CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The party was over. We spend it with the people in the farm and he was happy—I know. The smile pasted on his face was real, and it made me happy too.

We were inside my room, it was only seven in the evening yet we were tired. I know he is really tired because of my playful games. "It is the best party of my life" he said, kissing my hair.

We grilled the piglet he caught plus a cow and he was also game in drinking with our employees. It was good that he was a sober though. He know how to control himself.

"Of course, you spend it with me" I arrogantly said. He chuckled, "You've learned how to be boastful too"

I laughed, and was disturbed by a knocked on the door. "Kathy, Rafael is looking for you" Trina said.

Jeanne and I looked at each other, I frowned. Did something happened? "He's my cousin" I told Jeanne then I opened the door.

"Is he alone?" Trina shook her head. "He's with his son" Apparently his son was named after him too, so to avoid confusion we call him Raffy.

"Hey cousin" I greeted, Jeanne was right behind me as we walk down the stairs. He was holding Raffy on his arms, and a bag was on his side.

The chubby little kid was wide awake, he has this puffy cheeks and Asian eyes, he was giving his father a toothless grin. He was as white as an American and believe me, you'll not say that he is less than one year old.

"Kathy. I know you just arrived and it is inappropriate anymore but I have no choice." He said, form his choice of words I know something happened.

"What is it? What happened?" I asked, nervous that something wrong happened.

He sighed and looked at me.

"Chesca's dad. He's not stable."

"What? Where is he? What happened?" I rattled. Chesca is his wife. His dad already had two heart attacks.

"Heart attack. I need a huge favor. I need someone to take care of Raffy. Please Kathy. I'm sorry if I am interrupting your stay here but I badly need this. I have no choice. We're going to Singapore for the operation. I'll be back tomorrow morning."

I nodded and put Raffy in my arms, that was when he start crying. "You know I don't mind" I said.

"Don't worry, his nanny will be here and..."

"No need." I said, cutting him mid-sentence.

"Take her with you. I know how to take care of Raffy" But Raffy was still crying.

"I owe you a lot Kathy." He said and looked at Jeanne. "Jeanne I'm sorry. Overnight is the latest. Just until tomorrow. I apologize"

"It's fine. I hope for the best." He said. Rafael kissed his crying son one more time and immediately leave.

Raffty was still in my arms and he just will not stop crying. I sighed. Did I just lose my charm to kids too?

"Hi baby Raffy. Shhhh shhh. Auntie mommy will take care of you today okay? Shhh. It's okay. Don't cry. Daddy will come back tomorrow to fetch you baby."

Auntie Mommy. That's what my nieces and nephews call me. I looked at Jeanne who was in front of me, putting his finger inside Raffy's little hand. Raffy hold into it like an automatic trap.

"Jeanne, you have to sleep now" I said, still rocking on Raffy. "I'll just rock him until he sleeps and put him in the crib" There is an attachable crib in the house since granny started to have a great grandchild. Of course she adores them a lot.

Jeanne acted like he didn't hear me. He was enjoying the little hand wrapping on his finger. He will remove his finger then put it back, and Raffy just kept on holding it. "Maybe he wants milk. I'll make milk for him." He even said. That was the first time he looked at me right after Rafael leave.

"Do you know how to?" I asked, he looked at me, but didn't respond. I guess that was a no.

"No need. I said. I will make it."

"No. I will. You can teach me." I looked at him, and I didn't see in his eyes the fact that he just wanted to help. He wants to make milk because he wants to, for real.

I didn't argue anymore, that's because Raffy has not stopped crying. I was afraid he will lose his breath. I instructed him on how to make the milk and he was fast on doing it.

I seated on the corner and continued rocking him then Jeanne approached me, rather the baby.

"Baby, here's your milk" he said and the moment the nipple came into his mouth he stopped crying. Thank you Almighty God!

Jeanne was holding on the bottle with one hand and put his finger again on Raffy's "hand trap". He immediately hold on to it. Trust me, Jeanne loves it.

"He's so cute and charming." He said without looking at me, he focused himself on the baby, like it was his first time to see one.

"Yes he is," I agreed "But he's a crier"

He chuckled, "It shows."

"My other nephews aren't."

"How many have you tried to babysit?" He asked, looking at me while his finger was still trapped on Raffy's hand.

"Three out of five. He's the third."

He looked at him again, he looks with fascination. He smiled as he look at Raffy, "I guess this is a good practice of having a baby in the house." I froze and shivered. Babies.

I still haven't told him about it and now he's giving me more reason not to tell him about it.

But that will be so selfish of me.

Because I was depriving him the right of choice.

Simply because I am afraid that he will not choose me.

"Can I hold him?" he asked, little did I know that the bottle wasn't at the baby's mouth and that he was crying again.

I nodded at him, "Let's go up first. I'm sure Trina was done already."

He nodded and assist me as we go up. He was cautiously holding my waist, guiding me with every step of the stairs. Like Raffy was already his baby. Like I just newly delivered our baby.

I was at the verge of crying. I was afraid that he will no longer love me because I cannot give him a baby, or he will love me less because of it.

That was the last thing I want to know...but I am open for it.

"Careful baby" he even said, it was triggering the cry button in my head. I bit my lips and breathed hard to control the upcoming tears in my eyes.

The moment we've entered the room I gave Raffy to him.

I saw excitement in his eyes. Not a fear, not even a glimpse of it. Moreover, I saw the eagerness in his eyes.

Eagerness of having a "mini-me" of his own.