"What's wrong, my darling? Why are you moping here outside?" His grandmother's affectionate voice rolled in his ears like a warm blanket as he sat on the front steps of the mansion.
His face automatically looked up to find his grandmother staring down at him, her face covered with wrinkles and her forehead lined with worry. But her lips offered a gentle, comforting smile.
"Is there something wrong, Caleb?" Grandma Dianne continued when he didn't say anything.
Silently pouting his lips and turning his back on her, he looked at the closed gate, remembering the car that had just driven away, leaving him behind.
No matter how much he begged, his new mother still left without him, saying how sorry she was that she could not take him with her.
"She left me... Grandma." He shook his head, bowing down to hide his disappointment. "Didn't Mom like me?" It was the only explanation.
Although she promised that she would take him on her next trip, he still didn't want her to leave.
What if she had changed her mind? What if she thought that she didn't want to be his mother anymore? What if she left and never came back because she no longer liked him?
"What silly question is that? Who wouldn't want to be with my handsome and precious grandson?" Grandma sat beside him and enveloped him in her warm embrace. "Of course, definitely not, Sophia. I can see how much she likes you."
"Sophia adores you." His grandmother added as she reassured him by kissing him on his forehead.
"Are you sure?" Still, doubt clouded his judgment since experience had taught him differently.
That a child like him was unlovable.
"Hazel didn't. Right?" As far as he could recall, his own mother couldn't stand to be with him. She never loved him. "That's why she left me." She didn't even want him to call her Mom in public. "She doesn't want me."
After the day his mother walked out on him, he had barely heard from her, except for a few occasions. However, it was never a reunion of a mother and son, but more like a meeting of two strangers.
Of course, he had seen her in the movies, on the internet, and even in the news, but she never once acknowledged him as her son.
"Oh, my poor darling. That's not true." Grandma Dianne tried to deny it, but he was old enough to understand that she was just saying that to protect him.
"Hazel was young and immature when she had you. She was incredibly stupid for thinking that her career meant more than you." His grandmother tried to explain his mother's actions. "But I'm sure that she loves you and misses you so much."
"But I am here. I will always be here." His grandmother caressed his cheeks, letting him feel the warmth of her palms against his skin. "I love you, Caleb."
"I know that, Grandma." He never doubted doubt. His grandmother had never failed to fill up all his mother's shortcomings.
"But you'll also leave me." He reminded her.
Soon, his Grandma Di and Grandpa Max would be leaving again. They would be returning to their home, while he and his father would be left behind to live in this big, empty house again.
Then, he would be alone once again since his father was always busy working.
"If Sophia doesn't come back..." He couldn't even finish the sentence, finding the possibility heartbreaking.
"Oh, silly child." Grandma Dianne pressed her lips hard as if mildly reprimanding him. "Who said Sophia's not coming back?" She shook her head.
"Listen. Okay." When he nodded, she proceeded. "Sophia really loves you very much." Staring at him as if asking him if he understood. Once again, he nodded.
"But at the moment, Sophia and your Dad are on their honeymoon. Unfortunately, they could not take you with them." She explained. "But they will be back before you know it."
"Grandma, what's a honeymoon?" It sounded like fun, but why couldn't he go with them? His eyes searched his grandmother's face as he waited for her answer.
A part of him wanted to trust his grandmother's words, but another part was still hesitant. But he never had any reason not to believe his grandmother before. So, perhaps he should give her the benefit of the doubt.
Grandma Dianne smiled, looking visibly happy. "Oh, honeymoon?" She paused as if thinking, as her index fingers drummed against her lips while her eyes squinted, producing several lines on her face.
"Do you remember the movie we watched where a child wished he could have a baby sister or a brother?"
After he thought about it, "Yeah, I loved that movie." He said.
That night, he was crying because his father went on a trip and left him in the care of his grandparents. To make him stop, Grandma Dianne convinced him to watch a movie with him.
Since seeing that movie, he had always wanted the stork to knock on their door, but until now, the large bird had never come.
"Well, your Mom and Dad are going on this trip so that someday a stork might bring you a baby brother or sister." She informed him. "Wouldn't you like that?"
Hearing his grandmother's explanation, a bright smile suddenly curved along his lips. "Really? I'm going to have a brother and a sister." He asked excitedly as he stood up from the steps and hugged his grandmother.
"Come on inside. Let's make your favorite drink inside." Grandma Dianne took his hand and guided him toward the kitchen.
"How does chocolate milkshake sound?" She continued, enticing him with his favorite drink. "I'll even let you sprinkle all the marshmallows you like."
Of course, he loved that.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure while he was drinking.
"Grandpa... Grandpa..." He shouted, calling his grandfather's attention as he entered the kitchen.
"Grandpa Max..." He continued when he finally looked in his direction. "Grandma said that once Mom and Dad come back, I'll have a brother and a sister soon." He eagerly shouted, wiping the chocolatey foam that adhered to the corners of his mouth.
Hastily, he ran to his grandfather, wanting to share the good news. But halfway, he abruptly stopped when another figure appeared behind Grandpa Max.
"Hi! Honey, did you miss me?"