Four years later

Dorothy's POV

I look at myself in the mirror, my long brown wavy hair is now shoulder length.

Ethan loved my long hair and every time I looked in the mirror I remembered him playing with the tip and telling me how much he loved it. I couldn't stand it so I cut it.

I put a little makeup on and brushed at the knots in my hair.

"Perfect," I whisper staring at my handwork.

"Mommy!" I felt my little angel hug my legs.

Yes, I have a child and it's Ethan's. I found out a few days after the incident. It gave me a reason to reach out to him. I couldn't hide the fact that we were expecting a child so I tried to call him. For nine months, I tried but it was always the same result.

Nothing.

I realized that I couldn't raise my baby in the apartment that Ethan and I shared. Honestly, the only reason why I stayed there was because I thought he would maybe tell me it was all a mistake and he was sorry he ever left me. The sad truth was that I would have taken him back without any hesitation.

Once he wasn't picking up my calls or his parent calls I knew it was time for me to move on. He wasn't coming back and I wasn't going to wait for him anymore. I sold the apartment and bought a new one that was not so far away from my office. It was a big step to take and now I am grateful to those who supported my decision.

I did everything I could to raise my little angel without a father with the help of my friends and family. It wasn't easy at first but I managed to pull through.

"Yes, Liam." I look down at him playing with the end of my skirt

"I drew a picture of you." He said showing me a drawing of what I assumed to be the both of us.

"Oh really." I picked him up and dropped him on the bathroom counter trying to make out what he drew.

"Yes." He grins pointing at the figures. "This is you and this is me."

"We look so beautiful." I smile taking the picture from him. "I'm going to put this by my bedside table so every time I go to bed it would be the last thing I see and every time I wake up it would be the second thing I see."

I carry him into the bedroom dropping him on my bed.

"Why not first?" He asked furrowing his eyebrows and jumping off the bed.

"Because the alarm clock is the first thing I see." I chuckle sitting at the edge of the bed to put on my shoes. "You know, just because you drew a picture of me doesn't mean you are off the hook."

"I'll draw more pictures." He begs bringing out the forbidden puppy-dog eye. "I'm sorry."

"Do ever do it again," I warn looking deep into his eyes. "Promise."

"I promise, promise."

"So what are you doing now." I quickly changed the topic changing the mood

"I'm going to draw pictures of Jojo and me playing in the park." He explained rubbing his hands together. "It going to be like the park we were at yesterday."

"Run along then." I laughed at him when he almost tripped on his steps.

I smile as I watch him run out of my room. He grows wiser and smarter every day and sometimes I don't even notice.

I grab my bag and pace to the kitchen dropping my bag on the nearest counter.

"Where are they?" I mutter under my breath.

Mia promised she'll babysit Liam because she doesn't have to go to work. I was happy she offered but she needs to work on her timing. I need her to be here in at least five minutes.

I quickly make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for Liam mainly because I don't have time to make pancakes and I do not want to stress Mia out.

"Liam!" I shout as I place the sand witch on the kitchen table nearby. I hear tiny footsteps running towards me.

"Mommy." He answers in a breathy voice

"Breakfast," I say bringing a juice box out of the fridge and dropping it beside him.

"PB and J!" He shouts running to the table and immediately attacks it the moment he sits down.

I lean on the counter sipping my coffee and watch him eat. I can't resist the smile on my face. He was my light and joy when I was lost in darkness and sorrow. I'm so blessed to have a son like him.

He looks exactly like Ethan, anyone can see the resemblance. They have the same eye color and sometimes facial expressions.

The doorbell rings bringing me out of my thoughts.

"About time," I mumble dropping my mug.

"Shit!" Mia shouts the minute she steps in. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"Swear jar!" Liam shouts from the kitchen area.

"I don't have to do it," She raised her hand objecting. "I do not live in this house so technically I shouldn't have to pay a dime."

"That would be five dollars." I beam stretching out my hand at her.

"This is unbelievable." She groaned slapping the money in my hand.

"It was your idea after all." I laugh putting the bill in the jar

"Aunt Dora!" I turn to see Jojo running to me in excitement.

"I just made money off your mother," I smirk picking him up.

"Really?" He asked in a hushed voice giving me a mischievous smile.

"Yeah, I made-"

"You guys are idiots," Mia said blankly. "I'm standing here."

"The point was for you to hear us." Jojo slapped his forehead once I dropped him down.

"I can not believe he just said that to me." Mia huffed stomping to the kitchen with Jojo trailing behind her.

"Hey, Dorothy." David greeted giving me a warm smile.

"Come on in." I step aside for him to enter but he shakes his head.

"I'm just here to drop off Mia and the Jojo... I have to get to work early." He explains leaning on the doorframe.

Shit, I got to go to work now!

"Bye, baby." Mia pushes me out of the way so she can kiss her husband goodbye.

And when I say push I mean I almost fell push.

"Don't forget to get the marshmallow and ketchup." She remembers adjusting his tie. "For crying out loud learn how to knot one of these."

"Anything for you." He gives her a toothy grin admiring the bump attached to her belly.

"Bye Uncle Dave!" Liam shouts from the living room and Jojo follows after.

"Bye Dad."

"Bye, boys!" He waved at them before he stepped back out to the hallways.

I start closing the door but Mia pops her head and starts shouting to David.

"And fresh strawberries and pickles and-" I quickly pull her back into the apartment.

The last thing I need is my neighbors complaining a crazy woman is shouting in the hallways.

I guide her to the kitchen table sitting her down on one of the chairs. She picks an apple from the fruit bowl.

"Thanks again for doing this." I pick up Liam's plate put it in the dishwasher then get her a cup of water.

"Don't mention it." She shrugs munching on her apple. "I'm willing to stay as long as you want me to. Just make sure I have enough food supply."

"Of course." My eyes trailed down to her bump.

I don't know why exactly she wants to do this. I mean she has a huge bump attached to her and yet she's still determined to do something productive with her time. I remember not wanting to do anything when I was pregnant.

"Dora." She calls.

"Yeah." I quickly tear my gaze away from her.

"You're creeping me out." She drops the half-eaten apple on the table.

"What?" I tilted my head to the side.

"You were staring," She pointed out picking her fruit back up. "and that's creepy."

"I was thinking." I deny picking up my bag from the counter.

"You were staring!" She argued raising her voice a little.

"I'm going to work," I mutter walking to where the boys are.

I peck them both on their cheeks wishing them a good day before heading for the door.

"Thanks again for doing this," I say to Mia before I reach the door.

"If you say thank you one more time, I'm going to punch the hell out of you." She warns giving me a death glare.

I roll my eyes and finish my journey door

"Shit!" I shout opening the door to see a figure.

"Swear jar!" I hear Liam's voice from the leaving room.

"Is my old age freaking you out," Grace asked pushing me aside and stepping into the apartment.

"No. You aren't old at all." I regain my balance pulling out a five-dollar bill from my bag. "You just didn't tell me you were coming."

"I called you last night," She claimed to turn to face me. "you just didn't pick up so it isn't my fault."

"Put the money in the jar," Mia commands with a smug smile.

"Happy?" I asked dropping the bill in the jar.

"Very." Her smile widened but quickly dropped once she noticed her mother. "What's she doing here?"

"She just showed up." I shrugged.

" She has a name. I came to take care of my grandchildren too." She walks past Mia to the living room where the boys are.

"Grandma!" I hear the kids shout in enthusiasm.

"Look at you guys, you've grown so much." She gushes pulling their cheeks. "I can't even remember the last time I saw you guys."

"Two days ago, when you came over," I say trying to jog her memory.

"It doesn't feel like it was two days ago." She mumbled dropping herself on the sofa.

I wouldn't say Grace is always around but she is around most of the time. I mean she used to babysit Liam when I was busy at work. I noticed she was getting stressed out and tried to talk her into letting me hire a babysitter but she was being bullheaded about it.

And then Mia stepped in. She said she was free and wanted to babysit him and watch over Jojo at the same time. Grace didn't agree but it was two against one so she didn't have a choice.

"Make yourself at home," I tell her and she grabs the TV remote from the coffee table.

"Don't get too comfortable," Mia mutters glaring at Grace.

"I'm heading out now," I announce rushing to the door.

"Finally." Mia lets out a sigh of relief sitting down next to her mother.

"Oh! I almost forgot you guys have to order something for lunch." I turn to face them one last time.

"Yeah, I already figured." Mia shrugged opening her bag to bring out a bar of chocolate."

"Of course you did," Grace says taking the chocolate away from her. "You shouldn't be eating this junk."

I rush out of the apartment slamming the door behind me. I see the elevator about to close and shout for the person to hold it.

"Thanks so much, Charlie." I give him a warm smile.

"Late again?" He asked pressing the ground floor button.

"Tell me about it." I gently massage my temples. "I just hope I don't have any patient waiting for me right now. It would be embarrassing."

"You're lucky you live close by." He leaned his body on the elevator wall. "How's the little man doing?"

Charlie is one of my close friends who lives just above us. Sometimes when I don't have anyone to look after Liam; I go to Charlie.

He likes Liam and enjoys his company. It wasn't shocking they became close in a short time.

"He's doing good," I respond and the doors of the elevator open up.

"Good luck!" He wishes after I step out of the elevator heading out of the building.

"I'll be needing it," I shout back before opening the door.

Finally, I'm out of the building, it normally takes thirty minutes to get out of that place every morning but today was forty. Mostly because Mia came late and Grace showed up unannounced. If I ever get fired for being late; I'm going to blame it on them.

I have a strange feeling about today. I don't know, it feels like something interesting is going to happen