Chapter 8

 

“Mommy.”

 

She was taken aback by the pleading voice of Minki.

 

“Have both of you had breakfast yet?” She tried to bring up a new subject for their morning chat.

 

They shook their heads.

 

“Why? Didn’t Yoona give you guys your breakfast?”

“I don’t want to eat that cereal again.” Minki said firmly, pouting his face as he always did whenever he didn’t like anything.

 

“Me, too.”

 

Tiffany sighed deeply, ‘Another problem.’ She said to herself, but today she wanted a peaceful mind with no argument with her kids, “Okay. No cereal. We eat something different today.” She said, but when she saw a spark of mischief in their eyes, she quickly added, “But we won’t leave the cereal behind tomorrow morning.” Both twins pouted there lips & groaned.

 

“Don’t give mommy your ugly face.” She pinched their noses lovingly, “Do you like waffles?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Yes, I want to.”

 

She smiled, shaking her head as she saw them sitting on their chairs quickly. Tiffany opened the fridge & took out the waffle box, put two in the toaster & waited.

 

When the waffles were ready, she put two dark chocolate waffles into their plates with syrup & then she asked, “Shall mommy help you with breakfast?” Minki & Minho shook their heads then reached out & took the fork.

 

“Okay, Mr. Independent. Help yourself.”

 

They grinned, putting a little piece of waffles into their mouths quickly.

 

“Is that good, Minki?”

 

Minki nodded his head with his mouth full of waffles.

 

“Eat slowly, will you?” She said, & then turned her head to see Minho who was eating his food slowly.

 

“Does it taste good, Min?”

 

Swallowing his food, Minho nodded, “Yes, mommy. It’s yummy.”

 

“Okay, I want to change before I go to work. Yoona will go out & will come back in eighty minutes from the grocery store so be good okay?”

 

“Mommy.”

 

Tiffany turned her head, smiling at Minki, “Yes, Minki?”

 

“Next five weeks is Christmas.”

 

“& our birthday, too.”

 

Her smile became wider. She knew her mischief son’s wanted to get their presents, “So?” She pretended not to know their aim by saying that. Her beautiful eyes rolled playfully.

 

“Nothing. I don’t want you to go to work today.” Minki groaned, playing with the fork, “I wish you could stay here with me & Min.”

 

“Oh, & you, Minho?”

 

Minho nodded slowly, “I wish for that too, mommy.”

 

It was always a wrench, leaving her son’s like this but being a single mother didn’t leave her much choice, did it? She needed to work to keep a roof over their heads. It didn’t stop her feeling guilty though & sometimes, she thought that perhaps she would feel like this for the rest of her son’s young life after they understood, “Mommy.”

 

It took a moment for Tiffany to realize the sad tones of her boys, “What is it? You two don’t sound happy. Forget Abraham Smith okay?” She came back to sit between them.

 

They kept silent, playing with the fork.

“It’s not only Abraham Smith, is it? Tell mommy, what is it?” She increased her voice a little bit as she was impatient to hear what they wanted.

 

Minho & Minki exchanged looks with each other.

 

Tiffany watched their puppy faces & suddenly, a cold feeling squeezed at her heart. Her brain was racing, ‘Something is in their minds.’ Her mind told her. She lowered her voice, “Is there something that mommy can help you guys with? What do you want for Christmas presents? I will buy it after work. Mommy got money yesterday so I can buy you some nice presents for Christmas & your birthday.”

 

“A daddy.” Minho said softly, almost like a whisper.

 

Her heart stopped beating. A daddy? Did she hear that clearly? For a brief moment, Tiffany thought that she had got it wrong. They never talked about a father before, only started today. Therefore, the word daddy seemed to amaze her. It must have been Abraham Smith’s accident that made them think about it.

 

“What did you say?” She asked in a trembling voice. Her voice broke a little & she took a steadying breath before adding, “Why did it suddenly come up in your mind?” Her heart was starting to pound heavily against her chest.

 

“I want a daddy, mommy. Minho wants, too. We want a daddy.” Minki spoke, more clearly than his brother, “Right, Min?”

 

Minho nodded his head.

 

Her eyes clouded momentarily, ‘Just keep calm & you will get through this.’ Tiffany told herself warily, as she looke