Gentle yet mischievous Baby Marcelo

The manager stared at Anna in shock for a while, before he eventually asked. “Is it because of Lucia? She has already resigned. You don't have to worry about her.”

She has resigned? Why? Anna furrowed her brows after listening to the manager.

“I'm not resigning because of her. I’ve decided to pursue my talent instead.” She said to the manager and he frowned in confusion.

“What talent? cooking?” He asked, his frown deepening after he casually assumed that Anna wanted to open her own restaurant or something.

Anna shook her head after listening to him. “No, sir. Not being a chef or anything that relates to working tirelessly in the kitchen.”

She had made this huge decision as she wielded all her strength to push Marcelo out of her vagina. She had made a vow to herself, and her baby that she would be with him all the steps of his life. She had also made the promise to give him the best in everything.

“Is there a way I can persuade you?” The manager asked, and Anna shook her head.

“I'm sorry, sir. I want to be with my son. We only have each other.” She muttered, her voice failing as she spoke.

“Alright, alright I understand.”

A week later, Anna was discharged, and all her former colleagues and even Susan’s youngest kid came to accompany her and baby Marcelo back to their mini apartment.

After everyone left, Susan and her daughter, Philly made dinner while Anna breastfeed Marcelo.

Within an hour, the meal was ready, and Anna laid Marcelo inside his baby cot.

“Your baby is so gorgeous. I think he's your little nose.” Philly, Susan’s youngest child, complemented as she stroked Marcelo’s delicate nose.

“You are right about that! And he is the most obedient baby ever. Can you believe that he doesn't even cry for food, he will just wait till whenever Annabella is ready, and suck like a gentle child.” Susan said to Philly with a hint of astonishment in her voice. It was as if this was the first time she would ever see a baby as docile as Anna’s baby.

She wasn’t the only one that had noticed as Anna too had when she was still in the hospital, and she had thought something was wrong with her child since he would only look at her every time as if he was studying her.

The only issue she had was that Marcelo wouldn’t allow any other person to carry or touch him except for her and Susan.

“He is really a good baby.” Anna smiled as her eyes went to her baby, who now had his gorgeous brown eyes closed while he slept soundly. His little mouth was opened as he took his slow breaths.

After they finished eating, the trio started a nice conversation but it wasn't long before Susan started dozing off.

“She must be tired,” Anna said softly as she stared at the older woman, who she had come to depend on greatly.

“She had forgotten that her bones are aged, and she’s not getting younger.” Philly chuckled slightly, her voice sounding a bit off.

Anna picked up the abnormality in her voice but she only nodded at Philly’s words. “She has been a great help, and the best roommate I could ever ask for.”

“She’s always like that. Helping everyone and anyone she can render help to, but she forgets that she also needs help.” Philly heaved a long sigh before reaching for Anna’s soft hands. “Annabella, I have to take my mother with me when I leave. I don’t know how you'd take this, but I'm currently well off to take care of her, and I'm always constantly worried about her still working as a cleaner at 59.”

“Now, that I have a little. I want her to live with me and enjoy the rest of her years.”

Anna stared blankly at Philly as she spoke and anxiety slowly crawled into her heart. If Susan hadn’t been with her these past few days, she didn’t know if she would be still alive, and what Philly just said made her realize how much she depends on the older woman.

Sniffing, she slowly nodded her head. “I understand. But can you leave her with me for a few months longer? I uhm-

“Yeah, I can. Of course.” Philly cut Anna off before she could finish her words. “That's not even what I'm worried about.” She sighed heavily.

“What are you worried about then?” Anna asked curiously.

“That she wouldn’t want to leave with me.” Philly’s voice was drenched with sadness as she spoke.

“She will. I will convince her, okay?”

“Thank you.” Philly beamed at Anna as she inhaled a sigh of relief.

It had been two months since Marcello was born, and the little boy had been very docile, but quite mischievous. He chuckles at his mother anytime she catches him staring at her, and will even push out his tongue in mockery after biting her nipples while feeding.

“He bit me again.” Anna cried out to Susan, and the older woman laughed out loud.

“Aren’t you supposed to be used to it yet? He doesn't every time and he even makes fun of me… There- look at his chubby cheeks.” The older woman shook her head as she laughed.

Anna groaned as she felt the slight pain that came from her baby using his gum to chew her nipples. Unfortunately, it reminded her of a certain moment when one of his fathers had also done that, but she would rather not think of that at the moment.

“Have you added the final touches to the painting? We are running out of money.” Susan couldn’t help because she had seen how much Anna had spent on expenses in the last few weeks.

“Yes. I completed it last night. Do you think I should send it to that function house?”

“Of course! Why are you still asking? In fact, hand Marcelo to me and go get it. Let's take a picture of it and send it to their site. Once they approve your pitch, they will fix an auction date.” She explained as she outstretched her hand to take Marcelo from his mother’s hands.

Anna nodded and gently handed her baby to Susan before she went to get the painting. Standing before the magnificent piece she had worked on tirelessly. She couldn’t help but recall those lonely and dreadful nights when she wouldn’t even be able to lift her brush after working for 10 hours at the restaurant.

Thankfully all through her second and third trimesters, her baby had been quiet and calm. This had supported her and she kept on painting with the vision that it would turn out to be an evergreen painting.

A smile appeared on her face as she beheld the art all over again. “Jacob would have really loved this,” Anna muttered under her breath, and she felt sadness envelop her.

Tears pricking her eyes, she sniffed before she got more emotional and started crying again. It was now her usual reaction anytime she remembers the twins, and most times, she would have to hold her baby and look at him so many times to console herself.

After a while, she brought the painting outside and took pictures of it from so many angles, then posted it on the popular auction site under the name of Anna’s mother.

“Why didn’t you use your name?” Susan asked curiously.