4 YEARS LATER
AUNT MAGGIE’S POV
“Justin!” I called out, huffing and climbing up the stairs. I turned to his nanny and asked, “He still hasn't eaten his breakfast?”
“Yes ma'am. He’s been running around for the whole morning. I apologize.” His nanny replied.
I breathed in and out, “Let’s stop chasing him for now. I’m sure you'll get tired soon and eat.” I said, dismissing his tired nanny. I
I walked towards the dining table where my husband was sitting and having his breakfast. “Honey, can you please call for Justin? His nanny has been tired of taking care of him these days. He has to eat his breakfast.”
“Yes, honey.” My husband replied as he read the morning newspaper.
“C’mon Justin, sweetheart. Don’t stress your mother out. Your sister is going to come soon if you continue that….” I heard my husband humming.
And with that, I felt giggling from upstairs and Justin appeared running around the house and came to me to pat on my stomach.
“I’m sorry mommy! I hope my sister will come soon! I want to have a playmate!” He exclaimed and sat down beside his father who high-fived him.
I watched them from afar. Not only does he have Martin’s face and behavior but he really listens to his dad. I chuckled at how similar they are. My boys…
It has been four years now. After our honeymoon to Greece, I had given birth to our eldest, Justin. He’s now three years old and now, I’m going to give birth to my daughter in five months.
My pregnancy has been okay and much easier than my first time being pregnant with Justin. Since I'm going to be forty soon, Martin and I decided to only have two children as the doctor advised it would be complicated for me soon.
Every day has been a blessing for me and I’m so thankful for Martin, my husband, helping me with everything.
So far, we have never encountered a big problem and fight. Though we have some little fights here and there, our marriage is still intact, thank goodness.
Just then, I heard my phone ringing. I stared at it and saw my best friend's name, Evy, flashing on the screen.
Smiling at the sight, I pressed the answer button and heard my best friend's voice exclaiming at the phone. She’s so much older than me but she had so much energy.
“Maggie! How are you?” She asked.
“Hello, best friend. I’m still alive and kicking here.” I replied.
She paused and asked again, “Sorry, did I disturb you? Should I call later?”
I shook my head, “No, I was just getting a bit stressed and tired lately with my pregnancy and Justin.”
She perked at that, “Oh, let me hear my godchild’s voice.”
I turned to Justin who was eating at the dining table with his father and said to him, “Your Aunt Evy is calling. Say hello.”
Justin’s eyes widened and excitedly yelled, “Hello Aunt Evy!”
“Hello, my dear Justin. How are you?” Said Evy and my son replied, “I’m great!”
“Don’t stress out your mother, okay? Your sister inside her stomach will be stressed too if you do that. So be a good boy.” Evy instructed and Justin nodded.
“Yes, I want to play with Nathan and Snow soon!”
“Oh, you will if you stay a good boy.”
“I will!”
My husband noticed it and said, “Is that Maggie? Say hi to her from me, babe.”
I nodded and with that, I put my phone on my ear. “Martin here wants to say hi to you, Evy.”
“Oh, tell him I said hi too. Anyways, how’s your pregnancy, Maggie?” She asked me.
I smiled, “I’m doing great. Just a little morning sickness but everything's fine.” Then I inquired, “Why did you call by the way? Is everything alright?”
She snorted, “Oh, I was just decluttering here in my house and saw our old pictures together. Remember that time when that one time when that guy Tyler courted you and-”
“Shh, I’m married now, Evy,” I interjected.
“Well, what’s wrong with that? I remember it clearly as a day. I still have the keychain he gave me. He was quite a good guy. If he wasn’t that narcissistic and obsessive with you.” She said, before continuing.
“And that time I was performing on the stage and I suddenly slipped. Gosh, I had a sprain that week. I couldn’t work properly.”
I laughed at that, clearly remembering it. “Oh gosh, now I remember that time at the graduation. I brought my lizard pet at school and the look on Mrs. Thomas was priceless. I'll never forget that.”
“Oh, speaking of graduation, how’s Snow? she just graduated right?” I asked, now eating breakfast with my husband and Justin.
“Yes, we just celebrated yesterday and came home today.” Evy responded, “How about Eion? Is he there at your house? He graduated earlier than Snow, right?”
I nodded, “Yes, last month I think? But he stayed in the Philippines for a few days to do something at their resort and just recently came home to fix something from his ice cream shop.”
“I see, I really salute that kid. He’s so hardworking and serious in managing their business. At least Adam won’t worry about the future.” She said, sighing.
I couldn't help but think of Eion and Snow. How we had been rooting for them since day one. It was like they were just bickering and fighting with each other last time, and now, they have their lives. They are still together. I admire them. Young love.
“I’m really grateful for your daughter, Evy,” I spoke up after realizing it. “I really see Eion changing and that’s because of Snow.
I heard her chuckling on the phone and said, “No, I’m grateful to you and your nephew, Maggie. Good thing you invited us, especially my daughter to your wedding. Because of that, she met her friends and her boyfriend Eion.”
“Oh stop. We just gave them a little push. It was them who did it all.” I responded and we laughed.
Pausing for a minute, a plan formed in my head. They both graduated, and I think it's the right time now. “Anyways, I think it’s time to do our next plan, Evy.”
Evy seemed to get what I meant as she turned serious on the other line of the phone, “Yes, I think we should do the next step soon for them.”
Just then, I heard Snow’s voice asked from the phone, “Mom? Who are you talking to? Is that Aunt Maggie? Is she alright?”
Evy cleared her throat, “Oh, yeah, it's your Aunt. Don’t worry, we’re just chatting and catching up with each other.”
“Can I join in too?” Snow asked, “I miss her, mom.”
“Oh, Uhm, I think Maggie is busy now. She was just saying her goodbyes to me, right Maggie?”
I instantly understood what she wants me to do so I am going with the flow. We were just going to plan everything but snow is here so I guess we have to postpone our planning. She doesn’t have to know about it.
“Yes, I’m currently busy, Snow. Let’s just talk next time, okay?” I said to Snow. And with that, Evy said her goodbyes before ending the call. Minutes later, I received a text from her saying:
Let’s plan next time - Evy
I typed my reply and hit send to her.
Just call me, let’s meet up when that happens. - Maggie
As for me, Martin and Justin were finished eating, my husband was off to work now and Justin was now playing in his playroom. Texting my nephew Eion to come here to my house, he replied with something like:
I’m busy, Aunt. Not now. - Eion
I couldn’t help but smirk at that. I know him well. He may be stubborn and hardheaded sometimes, but I know he never says no to me. And I was right. It didn’t take long for Eion to arrive at my house.
“Aunt? You called for me?” He asked, wearing his usual leather jacket and denim pants. “Does your stomach hurt? Or you need me to buy your cravings or whatever?” He looked so worried now. He probably thought I called him here because I was not feeling okay.
Walking towards him, I ruffled his hair, “Awe, so sweet of my nephew. I’m fine, I’m just bored so I need company now.”
He scoffed at that, looking at me pointedly, “Really, Aunt Maggie? You should have called for Hannah or Caleb. I’m not a clown. I can’t keep you company.”
“Oh my little nephew, don’t think that. You know you’re my favorite.” I said, beaming at him.
He sighed tiredly, noticing that look on my face. “What are you planning now, Aunt Maggie? Just tell me what you want already.”
“Okay, good. I’ll say it directly then. Do you have any plans on getting married soon?” I said without a pause, and he gaped at what I just said. I could feel him choking in his own spit in surprise, blinking at me. “Wh-what did….what did you say again, Aunt?”
I just giggled at him, pinching his cheeks to wake himself up. “Marriage, Eion. I said plans for your marriage,” I repeated, and he nodded.
“What about that? Why are you asking me that? He asked, now flustered.
“Oh c’mon, should I be spelling it out for you to understand what I’m referring to? How naive, my nephew. How naive.” I just shook my head at him. “I mean what are you planning for this 4th anniversary of you and Snow?”
It took him a few minutes to understand it and when he finally did, he slowly nodded his head. “Oh now. I know what you’re thinking, Aunt. Just let me plan this alone. I know what I'm doing.”
I sighed, I knew he would say that. “Then hurry up. If you don’t want me and your Aunt Evy to take action because of how slow you are, then plan faster, my dear nephew. I want to see your little ones hurrying up.”
Eion just facepalmed himself. “I should have known you wanted to talk about this...anyway, chill, Aunt Maggie. We just graduated. There’s a proper time for that. Let us savor our unmarried time before we jump on that.”
I shrugged, he’s right haha. He really has grown so maturely. I admire him for that. “Well, I can’t wait.” I defended myself.
“So am I, Aunt Maggie. But you’ll see it soon enough. When she’s ready, I’ll make her seal our love with a vow. I promise, Aunt Maggie,” Was all he replied and I smiled at that.