Simplicity

Damien

I would check my phone every hour of the day. Waiting for her to text me. I needed a new sitter for Karter. I couldn't keep him in my office, I try to keep him hidden from the media, but that failed significantly since she brought him here yesterday.

It's a good thing that there are no pictures of yesterday. There is just a rumor that I have a secret child. Thats why he always has a babysitter. I don't need to deal with this shit.

I scowled to myself as news outlets would pop up about my mysterious child. Emails from different sources asking about it. I delete all the emails and I get my assistant to deal with them.

I looked in Karter's direction and he sat on the couch scribbling in a book with colored pencils. I took her advice and I allowed him to be in my office. I don't keep him in my office.

It's strange knowing I have a son. I mean I never knew I had a son until a few months ago. I never planned to be a father just yet, I don't know how to be a parent. Especially to a child that doesn't talk. It's frustrating trying to understand him, because he refuses to speak to me, but he will speak to a random woman on the street.

To my information, he has only said four words to the house staff. Yes, no, please and thank you. They were weeks apart as well. What was so special about her that made him talk.

"Karter," I called.

He lifted his head from the drawing book and he watched me. He put down his crayon and I saw the way he looked at me. He doesn't look at me like a son would, they were full of sadness and confusion.

I have been treating him as if he was an adult. Like things were his fault when they weren't. I allow others to care for him, because I don't know how to take care of him or even deal with a situation like this.

"Come here," I called.

He slowly rose from his knees and he came over to me dragging his feet. His lips pushed together and with his head low. He came in front of me and I picked him up, putting him on my lap.

"I'm sorry with how I have been treating you, I'll do better. I promise," I say.

He looks up at me, his bright blue eyes fill with hopefulness and nervousness. He wasn't sure if he could trust me or not. I ruffled his hair slightly. He looked exactly like me when I was younger.

"Did you like the lady from yesterday? Aisha?" I ask.

He nodded his head vigorously. He seemed to just get excited from the mention of her. From what I gathered from Ulises, she allowed him to get a lot of ice cream and McDonald's. That's all it took for the boy to like her?

We tried that and it didn't work. He actually spoke to her. Would he ever speak to me? Will I ever get to hear him call me dad? I should try bonding with him and spend time with him.

I don't give him enough attention, because I don't know how to. I'm not around children enough for this. My dad was barely around, I was used to be put off to the side and left with the house maids to be taken care off. I hated it. I hated that he would never want to spend time with me.

Here I was doing the same thing to him. I was treating him the very way I hated being treated. He was abandoned by Camille, because she was tried of being tied down by him. He doesn't speak because of her.

I should be doing better than her, than him. He might just be my only child. I combed my fingers through his curly hair and pressed a kiss against his forehead. I hold him against me.

I checked the time and it was only mid day. I know he had breakfast, but he could be up hungry and want lunch. I eased off his tiny body and I could see how confused he was.