She never once thought of being a mother. She never wished to have kids. Never in her life did she ever dream of caressing the crown of a child's head while singing lullabies or reading them stories to sleep. It was out of the question. She had other things planned and having children wasn't one of them.
Yet here she was, wrapped in warm blankets whiles lying in bed passed breakfast, bloated and certainly with no doubt pregnant with a child. She could not quite fathom it still. She also wouldn't have thought that she'd have breakfast in bed, yet what were the odds that here she was experiencing both. Perhaps the odds were not too far off after all.
Melissa looked over at empty plates on top of the tray that was brought to her earlier this morning. A Nanny brought it straight to her bed like the usual. She was surprised the first time it had happened like the first time she visited the house of her now-husband. It was daunting for a city girl like here. Apartment complexes and tight-spaced rooms were more her go-to. Not exactly luxurious, but the urban life had its own kind of what you would call fancy.
But this, one could compare it to royalty in the country. Simple, yet elegant which was all pretty new.
There were a few maids here and there, but the Nanny was the constant person who attended to her needs. She supposed it was because she would have to entrust her baby to the lady when it's born while she tries to get by with her own work. She doesn't exactly know how that works, but she's rolling along with it for now.
"Can I come in, Ma'am?" the Nanny called out the door with a knock.
Melissa couldn't help but cringe at the way she was addressed. This she could never get used to. "Come in," she said in response.
The lady came in with a smile and went on her business to retrieve the dishes placed on top of the bedside table. She slipped in quietly that Melissa doubt she'd know she was there with her eyes close.
Circumstances left Melissa no chance to learn her name. It seemed impolite to ask now as it has been whole months since she worked in the house. She could only refer to her as the Nanny and she couldn't help but feel guilty at the way that was.
They exchanged polite nods before the Nanny went out of the room and she was left by herself once again. A sigh escaped her lips. It suddenly felt so caging to her. It was all in comfort as she has thoroughly known, but she can't help but feel restricted. All she ever did was stay in bed. She wishes they were something else to do.
Determined and bored out of her wits. Melissa tucked away the blankets that have made a nest of her safety. Today, she'd decided to go for a walk. Even though she's a pregnant woman, she would need to keep up with exercise like the rest of them. Even more actually now she's with child.
Really, she thought it was all a part of her husband's overprotectiveness. It's sweet if you think about it, but there would be times that it would be quite suffocating as well. Although she hasn't seen the man for days now. He's been busy with work and can only come home late at night when she's already fast asleep.
She smiled bitterly at the thought. Those things wouldn't matter now. They are called former for a reason and former lackeys meant nothing to her.
The steps from the second floor where the bedrooms were tired her more than she expected. Perhaps this was the effect of staying cooped up in bed like a sick person. She would tell her husband that she'd like to have more freedom in the house. It'll do her good with a change of space.
That is if she would have a chance to catch the elusive man.
One moment he was all over her. The next, she couldn't even see his face. She told herself she wouldn't be demanding and would focus instead on the upcoming motherhood. But that didn't mean that she wasn't mad with the treatment. Her pregnant hormones only made the irritation worse.
Melissa threaded down the parlor of the ground floor and out the massive doors of the mansion. Her steps made audible sounds echo around the whole room and everyone on her way did their best not to stare.
There were rumors spreading across the mansion's walls. An evil stepmother roamed in the wake of its master's bedroom. She watches with silent piercing eyes from her glass-paned windows. She's always there and she always lingers, waiting to steal another precious thing.
It was all rubbish. How could she even plot something evil when she can't leave her room? It all sounded so absurd.
There was only one person who could've made such a bold and out-of-this-world story. Melissa knew it could be no one but her. She's painfully aware that she could handle it.
When Melissa was dating her now-husband she didn't know that he was a divorcee. She was more enamored by his neat suited frame and his bespectacled smart eyes that were free for her to see. A career woman from the city like her like the kind of intelligent man that he was.
But Melissa had no idea that he already had a kid from a past marriage. That left her with a swirl of emotions before the wedding. They were there even now.
As the wide flourishing flower beds of the garden greeted her along with a refreshing morning breeze, a small form crouching on the ground made her stop by the porch and wait. She inched closer to see. With her hands reaching a post for support, she squinted her eyes to get a better look.
The figure was noticeable even with her small frame. Frilly ruffles and puffed-up sleeves in glaring bright pink shades made sure of that. Its eye-catching feature made it more at home with the flowers, however, like it is also a blossom amongst the buds.
The flowing hair of the mystery midget made Melissa wince inwardly. She knows what and who it was. Sure of it, frighteningly so.
No need to think about complicated stuff now. Maybe it'll be a good chance to establish a civil relationship. If the mother-daughter bond would be quite impossible to mention that is.
Melissa walked closer, her every being nervous. There was a kick in her stomach but she was unsure if it was her gut or the baby itself trying to push her.
"Do you like the flowers, Rebecca?" she asked, her voice quivering.
The girl spun round in a hop. She was like a bunny with her perkiness. Her face however was as serious as a toad. Just slightly cuter if not cunningly evil in disguise.
"Does it matter?" the child asked.
"What?" Melissa dumbly replied.
With a roll of her eyes, little Rebecca tried her best to exaggeratedly show that she was being patient. There was an air of confidence in her every move like she was certain she was the grown-up in the situation.
"Does it matter that I like flowers? I don't think it's anyone's business." There was an irritating sense of haughtiness in her voice. Melissa didn't like it one bit.
"Where did you learn to talk like that?" she asked, generally concerned.
Rebecca shrugged. "Must've been the grown-ups. They're all around me after all. Sucks being the only kid who knows nothing but to break the rules. Not like the adults are pretty much clear on setting the rules and following on their own."
A gust of wind passed through them and it was all it took for Melissa to close her eyes and pretend there was dust in her eyes. All that just to avoid the conversation altogether.
She's not quite lucky though. Rebecca just went on, this time with her own set of questions.
"Would you ever think of me as your own, Melissa? Do you think you can be my Mom?"
A shiver ran down her spine.
It is all a ploy, she told herself. It's a trap to lure in. There was no right answer. She knows of it. But being in such a complicated situation, Melissa decided to take the expected path.
Whether her husband had a child with another woman or not. it doesn't matter. What's true now is that she was the wife and no one else was.
"I would try my best to--"
"Don't," the girl cut off, "Please don't. For the sake of both of us, please. Don't do that. Don't ever think about it. It won't end well."
Her words were final. She left with not much of a glance and stormed inside the house leaving Melissa on her own, dawdling in her thoughts.
There was no right or wrong way. One thing would lead to another and nothing short of a disaster. The kid made her decision. There's not much to do about it. She wouldn't be able to change her mind either. No one can. Her Dad made no difference as he was practically invisible even more than the stepmother herself.
If Melissa received straightforward disdain, the man couldn't even get a short glance. She was supposed she was lucky. Maybe Rebecca thought of her as unfortunate to be dragged into the mess. She surely thinks of it that way as well.
Well, there's no chance to back down now. Everything's been settled.
Melissa could only wonder how on earth that stepdaughter of hers came to carry herself like she is. What could have happened that caused a kid to grow up so fast? Her reaction is not unusual, but her very personality is.
Even more so, Melissa could not erase the ultimate question that she'd perhaps drag to her grave.
Who was Rebecca's mother? What happened to her?