Grandma Lin wanted to know if I kidnapped little Lei Wei. She shook her head sadly at me and said,

 
"This is not how to deal with your pain. Forgive your sister and give the baby back to  his parents."

 
"Grandma, I didn't kidnap him. I'm his nanny." I told her.

 
"Why is he home with you and not his parents, it has been almost two days."

 
"His uncle, Mr. Cheng is out of town on a business trip. He should be back tonight." I answered. Little Lei Wei was sleeping on my bed. I touched him on his cheek, such soft skin.

 
"You better be getting over-time pay. I don't mind little Lei, but I don't want anybody taking advantage of you."

 
Grandma had shorten Lei Wei's name to little Lei. I've taken a liking to that name too. In just two days, I've fallen in love with little Lei. I love his energy, his curiosity and his baby babbling. There is just something so magical about baby, their smell, their soft skin, their unconditional faith and love. Looking into little  Lei's eyes, I knew he loves and trust me to watch over him and care for him.

 
"Don't get too attached to little Lei Ariel, someone's ringing the doorbell, go answer." Grandma said firmly. I grinned, grandma had a chair next to little Lei and is hovering over him like a protective grandma bear.

 
~~~~~`

 
Mr. Cheng walked inside grandma's apartment and sat down. He appeared exhausted, his business suit was wrinkled and in need of  major ironing.

 
"Just a few minutes." He said and then fell asleep. He was still holding a suitcase in his hand. I carefully loosen his fingers and took the suitcase from him and placed it by his feet. I covered a blanket over him and decided to cook dinner.

 
One hour later, dinner was ready. Mr. Cheng was still sleeping. I could hear little Lei in the bedroom making baby gibberish. Grandma was in there talking to him. What a pair! Grandma was complaining about a bingo game she lost and little Lei was cooing happily.

 
"Grandma, dinner's ready."

 
"Come on little Lei, let's eat!" She sang gliding toward the kitchen.

 
"Who's that snoring in our living room?" Grandma asked.

 
"Little Lei's uncle." I said. Grandma went up to him and yanked his shirt. Mr. Cheng stirred and yawned.

 
"Dinner time." Grandma said loudly. Mr. Cheng rubbed his eyes and stared blankly at grandma. After a few silence seconds, Mr. Cheng jumped from his seat.

 
"What happen?" He asked.

 
"Nothing, you fell asleep. Dinner's ready." Grandma answered. She handed little Lei over to Mr. Cheng and pulled him toward the dinner table.

 
"Mr. Cheng, what is your first name?" Grandma asked.

 
"Joe Cheng"

 
Without missing a beat, grandma quickly asked,

 
"Parents? Siblings?"

 
"No, they're all deceased."

 
"Uncles, aunts, cousins?"

 
"Yes, one uncle he lives in America."


"Girlfriend?" Grandma asked quickly. There was a rhythm going on. Joe paused for a seconds and then answered,

 
"No."

 

"Looking for one?"


"No."

 
"What do you think of Ariel?"

 
"I...I think she's nice." Joe Cheng stuttered.


"Grandma!!" I tried to stop her. How embarrassing.

 
"What's your plan for little Lei?"


"Little Lei?" Joe asked.


"She meant Lei Wei." I explained.


"He needs a stable home. You need a wife, little Lei needs a mother...I order you to date Ariel, do you agree?  say you agree!" Grandma said. She was smiling and nodding at Joe.


Grandma was practically hovering over Joe. He leaned back in his chair as far from grandma as possible.

 
"Say you agree Joe." Grandma commanded.



"Agree?" Joe answered looking extremely confused.

 

 "...No" I tried to intervene but no one was listening to me.


"It's all set! First date is this Friday! hahahaha." Laughed grandma.  

 
Joe and I glanced at each other, our eyes met briefly and before I lowered my gaze. Poor Joe Cheng had a "What just happen?" look on his face but was too much of a gentleman to dispute grandma.
 
The baby was crying its head off yet the young man sat still as a rock staring at the baby. He had a terrified look on his face almost as if he was helpless and did not know what to do. I assumed he was the baby's father. They had the same light tan complexion and high nose.


"What is the baby's name?" I asked politely. The young man signaled the secretary to leave the room before answering me.


"Lei Wei."


"Is it okay with you if I hold him?" I asked. Lei Wei's father nodded his head and immediately handed me the baby. I held him in my arms and felt his forehead. Normal temperature. I checked his diaper, it was dry.

 
"When did you last feed him?" I asked. The young father shrugged and counted his fingers.


"Where is his bottle?" I asked. The young father pointed to a  bag next to the table. I opened the bag and looked inside. Empty bottles. There was a container of baby formula but no spoon.

 
"Can you hand me a cup please?" I asked waiting. The young father pushed a number on his desk phone.

 
"Yes, Mr. Cheng?" It was the secretary.

 
"Bring me a clean cup."

 

A few seconds later, the secretary walked in and handed him a clean cup.

 

"Anything else?" She asked.

 

"Wait a sec please." I said, quickly I poured some powder into the cup and transferred it into the empty bottle making sure that I had the measurement correct.

 

"Please add warm water...just to this line." I handed the bottle to the secretary.

 

"Do as she ask."  The young man ordered.

 

The secretary nodded and left.

 

Lei Wei had stopped crying. I was gently rocking him back and forth and answering his baby talk with my own baby talk.

I heard him making cooing voices and giggling. I held him up against me and smiled. Little Lei Wei smiled back mimicking my facial expression.

 

"How many months is he?" I asked.

 

"Six months."

 

"Aww....cutie pie, did you hear that? You're half way to being one years old! Aren't you just so excited?" I said in a high pitch voice and snuggled him. Lei Wei giggled and started a string of baby babbling.

 

"You sure have a lot to say, what a day this must have been for you!" I nodded as if in agreement with his baby gibberish. The secretary came back in and handed me the bottle.

 

"Here you go, you hungry little precious you." I said, little Lei Wei quickly grab hold of the bottle. He was obviously very hungry.

 

I sat down with Lei Wei in my arms. Somehow he took hold of one of my finger and wouldn't let go. What a beautiful baby!

 

"What is your name?" Lei Wei's father asked.

 

"Ariel Lin, and you?" I asked.

 

Instead of answering me, he handed me the baby's bag and said,

 

"Take him home with you today. You're hired."

 

"What?" I asked confused.

 

"I hired you to be Lei Wei's nanny as of today. This is a twenty-four hours job which means he has to be with you at all time. So take him to your home and I'll go see him later."

 

"But...but...where is his mother?" I asked.

 

"She's dead."

 

"Oh." I didn't know what to say.

 

"I think it's best if he stay with his father...I can care for him while you are working but he needs to be with you too." I advised.

 

"His father is in prison."

 

I was wrong in assuming Mr. Cheng was the father.

"How is Lei Wei related to you?" I asked.

 

"His mother was my sister."

 

Things was starting to make a little more sense. Not quite sure what to do, I picked up the baby's bag and with the baby in my arms left the building. I...have a baby...

 
    Picture

    Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

    Two hearts that has been shattered  into pieces...will they find love again?
    After she was abandoned at the altar, Ariel stopped believing in forever love...
    Joe, lost his family and thought he did not deserve happiness until Ariel came into his life...Can they put their past behind them and start over? To find out, please read Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

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