Chapter 2 

"I am so sorry, we lost her" The Doctor announced after he came out from Adeline's ward. 

Jayda could feel her chest sinking and thankfully Donnie was there to catch her from falling flat on the floor. 

"Oh my God," She said under her breath 

"Donnie, they lost her, What am I going to say to Brian? How am I going to tell him his mother is dead?" She was intentionally trying to conceal her pain.

Tears welled up her eyes as Donnie pulled her into a tight hug. 

"I'm so sorry J," He said, stroking the length of her hair as she sniffled in silence. 

TWO YEARS LATER 

It's Lucy's fifth birthday party and their place was as usual crowded with children from the neighbourhood. It's an outdoor event in the front yard with round tables and chairs coupled with balloons and other decorations. Jayda comes out of the house carrying a three-inch vanilla cake while Donnie followed suit with a tray of croissant cupcakes. Jayda spots Brian all by himself in a corner, she drops the cake on a table and made for him. 

"Hey Brain, what's wrong?" She took her seat beside him. 

"Nothing" He dismissed. 

Jayda could tell he just lied. She'd taken custody of him since the demise of his mother and her best friend. The journey has not been easy, it's been a whirlwind that has been threatening her relationship with her boyfriend. 

Donnie had suggested they inform child protection services about Brian but Jayda couldn't bear the thought of her godson growing up in an orphanage and worse foster care. Jayda didn't care about the additional expenses incurred, she loves the boy and would do anything for him and of course Lucy too. 

"Are you going to tell me what the matter is or you're going to watch me sad all day?" Jayda said, knowing it was the only way to get him to talk.  Brian hated seeing Jayda unhappy. He'd witnessed a few moments after she and Donnie constant fights. 

"Everyone still makes fun of me. They call me bad luck and that I'll never be happy because I killed my parents." 

"And what did you say?" 

"Nothing, I just walked away cause I didn't want to destroy Lucy's party" 

"That's a very sweet gesture of you to your little sister. Lucy is so lucky to have a sibling who cares for her as much as I and Donnie do. Who and who bullied you?" Jayda asked defensively. 

"Justin, Theodore and Hermione" 

Jayda abruptly stood up and walked to where the mentioned trio sat and returned to meet Brian after a brief and calm altercation with their parents.  

"They're leaving?" He asked as he watched them leave the front yard. 

"Yes. No form of bullying will be tolerated here" 

"What about.." 

"No questions. Just, enjoy the party okay?" 

He replied with a nod. 

"I love you okay?" She kissed the young lad on his forehead. 

"I love you too Jayda" 

Jayda gave his fringe hair a rough shake before heading back to continue host duties. 

Throughout the party, Brian tried his best to stay out of any trouble that might ruin Lucy's big day. He simply took what he needed to eat and returned to the quiet corner. Jayda was far too busy to notice him. She cares about him a lot and it is no different from that of a mother. 

Over the years, Jayda had taken up so many jobs to help support Donnie's income by babysitting, housekeeping and personal grocery shopper, Jayda has been hell-bent on raising both Lucy and most especially Brian under her care. 

The party ended around seven at night to ensure everyone's safety back home due to the recent robbery attacks in the community. Donnie took Lucy who was already feeling sleepy into her room while Jayda and Brian stayed back to clean up the mess. 

"Come here" she signalled him to join her where she's seated.

"I know I have asked you this a lot of times and you keep saying"

"No, I don't want to switch school" 

Jayda would be lying if she said she didn't know about the verbal bullying Brian has been enduring over the years. 

"It's not your fault that your parents died. I want you to know that. I'll always be there for you whenever you need me because I'm your mother too and I love you so much. It is going to be a long haul and I will be there every step of the way" 

"Can I see you for a minute babe?" Donnie interrupted. 

"You can go to bed Brian, we'll continue in the morning. Make sure you take a shower okay?" 

Brian replied with a nod and went inside. 

"What's up?" She asked. 

"You're still going to keep on doing this" 

"If by that you mean taking care of my best friend's son, yes I will" she defended with a wide grin on her face. 

"And this is why I love you. You have such a good heart" He leaned forward to kiss her and what he had intended to be a short liplock slowly transitioned into a long one. 

"I am exhausted, Donnie. Let's call it a night" 

"I understand," He said, a bit disappointed.

Donnie understands her situation and he is also aware that springing up sex tonight is an impossible motive he just wanted to give luck a trial. Their sex life has gone from one to zero much to the fact that they each have busy schedules that tend to leave them exhausted by the end of the day. 

"You know I love you right?" She asked

"Yes, I do" He replied after hesitating for a little while. 

Donnie loves Jayda no doubt about that, it's just that for the last few months he'd been feeling disconnected from her. They no longer took cigarette puffs at night like before, no impromptu dates and outings and most of all lack of sex. They are now like two strangers living together. 

"So I was thinking about moving back to Granny's house as you suggested."

"Really?" His eyes bugged out. 

He'd been trying to convince her to take up the old house since her Grams willed it to her before her death but Jayda wouldn't budge into that idea because of the way she left things with her. 
Grams took care of her since her parent's demise and it took getting pregnant with Lucy to ruin that care she had gotten used to. Grams was disappointed, angry but yet forgiving. She wanted Jayda to come back to the house after realizing her mistake, she waited day in day out but Jayda was too ashamed and Grams was too egoistic to call it truce since it wasn't her fault, to begin with.  

"Yes. I figured the amount of rent it would save us would be put to good use. I just feel guilty moving back after her death" 

"It's not guilt if she gave it to you to inherit someday" 

"You just know how to make everything look good," she teased.