Chapter 18
"Katherine, you sure you don't mind?" Mathew asked again, fingers lightly drumming the steering wheel as he pulled out of the hotel parking lot.
Katherine quickly glanced at her phone and sighed. She was late. Checking the supplied materials for the hotel had taken her time that she didn't know when the time passed. "I already said I don't. Besides, you offered." She rolled her eyes. Mathew can be — sometimes.
Mathew chuckled lightly. "You're acting like I dragged you into the car forcefully," slightly turning his head to her.
Katherine leaned back into the seat, her hand massaging the side of her head as she released a tired sigh. "I just hope the nanny doesn't skin me alive with her nagging for being late," she laughed. "I didn't give her a heads up that I'd be late."
"Before she does, I'll take the blame. So she can roast me before you," he joked with his boyish charming grin.
Katherine rolled her eyes playfully. "Please don't. The last thing I need is her thinking I stayed back flirting with my boss."
Mathew laughed, the sound light in the car between them. "Well, I don't mind the flirting part," he winked. "But you stayed back being extremely professional, even when your boss asked if you wanted coffee and you immediately rejected like I offered you poison."
"Because I knew that 'coffee' meant a full-blown conversation," she shot back with a grin. And it was true. From a single discussion, they would forget about the time and talk about everything yet nothing tangible.
When they pulled up in front of Katherine's apartment, the nanny was already standing by the door, her arms folded against it as her lips pursed in a thin line.
"Uh oh," Mathew muttered.
"Told you," Katherine groaned, stepping out quickly. "I'm so—"
"You're late." The nanny's voice was flat, and Katherine could only nod sheepishly.
"I'm so sorry for the delay. I was checking in the new supplies that I forgot. I'm so sorry once again," Katherine bowed a little, apologising profusely.
"It's okay, Ms Prescott. I understand but next time, please do let me know if I'm to stay some minutes more."
"Okay ma'am, I'm sorry."
"Good evening, Miss Janet." Mathew walked to Katherine's side, smiling, the corner of his eyes twinkling. "I take full responsibility," Mathew chimed in, raising his hands in mock surrender.
Janet's face melted into a knowing smile. "No problem sir, Miss Prescott. The kids have had their dinner and they've been waiting."
Katherine clasped her hands in apology. "Thank you so much. I owe you."
"Just go and see your babies," the nanny waved her off.
"Don't take the blame for making me late," she muttered, lightly smacking his arm.
He raised an eyebrow. "It is my hotel you're working at, that means it's me that delayed you."
Before she could say more, the door was yanked open.
"Uncle Mathew!" Jasmine screamed, rushing out with Hanith trailing behind.
Mathew bent quickly and lifted them both into the air. "Whoa! My favourite little humans! Look how big you've grown!"
"You still saw us that day," Jasmine said, and Mathew laughed.
"Yeah, my bad." Mathew replied, setting them down and pulling out two small packages from his bag. "Surprise!"
"Gifts!" Jasmine squealed excitedly, her eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Uncle Mathew!" Hanith added softly, smiling shyly.
"Alright, kids," Mathew ruffled their heads. "Time for me to leave before your mom kicks me."
Katherine rolled her eyes, shaking her head amusedly, "Goodnight, Mathew."
"Night, Kat. Night, munchkins."
The moment he left, Jasmine folded her arms, pouting as she stared at Katherine accusingly. "Mom, you are late."
"I know, baby. I'm sorry." Katherine scooped her up, kissing her cheek. "Let me make it up to you with storytime, hmm?"
She gathered them into the bathroom, bathed and changed them into their favourite pyjamas, then led them to the bedroom. The twins crawled under the soft blanket, giggling and tugging at the blanket.
Katherine sat at the edge of the bed, flipping open the nighttime storybook, her voice soft and animated as she started, "Once upon a time, there was mama bear and baba bear who went to the market and—"
"Mommy?"
"Uhn, Jas," Katherine answered as she lifted her head to look at Jasmine.
"Why don't we have a daddy?"
Katherine blinked, her throat suddenly got dry as her eyes flickered at the abrupt question. "What?"
Jasmine pouted, her eyes downcasted. "All the kids in my class have both a mommy and daddy. Even Hanith said so. Only me and my brother don't." And Hanith nodded slowly in agreement.
Katherine was short of words, she didn't know her children would feel like that. Her chest tightened. "My babies… your father—"
"Did our daddy leave because we were bad?" Jasmine asked in a lower voice.
"No!" Katherine said a bit too quickly, her voice rising more than intended.
Jasmine flinched, and Katherine immediately softened. She tucked Jasmine's hair behind her ear, cupping her cheeks.
"You're not bad. You hear me? You're my miracle. The best thing that ever happened to me. Just because you don't have a daddy doesn't mean you're bad."
"But kids say only bad children don't have daddies," Jasmine whispered.
Katherine pulled both of them into a hug, voice trembling. "Well, those kids are wrong. And anyone who says that again, you come to me, alright? You are loved. You are wanted."
"But mommy... why don't we have a daddy?"
Katherine felt her heart pulled in a wrench, her arms trembling. "I'm enough. I'm your mommy and your daddy. I promise to protect you, love you, always."
Jasmine blinked, her face scrunched with confusion. "But daddy is a man and you're not a man."
"Jasmine!" Katherine raised her voice, wanting her to drop the daddy issue. "I don't want to hear about daddy stuff anymore. It's forbidden."
Jasmine paused, looking sad, tears spilling out of her eyes.
Seeing the tears, Katherine came to herself and sighed out. "I'm so sorry, baby. Mommy is sorry. Daddy's issue... it's complicated now."
"Complicated?" Jasmine tried to mimic the word, frowning.
"Yes, sweetie. Complicated."
Katherine sighed in relief when she saw the twins staring at each other then nodded. She smiled thinking it was over, then Jasmine giggled suddenly. "You know what, mommy? You can tell Uncle Mathew to be our daddy."
"What?" Katherine laughed awkwardly.
"His girlfriend won't like that, baby."
"what about Uncle Piano?" Hanith said in a small voice. His hand clutching the blanket, adorably.
Katherine stiffened. "Uncle Piano is married."
"But he likes us," Jasmine chirped. "He plays with us. He can be our daddy."
"Okay, okay," Katherine turned off the bedside lamp. "No more daddy talk. Let me dream of finding one for you."
"We want Uncle Piano!" Jasmine and Hanith said in unison.
She laughed lightly. "Okay okay, sleep now. There's school tomorrow."
"Okay, mommy."
"Good night, buds."
"Good night, mommy."
Katherine leaned over and kissed their foreheads, staying there a little longer than usual. As she closed the door halfway, she pressed a hand to her chest.
Her babies were growing. And they were beginning to ask questions she wasn't ready to answer.