The next morning I woke up very early and left because I got a call from office telling me there was a problem. I didn't get to say good morning to my family. Though I made it a point to call them later in the day. There were some problems at our other branch abroad and it required me to travel. I decided to call the house to let know. Hope she picks up though.

"Hi Josie sorry I left early. But I need a favor.",I said immediately she answered the phone.

"What favor?",she asked.

"Uhmm.. I have a problem at my company abroad and am required so I was wondering if it was okay with you to watch the children for 2 weeks",I replied crossing my fingers that she would say yes.

"Its okay sir,I have no problem with that. The children will miss you though. When do you leave?",she said.

"Tonight ,I wont be able to say goodbye but I will call everyday.",I replied.

"Journey mercies to you sir",she said and hung up before I would say anything more.

Wow,she is back to the formalities. That really hurt.

I got ready to leave and promised myself to handle everything between us once I came back from my trip.

I woke up to start my day. I prepared breakfast and waiting for Matthew and the kids to come down but only the kids came down.

"Good morning babies",I said hugging them.

"Goodmorning Josie. Where is daddy?",they asked.

"Isn't he in his room?",I asked.

"No,he is not",they replied.

" I think he went to work early today",I replied.

I sat them in their seats and served them breakfast. I then went upstairs to pick Quisha. I got her ready and fed her. I was doing this but I kept thinking to myself why he left without word. Even if he didn't want to look at me ,he was making his children suffer too. I situated the children in the playroom and cleaned up.

Then the house phone rang. It was Matthew telling me he needed to travel abroad for 2 weeks. As much as I wanted to tell him I would miss him,I disguised it with the children missing him.

Why do I feel this way?. He cannot even think about me.

I decided that I needed to forget that night and move on. I will keep this relationship strictly professional. Instead of calling him Matthew ,I would call him sir. After the call,I got Toya and Leo ready for school.

After dropping them off,I went to the mall,to look around. I didn't want to be bored at home doing nothing. I picked out some new outfits for myself and the children on my budget. I didn't want to use the card Matthew gave me.

Martinez helped me with the bags since I had Quisha and we set off. I put Quisha down for her nap as I tried on my new outfits.

I prepared my lunch just a simple chicken salad and prepared mashed potatoes and peas for Quisha for when she woke up.

I watched a movie until Quisha woke up. I fed her,we played for sometime and then went to pick Toya and Leon from school. They were chatting away about their day until we got home.

"I have goodies for you two. You get them after you are done with your home,okay",I told them as we entered the house.

They immediately ran upstairs and got busy with their homework. I gave them snacks as I helped them with their work. After an hour of homework. We started on dinner. We made mexican rice,grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies on the side.

"Josie when will daddy call?",Toya asked.

"I don't know baby,but let's have dinner,shower,and watch a movie as we wait for daddy's call,yeah?",I replied.

We had dinner as the children told me more about their adventures for the day. Quisha was having crackers and milk. She refused to have her food. I helped the children with their night routine and then we lay in my bed for the movie.

Being the adult in the house. I decided we would all sleep in my bed just so I can keep an eye on them. The children slept off and Matthew hadn't called. Hope he is safe is all I thought to myself before sleeping.

I was rudely awakened by whimpering from Leon.

"Oohh baby what's wrong?,I said hugging him close to me.

"I am scared",he said through tears.

"Baby,what's scaring you?",I asked as I soothed him because I didn't want him waking the rest especially Quisha.

"she's going to hurt me",he said now crying uncontrollably. I got up from the bed with a crying Leon and went to another room.

"Who is going to hurt you baby?",I asked concerned. Leon has never had a melt down. He is the sweetest little four year old I know. Who would hurt him?.

"Mommy",he said clenching my pajama top tighter.

"Don't worry baby she wont hurt you. She is gone and I am here now to protect you,okay",I comforted him.

I rocked him and slowly sleep started to take over. That wretched woman why would she hurt a four year old. Her own child for that matter. Did Matthew know about this? I would talk to Toya and Leon tomorrow to find out more.

I carried Leon back to my room and that's when I realised he had wet his pajamas. I changed him and laid him on the dry side of the bed. I couldn't wake them to change the sheets so I lay on the couch. I could not sleep. My mind kept wondering back to Marion. I wish I could just rip her throat out for treating innocent children like that.

I didn't sleep at all. I woke up to prepare breakfast before the children woke up. After dropping them off to school,I came home and slept too as I put Quisha down for a nap.

After 2 hours,I woke up and started preparing lunch.

The phone rang. "Hi Josie,how are you guys?,sorry I didn't call yesterday ",Matthew said on the other side of the phone.

"Hi sir,we are fine,Toya and Leon were disappointed that you didn't call but they got over it. You can talk to Quisha",I replied holding the phone for her as she had a conversation with her dad which consisted of her blabbering 'dada'and giggling.

We had our lunch. A playdate in the playroom as we waited for Martinez to bring Toya and Leon from school.

As watched Quisha play,I was contemplating whether to ask Matthew if he knew about Marion hurting Leon. I decided I would ask Leon and Toya before talking Matthew.

"Jooossssiieeeee",Toya and Leon screamed in unison.

"In the playroom",I called out to them.

Then I was tackled into a hug. Quisha beamed when she saw her siblings.

"I missed you babies"I said kissing each of them.

"I missed you this much",Toya said gesturing with wide open arms.

"I miss you too Josie",Leon said as he buried his head in my chest.

"Okay ,let's freshen up,have a snack,do homework and have fun",I said.

They both ran to their rooms as I picked Quisha to go get their snacks ready. We ordered dinner because I wasn't in the mood to cook. During dinner,the children told me about their day. I cleaned up as they talked to Matthew. I helped them shower,brush their teeth and get into their pajamas.

It was time to talk to them.

"So babies,I have something I would like to know. But you tell me only if you are comfortable telling me,okay?",I asked. They both nodded.

"So...was mummy a nice mummy?,"I asked. They both looked at each other. Worry plastered on their innocent faces. It's like they were contemplating whether to trust me or not.

"It's okay if you are not ready to tell me now. When you are ready you can tell me",I said. They nodded.

It was cartoon day and they chose spongebob. In no time,they were knocked out. I watched them as they slept,thinking about what their innocent selves were keeping hidden about their mother. I would wait till they were ready to talk to me.

The two weeks went by fast.We spent the weekend at my mom's house and I think the children had a blast because they keep asking me when I will take them back.

Today Matthew is coming home. The children are so excited and asked me to help them bake a cake for his return. I am also happy he is coming home but also nervous.

Though we've been apart for two weeks I failed to erase that night from my head. I guess its a memory that will stick for good.

Matthew reached home at 6:00pm and the children went wild. They didn't want to let go of him,everyone wanted to tell him about all he had missed. And ofcourse he was more that willing to listen to his children. Quisha tired of all the fuss about her dad started reaching out for me. I didn't notice because I was busy looking at the gorgeous man infront of me.

"Did he get more handsome or do I just miss him.? "I thought to myself.

"Mama Mama",I was snapped out of my thoughts as Quisha called out.

Is she referring to me or is Marion here?.",I wondered. I looked around but no Marion.

That's when I realised she was reaching for me and was getting impatient. Everyone was staring at me. I picked her and kissed her nose. I felt like crying but managed to fight the tears.

"Josie how have you been? Thank you so much for everything",Matthew said finally breaking the intimidating silence.

"Fine sir and its nothing. Its part of my job.",I managed to say.

"That reminds me. We need to talk",he said as he proceeded upstairs to freshen up.

"Talk? About what? Is he firing me? Does he think I told Quisha to call me mama? Oh My God. What will I do now? I am going to look for a job again. Brittany was right nothing good can come my way." I said to myself mentally.

I don't know how long I stood there but my mind battle was cut short by Matthew saying,"Stop over thinking Josie. It doesn't suit you". Then he chuckled. I felt the blood rush to my face.

The children told him of our adventures, Showed him the new stuff I got them and ofcourse how I am the best. We tucked them in bed but I was nervous about the talk. We went downstairs to the living room. We both sat silently for some minutes.

"I just....",we both said at the same time.

"You go first",I offered.

"Nope,ladies first",he said.

How I missed his sexy voice. Back to reality I mentally slapped myself.

"Uhmm...I just wanted to say sorry about Quisha's blabber earlier. I promise I didn't teach her that.",I said nervously. "Please don't fire me..I...",I added.

"What nonsense Josie why would I fire you? Quisha feels you are her mum,she feels you love her that's why she called you that. That's why you were over thinking when I told you we needed to talk right?,Matthew said. I nodded.

"Josie,I feel indebted to you. I wouldn't manage without you".he added.

"I wanted to thank you for helping out with the children. And also to apologise for kissing you unawares last time. I feel you have been avoiding me and I don't want to strain our relationship" he said not breaking eye contact with me.

After what he said I didn't know what to feel. Happy that he still cares or angry that we would never have another moment. I was right he was just caught in the moment.

"Josie,you are over thinking again. Friends again?",He said as he held out his hand for me to shake.

"Friends",I smiled as I shook his hand.

"That doesn't mean the kiss meant nothing to me",he muttered as he stood up and went to his room.

Leaving me there in confusion. What did his statement mean? .

I went to bed hopping to forget that haunting statement.