BOOK 2: Chapter 1

BLURB
A quiet rift between Charlotte and Melvin leads to a short escape: a business trip to an island with her best friend, Bella. It was supposed to be all about work and a little fresh air, but fate had other plans.
In a city far from home, Bella meets a man who awakens something she thought she’d buried. Their time together is brief but unforgettable.
Now, back home, Bella tries to move on… until he walks into her life again.

*
NOW THE STORY BEGINS
"Mummy? Daddy took my ice cream!" Little Liam cried out to his mother, as he found his way into the kitchen.
Charlotte dropped the spoon in her hand and wiped off the sweat that had gathered in her temple with a handkerchief.
"Liam?" She called. "Where is your dad?"
"In the living room." Liam pointed.
Charlotte washed her hands and then headed to the door, holding Liam's little hand.
"Melvin?" She called but he was nowhere to be found.
Charlotte began to look around. "Are you sure your dad is in the living room?"
Liam nodded innocently. He had left his father in the living room a while ago.
But where could he be?
"Liam, your..."
Charlotte's phone began to ring and she picked it up. It was Gina, her secretary.
"Ma'am, I have sent the documents to you. You just need to review them for the last time. But ma'am..." Gina said. "You will need to sign and send back one of the documents for electronic signing by tomorrow morning. We already delayed the contract. We can't do that anymore."
Charlotte sighed. With Hannah, her chef away from home, she had been the one taking care of the house. Not only does she need to take care of Liam and the house, but she also has a lot to do at the office.
"Thank you, Gina. I will do just that," Charlotte answered and then ended the call. She squatted to her son's level and smiled. "Liam, I have to go back to the kitchen to finish up dinner. We will talk about your dad when I am done."
"Yes, mummy," Liam answered.
She stood up. "Now, come with me to the kitchen."
"My ice cream." Liam pointed.
"Liam, you can't take..."
Her phone began to ring again and she groaned.
Who is it this time?
Her lips curved into a smile. It was Mia.
""Hi, sis," Mia said.
"Mia?" Charlotte answered. "Thank goodness you called. I..."
Charlotte sniffed. There seems to be something burning.
She groaned. "My pasta. Mia, can you call me back later? My food is burning."
"Alright," Mia answered before ending the call.
Charlotte rushed into the kitchen to put off the cooker. She opened the pot and sighed. The food was still intact though slightly burnt.
"Mummy," Liam called. "I want to pee."
Charlotte took Liam out of the kitchen and went to the bathroom. When Liam was done, she took him to the living room and made him sit on the couch.
"Liam, I need to return to..."
"Mummy? I am hungry," Liam whined.
Where is Melvin? She wondered. He was supposed to take care of Liam while she made dinner.
She placed a call to him quickly.
"Hi, babe," Melvin answered from the other side of the phone.
"Where are you?" Charlotte asked.
"Out for a walk," Melvin answered.
"In a bar? Are you in a bar?"
Melvin chuckled. He was caught too quickly.
"It's Ryan. He invited me."
"And you left Liam all by himself?" She said almost in a yell. "You were supposed to take care of him."
"I am sorry, babe. Ryan was drunk and needed someone to take him back home. I..."
"Don't you think you were supposed to tell me?"
"I am so sorry," Melvin apologized.
He did think about telling Charlotte but he needed to run away from Liam or going out would have been so difficult for him. He also thought about calling or texting her but it skipped his mind.
"I am so sorry babe," he apologized again.
Charlotte ended the call without saying anything to him. She was angry. Angry that she had to take care of Liam and the house, with so much work on her table.
Since Hannah left for an emergency, she had been the one taking care of Liam and also cooking. Melvin had not been helping out.
At first, she had let it slide because he was busy with work. She was busy too but she had Bella to help out.
But now with less work for him to do, she suggested he take care of Liam while she takes care of the house and also her work.
It was the time of the year when everyone expected new designs and being one of the best fashion houses, she didn't want to disappoint them.
Luck has always been on her side too. Bella's Fashion School is doing well and Melvin's company is also venturing into entertainment; she has a lot of work to do.
"Mummy?" Liam called out, as he yawned slightly.
She sucked in some air. "Are you feeling sleepy, darling?" Liam nodded and she smiled. "Come here."
She stretched her hand to lift Liam up. She needed to feed him first before helping him take his bath and then put him to sleep.
Charlotte walked past one of their pictures on the wall and stopped to look at it.
"Mummy? Daddy? Liam pointed.
Charlotte smiled slightly. It's been five years of blissful marriage with Melvin.
Yes, there had been ups and downs but that had not stopped them from loving each other.
Her phone began to ring. It was Bella this time.
"Hey, bestie," Bella cooed.
"Bella," Charlotte called.
"Are you okay?" Bella asked. "You sound so tired."
Charlotte sighed. Of course, she is very tired but what can she do about it?
With Hannah away from home and Melvin not helping her out that much, she has to shoulder all the responsibilities.
"I am fine," she answered. "Why did you call? Is there good news?"
"Yes there is," Bella answered. "But let's not talk about that yet. How are you? How is Liam?"
"I guess I am fine," Charlotte answered. "Liam is..." She groaned. "Bella. Can you call me back later? I can't let Liam fall asleep, he needs to eat and take his bath. He is dozing off already."
"I will do that," Bella answered. "I..."
"I have to go, Bella. Bye."
Charlotte ended the call to attend to Liam who was already dozing off. She fed him and then took him to his room to help him take his bath. Charlotte put him to bed and then sat down to read his favorite goodnight story.
Seeing that Liam was already fast asleep, she dropped the book and headed to her room to check out the documents sent to her by Gina. It was past nine already and Melvin wasn't back yet.
Charlotte sat down and began to work on the document she needed to send back the next day. The door opened after a while and Melvin popped his head in.
"Babe?" He cooed.