Chapter 12 I'll be your girlfriend
~After five years~
“Mummy! Uncle Jimmy is here!” Ryan screamed from outside the house where he was building his sand castle.
“Uncle Jimmy!!” Rowan and Riley also chorused from inside the kitchen where their mother was busy preparing dinner for them.
Aurora smiled widely as she watched them run out of the kitchen to meet Jimmy.
She met Jimmy when she was working about a year ago. She was a waitress in a small restaurant, and he came to eat.
She mistakenly spilled some coffee on his white shirt and instead of him getting so mad at her, he took it with all maturity.
He told her she owed him one, and what he wanted in return was to get to know her. At first, Aurora didn’t like the idea of getting to know another man yet.
She just wanted to work hard and keep taking care of her boys, but then, Jimmy was persistent. He kept making his pure intentions known to her.
Aurora told him that she had three boys, hoping this would scare him off, but it didn’t. Instead, it made him love her even more.
The first day he met the boys, he was so excited and caring to them. He took them to an ice-cream shop and got them ice-cream.
‘Jimmy isn’t the richest man, but his heart is richer than any man I’ve ever met.’ Aurora kept telling herself this.
She believed she didn’t need a millionaire before she could be happy, even though her mother wasn’t a fan of Jimmy because he wasn’t rich.
She kept trying to push her to get together with Mr. Jason’s rich son, Dave, but she refused. She quit letting her mother make some important decisions in her life after it went awfully bad with Arthur.
Though she hasn’t said yes to Jimmy’s request of being her man, she considered it. He was the perfect father she pictured for her children.
She carried two serving plates from inside the kitchen and walked to the dining table. She lifted her head and saw Jimmy carrying the boys.
A genuine smile lit up her face as she placed the plates on the table.
“You said 8:30 p.m. it’s just 7 p.m.” She uttered as the boys got off him and he approached me.
“You know I’m always excited anytime I want to see the boys. I couldn’t wait any longer.” He uttered, planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Hi, beautiful.” He added, with a soft grin.
“Hi. Welcome. You came just in time. Dinner is ready.” She answered, and he chuckled.
“I can see that! I got something for you.” He uttered, ruching inside his pocket.
“What?” She asked anxiously, looking at him.
“It’s not something big, bear with me for the meantime.” He added, bringing out a black small box.
“Oh my… Jimmy.” She uttered in surprise, placing her palm over her mouth.
He opened the box and revealed the beautiful drop earrings he got for her. It had a pearl that hung from it like a water droplet.
“Is Uncle Jimmy going to marry mummy?” Riley asked with a chuckle, and they both broke into laughter.
“Not yet, Riley, but very soon. When mummy is ready. We will get married.” Jimmy answered, squatting in front of them.
He embraced them and raised his head to look at her as she stared at them.
It was the perfect moment she had always wanted. A moment she never wanted to end.
“Thank you so much for this, Jimmy. You didn’t have to.” She answered with sincere gratitude.
“But I want you to have it.” He answered, standing up.
“Thank you.” She added, looking into his eyes.
“That’s enough, okay? Let’s get this table sorted out before your mother returns. She isn’t home, right?” He asked, and she shook her head.
“You’d have known if she was home right from the door.” Aurora answered, and he broke into laughter.
“Of course. I hope one day she grows to like me.” He retorted as we walked to the kitchen.
“She will, Jimmy. Just give her some time.” Aurora answered, even though it seemed almost impossible that Rachel was ever going to like an average man for her.
While they were preparing the table for dinner, Rachel returned from the little shopping she went on.
“Grandma!” The boys yelled, running to meet her.
“Hey… my boys!! Look at my boys.” She uttered, chuckling and playing with them.
Lifting her head, her gaze fell on Jimmy, and all of a sudden, her smile vanished.
“Good evening, Mrs. Rivers.” Jimmy greeted, but Rachel ignored him and headed to her room, carrying the shopping bags.
“I’ll help you.” Aurora uttered, taking the bags from her.
Getting into her room, Rachel threw her bag on the bed angrily.
“What is he doing here?” She asked in a whisper, pointing at the door.
“We are not doing this now, Mum.” Aurora answered, placing the bags on the floor.
“No! We are doing this right now! What the hell is wrong with you, hun? Why do you keep making matters difficult for all of us!”
“Jimmy has been nothing but a nice person to us, mother. He has done nothing wrong to deserve this ill treatment.”
“Him being a good person won’t bring food to our table, okay?! We need money! Your salary isn’t doing much anymore! The boys are eating twice as much as they used to! The house rent will be due in a week!
“Their clothes are beginning to get small and old! I am starting to touch my savings! You don’t dare to settle with a man because he’s a good person right now, Aurora! Are you trying to make these boys suffer? You want them to regret that they are here with us instead of their father?!”
“Enough, Mum! Enough! I am no child and I am very aware of my actions! Haven’t I been taking care of us for the past five years?! Did I ever complain to you that I’m getting tired and worn-out? I will take care of us, okay?! Leave Jimmy out of this. He isn’t their father. They aren’t his responsibility. They are mine!”
“Then why is he here if they aren’t his responsibility, hun? It’s better you listen to me now or you regret whatever you think you’re doing. You either get together with Dave, a man willing to take care of your children, or just call Arthur to come have his boys. At least they’ll have a shot at a better and comfortable life!” Rachel yelled.
Aurora walked out of her mom’s room burying in anger, but as soon as she saw the boys looking in her direction, she let out a smile, pretending that everything was okay.
“C’mon, let’s eat.” She uttered, avoiding Jimmy’s face at all cost. She knew he heard them and he was probably devastated. She wasn’t sure how to face him.
“I… I think I should leave. We can do this some other time.” Jimmy uttered with a smile, standing up.
Aurora’s eyes widened and she hastily stood up. “No, Jimmy. You don’t have to go.” She uttered, shaking her head.
“You know I do, Aurora. But don’t worry, okay? I’m not mad at you. I just think this is bad timing.” He responded, turning to leave, but she hastily stopped him by standing in his way.
“I’ll be your girlfriend!” She exclaimed, breathing hard.
“What?”
“And I don’t care whatever my mother thinks about it. I love you and I want us to be together. Please don’t go.”
“But… your mother is right. I don’t have the money to take care…”
“My mother is never right. We may not have riches but we’ve got each other. For a year now you’ve been here for me and my boys, supporting me the best way you can. I appreciate that and would choose that over the richest man in the world. I will be your girlfriend, Jimmy.”
Tears rolled down her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
“Yeeee!” The boys yelled, swinging their spoons in the air.
Rachel stared at them with angry eyes. ‘I won’t let you ruin my plans.’ She said to herself, walking into her room and shutting the door behind her.
She searched the shopping bag and found the new phone she purchased.
“You will thank me later, child.”