
‘Same here my baby. You are in Brooklyn right?’ She asked hoping her grandson won’t hide anything from her anymore.
‘Yes grandma… we are in New York.’
‘Do you know the address of your location?’
‘Yes grandma. Mom made me memorize it just in case the need arises for me to describe where I live.’
Eva chuckled. ‘That’s so thoughtful of her. Let me grab a pen real quick to write it down.’ She moved around a bit. ‘I got it. Let me have the address.’
‘We stay at house 156, Orange Street Brooklyn.’
‘Oh my God! You both are so far away from me.’ Eva lamented.
‘Will you be coming over grandma?’ He asked.
‘Yes my boy. But do me a favor don’t tell your mother till we come get you both tomorrow. We will like to make it a surprise.’
Rowan jumped up from where he sat. ‘You will be here tomorrow?’ Eva hummed a positive response. ‘Is that promise?’
‘I promise you my boy. Grandma loves you. Now go back to bed before your mommy takes note of you being awake.’
‘Okay grandma. Goodnight grandma. I love you.’ He said in a tight whisper.
‘Love you too baby.’
Rowan disconnected the call. His excitement knew no bounds as he thought of his grandmother’s arrival the next day. He promised himself to keep his cool till she arrives to surprise his mom. He knew she would be very happy.
Rowan placed the device back to where he had picked it from. He crawled back into the room, handling the door with caution.
Raven stirred when he climbed into the bed. She put on the lamp near her side.
“Rowan, baby are you okay.” She asked with a coarse tone. A proof that she had just woken up from a deep sleep.
Rowan nodded as he looked at her. “I am fine mom. I just went to pee.”
“Ok baby.” Raven opened her arms. “Come baby, come to mummy.”
Rowan crawled into her embrace, leaning into his mother’s warmth. “I love you mom.”
She kissed his forehead. “I love you too my baby.” Raven murmured into his hair as she inhaled the smell of his hair oil. “Goodnight baby.”
Sounding sleepy, Rowan whispered. “Yeah. Goodnight mummy.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
Raven kissed him again, feeling her little boy in her arms. She took in a deep breath, her thoughts wandering yet again. She hadn’t spoken to Tiana as of late, despite Tiana’s persistent calls. She had decided to not share her pains anymore. It seemed stupid to her; she wasn’t suppose to cry over Christopher but she couldn’t help it.
Raven wished so bad that she could share the news of her pregnancy with him. When Raven told Tiana about the pregnancy, Tiana had urged her to call him. But she had remained adamant and refused to do so. Instead she wallowed in self pity every night and cried her eyes out. She had tried to desist from it when Rowan had taken note but it didn’t stop. Raven even cried more of how pathetic she must have looked to the little boy.
Sniffing, Raven wiped away the single tear that rolled down her face. “It will be fine Raven. It will be fine.” She serenaded herself to sleep.