Page 152 of From Rivals to I Do

“Mommy, Leonard made some breakfast and took care of me. He also says he likes you, and he will not make you cry,” she says with so much enthusiasm.

“Did he now?” Rayne asks, raising a sleepy eyebrow. “Did you thank him for taking care of you while Mommy was asleep?”

Still, on her mom’s lap, she turns to face me.

“Thank you, Leo.”

“You’re welcome,” I respond, smiling at her.

There’s a knock on the door and I walk over to open it. It is the delivery guy.

“Rayne, breakfast is here!” I call excitedly.

“Shouldn’t we be preparing for work?” Rayne asks as I walk back into the room.

“Errr… I own the company,” I say, smirking.

“I need to get a new job as soon as possible to avoid running this business down,” Rayne laughs.

I set the French toast down on the table, and get plates for Rayne and me. I bring Charlee’s breakfast over and set it in front of her. I suddenly remember the

picture again, and this time I know where I have seen that face before.

The CCTV footage that the police had shared with me of the accident that led to my mother’s death!

“May I ask you a question?” I ask, facing Rayne.

“Most definitely,” she smiles.

“Charlee showed me a picture this morning, and I have a couple of questions. Charlee, can you please bring the picture?” I ask, turning to Charlee.

Charlee runs to grab the picture and hands it over to me.

“When was this picture taken?”

“This was a day or two after Charlee was born. The doctors had discharged her because the hospital needed bed space for kids but not me. I had suffered

complications, so I was still in the hospital. Reece, my husband, would bring her and take her back home every day, but he came back later than usual that day,

actually, saying something about an accident.”

“Errr, I have to go.” I am up in an instant and walk towards the couch to pack my things.

“What happened? What’s going on? Something is definitely wrong,” she says, trying to catch my eye.

“I think Charlee is the baby my mother tried to save that led to her death,” I say without looking at her.

“Charlee?” Her voice sounds incredulous as if she is still trying to process the information. “Reece never mentioned anyone dying. He just said there was an

accident, and someone saved our child. Why did I believe him? He was always high half of the time. I just thought the child will put him in a good place. Reece is the reason your mother is dead?”

I walk towards her to hug her. I am supposed to be the one being comforted but right now I am comforting her. “Don’t beat yourself up about it. At least

Charlee is alive and well. My Mom’s death wasn’t in vain. I’ve longed to somehow meet the child she died to save and here I am. But, right now, I need time to

deal with this information and process it a bit.”

I leave.

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