Family

After his sandwich, Jordan decided to go see his favorite persons; the elderly couple next door, Mr and Mrs Butterworths. Catherine has always complained about how they were spoiling Jordan but none out of the three individuals seemed to be listening to her. There were days when Jordan would spend the night with them. They love Jordan like a grandson and they've always been a replacement for the parents she's lost and gave the word family a whole new meaning!

Catherine parked her car and remain seated behind the wheel, too weak to drag herself out. For about ten minutes or so and no any sign of Jordan made her knew that he's not home, he's definitely with the Butterworths, she thought, because all his friends lived downtown. Trying so hard to keep her emotions in check so as not to scare the elderly lady, Catherine put an awfully weary smile as heard the rattling of keys from the other side few seconds after she's knocked.

"Hi bethy," she greeted "how was your day?" "Sweet God! Cat! You look like a ghost! Are you sick? Have you eaten anything today? Is it work?" Catherine reached out and held Mrs. Butterworths's fragile and trembling hands.

"I am fine bethy, it's just work, am a little exhausted that's it"

"I'd rather buy 'I don't want to talk about it' than the crap you are selling right now silly!" Catherine only nodded and held her lips real tight as tears welled up in her eyes, all she wanted right now was a warm hug from her sweet friend and neighbor, God knows she loves her and apart from Jennifer her bestfriend, she can always count on Mrs. Elizabeth Butterworths, regardless of what her age counts.

"Oh Baby! Come here," she hugged her passionately

Is she a mind reader? thought Catherine as she nuzzles in her body. "Come in sweetheart, I'll brew your favorite Chinese tea, thank goodness the boys just took out Faithly for a walk, so it's just us."

Catherine held her mug close to her face as she curl up on the couch staring at Mrs. Butterworths - who was seated on an arm chair at an angle to her - as if looking through her. "I had a crappy day, bethy." she said dreamingly. "It's okay Cathy," oh it's far from okay bethy! Catherine thought. "Just take your tea and forget about it, dinner is almost ready" "Thank you" "Anytime, cat."

After dinner, Catherine was feeling a lot better. She waited for Jordan to finish listening to the last tale of the day from Mr. Butterworths. "But Robert," Jordan said eagerly "wasn''t the prince supposed to be..." "Patience young man" Mr. Butterworths cautioned fondly with the ease of so many years of practice, "remember, that's what got the prince in the mess he was." Jordan was quite and attentive for the rest of the tale, after which he was asked questions and lessons learned from it. "What'd I do without you Robert, thank you for everything." Catherine said as she hugged Mr. Butterworths goodnight. "Anytime cat, anytime." he patted her back fondly before letting go, "and please take things easy with you, you look like you are about to crash" "Yes sir!" Catherine saluted as if a soldier in the line of duty, making the atmosphere less tensed and pretend she's fine, they all laughed.

"What are your plans for tomorrow, cat?" "not much bethy, just taking Jordan for swimming lessons and the mall, why?" "How about Robert help with Jordan, then we'll go shopping together, just girls." "What are you ladies up to?" "Planning a honeymoon for you Robert," said Catherine, "the last one you guys had has expired" "Oh! that sounds fun!" "That will be fine bethy, just let me know when you are ready and Robert, the lessons start by 2pm. Dinner was great, thank you!" "My wife is an amazing cook, I give you that!" "I second that Robert, good night guys"

Jordan was already in his room when she got home and she didn't bother checking on him because she knew he was going straight to bed and he had recently claimed that he's too old to be tucked in, that was five days ago. Catherine stepped out of the bathroom and was almost startled by the sight of Jordan sitting on her bed.

"Baby! Is everything ok?" Jordan only pouted his lips and reminded her, despite how fast he's growing he's still a baby. She smiled and sat beside him, cupping his beautiful face and stared at his mars black eyes, her heart aches with his love. "Talk to Mama" "You have not been tucking me in lately" tears welled up in his eyes. Catherine almost busted out laughing but she held, was he the same person lecturing her about how he is now not a kid anymore, that he would soon turned 7? "But you said you don't need it anymore." "That doesn't mean you should stop, Mum." "Tell me what does it mean, then?" Jordan stared at her "Just tuck me in please Mum" "How about I do something better, sleep with me here tonight" Jordan's eyes were as big as saucers and his grin was wide, he looked like a toddler, "Before you get too excited, it's just for tonight" "That's more than enough!" And before Catherine could say anything he was under the duvet, "Are you coming?" "Yes baby". She laid beside him and hugged him closing her eyes as she felt the exhaustion fading away, was it the effect of the Aspirin she took or the Love she has for this tiny man she held in her arms, she did not know.