Love

The next morning Sakura got up early and slipped into a soft jersey Prada dress in Sky blue that somehow made her look like a china doll. She left Darren fast asleep and quietly left the room. She wanted to make a call to her mother in private. She had left her a text the day before saying she was at a friend's house but she was aware her parents would be furious. They were following all the lock down rules fervently and expected her to also.

She knew her Mum would be awake as she always got up at 6 am to do her Tai Chi so she nervously made her way to the open plan kitchen and sat down on the grey couch. She noted the soft neutral colors and the lime green cushions and sat on the edge of the couch. She called her Mum and spoke in Japanese explaining she was at her boyfriend's house and would be staying for a few days.

'What boyfriend, what are you talking about?' her mother enquired firmly but ever so softly. 'Why are you doing this to us? You will have to self isolate when you come home. You could kill your father or me for that matter.'

Sakura had her own flat in the palatial house anyway so she knew this would not be a problem.

'I am disappointed in you Sakura you have let your family down with your selfish behavior.' her Mother said.

'I'm sorry Mother I'm really sorry but I am not a danger to you but don't worry when I get home I will stay away from you until you are happy.' Sakura replied.

'So when are you coming back?' her mother snapped back impatiently and Sakura had simply answered 'I will let you know.'

After the tense phone call Sakura had just sat gathering her thoughts and then she saw Victoria and baby Teddy entering the room.

'Morning Sakura,' Victoria said as she sat down with Teddy in her arms.

'Let me get you a coffee,' said Sakura.

'Oh that would be amazing thanks. This little one kept me up last night and now she's awake at 6am.' said Victoria.

Sakura busied herself in the kitchen feeling so at home and made two coffees and put them down on the glass coffee table. Victoria popped Teddy into a cot that was in the corner of the room and both girls sat drinking their coffee together.

'So how is motherhood?' Sakura asked.

'Oh my God such hard work!' Victoria laughed 'but you know I'm so lucky because I've got Mum and she helps me so much and Darren for that matter. But you know what Sakura it's the best thing that ever happened to me.'

'Well she is just adorable,' said Sakura 'and I can see how much you all love her. So what about the father?'

At this question Victoria took a sharp intake of breath and looked sadly at Sakura.

'His name is Matt and he doesn't want to know and even suggested that it wasn't his. He has a new girlfriend now and won't even pick up my calls. I did send him a message to say he was a father when she was born but he didn't reply. He's blocked me on social media so what can I do. He only lives a few miles away.' Victoria explained.

'Oh that's awful,' said Sakura sadly 'What a jerk!' she added.

'Yes well for now I'm going to leave it but at some point I need to do something as Teddy deserves to know who her father is. Even if he's a jerk Matt is her father. At the moment I just want to concentrate on her you know so much happened this year and she is the only good thing she has really helped all of us with our grief. I don't know how Mum would have gotten through losing Emma without Teddy.'

'Hey do you want some toast?' Victoria said as she got up. She was wearing her red pajamas and Sakura thought to herself how young she looked with her dirty blond hair piled on top of her head and her slim frame.

'You really got your figure back.' she complimented Victoria.

'Oh thanks actually I only put on the weight of the baby. I didn't announce I was pregnant until the last month. Darren just thought I was getting fat!'

Both of them laughed together and looked at Teddy looking adorable in her cot playing with her baby mobile that was strung across the cot.

'She's such a good baby,' Sakura said.

At that Teddy started crying. 'Oops, spoke too soon.' said Victoria scooping her up and cooing to her 'It's alright mummy's here.' At that the baby settled down and stopped crying.

'Well yes she is the best baby in the world isn't she?' Victoria said. As the toast popped up in the toaster Spice scampered in wagging her tail. Toast was one of her favorite things so Sakura offered her a crust that wasn't buttered. Spice just looked at her like she was mad and dropped the crust to the floor.

'Oh Spice only likes buttered toast,' Victoria said and both of them laughed. 'She's very spoilt.'

'Well now I know shall I put a piece on for her too?' Sakura said. 'Well why not?' Victoria replied. Spice was wagging her tail as if she understood everything that was being said.

They sat there chatting, drinking coffee and eating toast for a while until Jan appeared in a pair of black leggings and a bright blue sweatshirt.

'Good morning,' she said brightly. 'I'm just going to do some meditation and a yoga class online if anyone wants to join me.' she smiled.

'Maybe I will tomorrow,' Sakura said 'I love Yoga but I've never tried meditation.'

'Well I'm pretty new to it myself and actually I'm really trying with the meditation but I'm not so sure I'm actually meditating but I feel much calmer since I started. Still these things take time. I'm a beginner after all.' Jan filled her water bottle and before leaving for the living room she gave her granddaughter a quick cuddle.

Sakura looked on and smiled as she saw how Jan's face changed when she had her granddaughter in her arms. She passed the baby back to Victoria.

'I'll take care of her after my class Vic so you can get changed in peace.' and off she went.

'Hey if you want to get changed or have a shower or anything I can look after Teddy for you,' said Sakura.

'Oh would you mind?' Victoria jumped at the chance and felt completely confident leaving her precious baby with Sakura. You're such a natural and she is so relaxed with you. Sakura already felt a part of the family and loved getting involved. She settled Teddy into her cot and smiled at Victoria.

'Ok I won't be long if you need anything just shout,' said Victoria. 'Don't worry she will be fine,' Sakura reassured her felling happier than she had in a long time. As she sat curled up on the sofa she thought about Darren and how lucky she was to have found him. Her heart kind of skipped a beat when she thought of him. They really were kindred spirits. Neither of them were rushing the relationship as it really was early days but she felt she just knew he was the one.

She looked around the room and saw some photos on the side board. She went over and picked up the photo of Emma and Darren and felt so sad for his loss. Then Teddy started crying so she went back over, her bare feet landing softly on the wooden floor boards, leant over and picked up the baby. She cradled the baby in her arms like an expert as she was used to looking after her niece and nephew who were fifteen years younger than her. She had always been called upon to babysit and she absolutely loved children.

Darren woke up realizing Sakura was gone he stretched out in the bed wondering if she had gone home but then he relaxed when he saw her little Chanel bag was draped over the chair along with her bright orange Longchamp overnight bag. He smiled to himself feeling like he was the luckiest man alive.

He quickly pulled some tracksuit bottoms on with an old retro band t-shirt with a red, white and blue target and 'The Jam' written on it and quickly checked his appearance running his hands thru his tousled dark hair and rubbing his eyes he went to look for his girlfriend.

As he entered the kitchen he found Sakura with Teddy cuddled in her arms. The sight of her sitting there, her dark hair in contrast to the sky blue dress with the baby in her arms made his heart skip a beat. To his eyes she looked like the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. At that very moment he knew she would be the mother of his children and he never looked at another woman again.