RAIN|04

The sound of Dolly Parton's voice filled the bakery and I hummed to myself, walking up to a table with a polite smile on my face. The bakery, as always, was filled to the brim with loyal patrons whom I had grown to familiarize myself with over the years.

"Hey, Ray. Here's your order –the coffee is on the house" I placed the blueberry cake on the table, smiling at the sixty something year old man with a sweet tooth.

"Thank you, Rain. The little one isn't here today?" Ray chuckled and I laughed, nodding in agreement. Matt had cried, refusing to go to preschool even after missing a few days last week.

Another patron called, drawing my attention and I walked towards the table with a polite smile on my face. The table was filled with teenagers who snickered as I approached their table and I had a feeling something was going to happen.

"Hello, I'm Rain. What would you like to order?" I smiled politely, hoping I didn't have to beat someone's son up today.

There were four of them, messily dyed hair, tattoos on their arms, a cigarette pack on the table and a car key as well. I wasn't one to judge especially when my husband looked like some gang leader.

"Can you tell me what's on the menu?" The one who seemed to be the dominant one in the group smirked and I exhaled.

"Bread, cookies, cakes, donuts, pastries, pies, tea, coffee and of course, confectioneries. If you'll have a look at the menu, you'll see a list" I answered dryly and he chuckled, brushing his fingers through his hair and nipping on his bottom lip.

"What uni do you go? I haven't seen you around here" A black haired kid asked, and I laughed, a tad bit flattered but I was more pissed than flattered right now.

"What would you like to order?" I gritted my teeth through my smile. They chuckled safe for the scrawny kid in the corner, looking nervous like he wanted to be anywhere but there.

"Mrs. Antonov" Ian, an employee called behind me and he leaned in to whisper in my ear.

"Mr. Antonov is here. He's at the corner table" I smiled and nodded, turning to Ian.

"Take their orders." I pulled the apron off and hurried in the direction of where Ian said Ren would be and I smiled, as I set my eyes on him. He had his elbows propped up on the table and his fingers entwined as he stared outside the restaurant, a frown on his face.

"Hello. I'm Rain. May I take your order?" I whispered in his ear, kissing his cheek and he chuckled, turning to me with a smile on his face.

"Are you on the menu, Rain?" He smirked, leaning back in his seat and I leaned down, kissing his lips. Ren groaned into the kiss, cupping my face as he slipped his tongue into my mouth. I pulled back quickly, knowing where this was headed to.

"Let's go out on a date" He suggested, taking my hand in his and fiddling with it. I sighed, glancing back at the counter. Ian was the only employee available to work today.

"I can't. Ian is the only one working today" I pouted, and he looked at something behind me, clenching his jaws. Ren stood up, towering over me as he shrugged his gray coat off, leaving him in a black turtleneck top tucked into a pair of black slacks.

I nipped on my bottom lip, pulling him closer by tugging on his shirt.

"If I help out...will you be able to close on time?" He leaned down, nudging his nose against mine and I raised a brow. Ren was my husband and I loved him to death, but he wasn't the friendliest to people who weren't me or Matt.

But...I couldn't seem to say no looking at his beautiful eyes.

"Fine but you must smile politely at the customers and do not threaten them" I poked his chest and he chuckled, draping his coat over my shoulders.

"I hear you loud and clear, ma'am" He smacked my ass, picking up my apron, wrapping it around his waist.

"Ian" I wiggled my index finger at another employee who feared my husband, clearly not as scared as Talia but scared nonetheless and he walked to me as I sat down.

"Cookies, please" I smiled, nipping on my bottom lip as he walked away to grab my order. Did he always have to look so good in everything?

Like Ren could read my mind, he glanced at me and smirked before chuckling. Ian came back a moment later, placing the cookies in front of me and I picked one, taking a bite.

Ren picked up a notepad and a pen, walking to the table where I had just left a few moments ago --the same table those boys were sitting. Clearly unhappy with their new attendant, they ordered what they wanted.

"Well, don't they seem cooperative now?" I mumbled and watched as he walked around, trying so hard not to grimace or threaten people. It was quite adorable maybe because I knew he was doing this for me.

An hour later, I decided to close the bakery so that we could go pick Matt and go out together.

"I'm so tired" Ren groaned behind me with his head resting on my shoulder as we stepped out of the bakery and towards my car, a black BMW.

"You're such a big baby. You only stood for like fifty minutes" I brushed my fingers through his hair and he sighed, kissing my neck.

"Fifty minutes too long, Rain. I think I deserve a reward" He grumbled, wrapping his arms around me as he pressed his growing bulge against my lower back.

"We're in the parking lot, Ren." I whispered turning to him as I leaned against the passenger's door of my car. Ren smiled sheepishly and I smacked his head.

A grown ass man.

"Drive" I pressed the keys to his chest, and he chuckled, pulling the door open for me and as I climbed in, he smacked my ass again.

"Ren Antonov!" I laughed and he chuckled, quickly shutting the door before walking around the car, climbing in through the driver's seat.

"I swear to God, I hate you" I mumbled, and he grinned, kissing my lips and strapping my seat-belt before he pulled back with a rosy tint to his cheeks. I smiled, turning on my side to stare at him. The way I loved him...I knew that I would never be able to love anyone else that way.

If I loved him this way now, I wondered just how much I loved him before the accident.

"Do you wanna grab anything for Matt at the store?" He asked, driving and staring ahead. I shook my head and held up the bag that contained cupcakes and ice-cream I made for him. In no time we got to Matt's school and as soon as he saw us, his eyes grew bright, and he ran towards us.

"Mama!" He screamed, arms wide open and my heart thudded as I caught him in my arms, spinning him around as he giggled.

"Oh, my baby! I missed you so much" I kissed all over his face and he giggled, wrapping his arms around my neck.

"I missed you too, mama. And Miss. Lily said we could make a painting and I made one with me, Mama and Daddy..."

"Hey buddy" Ren leaned over my shoulder, kissing Matt's forehead. Matt giggled, kissing Ren's face before his father took him from my arms.

"Daddy! I missed you too"

"Daddy and I are going out. Wanna come along?" I asked, walking back to the car. I pulled the door to the backseat open and Ren strapped him in.

"Yes, please. Is this for me?" He picked up the cupcakes and ice cream in the bag, looking from Ren to Me with those adorable eyes.

"Of course, sweetheart. It's all yours" I laughed, ruffling his hair before we shut the door and climbed into the car. In the backseat, Matt sang a children's rhyme to himself as Ren drummed his fingers against my thigh.

"You're staring an awful lot, Rain. Your eyes...they have bad intentions in them" he whispered the last part, tut-tutting and shaking his head. I turned to Matt who was munching on the pack of cookies, dancing in the backseat.

I turned to Ren who had gone silent now and was occasionally glancing at the rear-view mirror.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, placing my hand on his thigh and he smiled softly at me, shaking his head before looking back at the road, stepping on the accelerator.

Again, he looked at the rear-view mirror and my brows furrowed, looking behind us. I didn't see anything so, I turned to Ren again and his jaws were clenched.

I silently wondered what happened. Ren was not the type of man to get mad over petty things, but he usually got really mad when people drove carelessly on the road.

I assumed it had something to do with my accident that happened a few years ago.

We got to the restaurant in to time and I held Matt's hand as he excitedly looked around.

"Mama, look! Fishies! Lots of fishies!" He screamed, running towards the aquarium filled with a variety of colored fishes.

"You like them?" I smiled, brushing my fingers through his hair with his face pressed against the glass. They were pretty. The tank was large. Spanning from one end of the restaurant to the other, filled with large and little fishes, moss balls and turtles.

"If you like it...I can buy it" He whispered in my ear, standing behind me and I laughed.

"I like it, Daddy. Me! I like it!" Matt jumped excitedly, tapping his chest and Ren scoffed, crossing his arm against his chest.

"I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to your mom" Matt, clearly displeased frowned and looked at me with a pout on his lips.

"Mama" He mumbled, taking my hand in his little hands. I sighed, shaking my head before pulling him along with me to a seat.

Refusing to sit in his own chair, Matt sat on my thighs and we ate. It was moments like this that brought this odd satisfaction to me. I just felt...happy in ways that I couldn't explain. 

A/N

Enjoy, Darlings!
-Aduke 🌻