Sunday

R

"Okay, Stella. Say goodbye to Daddy." Sunday was holding her suitcase in front of Alex, Rian, Jack, and Zack. Stella was beside her, crying. She did not want to go.

Not at all.

Stella, with teary and blurry eyes, ran to her Papa and hugged his leg. "Don't make me go, Dad."

Zack crouched down to her level and hugged the child. "Hey. You'll be back. We're going to see each other again soon. Or I'll come and visit."

That still did not calm Stella down.

They will be boarding the plane in twenty minutes now.

Alex then stepped in. "Hey, Stella. Do you want some milk? Will Uncle Alex make you one?"

Stella sniffed and nodded her head. Alex smiled and took out her pink bottle and formula dispenser from Sunday's handbag.

Sunday touched Alex's hands and mouthed a thank you. She just had a night of eating pizza with the boys, and she was so tired and sleepy.

When Alex was done, she gave the bottle to Stella. Sunday hugged her friends for the last time before entering the security checkpoint.

"Thank you so much for this week, guys. You really made Stella and I happy. I'll see you again next year or whenever, okay? I'm gonna miss you all so much." She smiled at the boys and wiped a tear that fell.

Sunday took her last glance at Zack, and their eyes met. Zack gave his friend a puzzled look while she just shook her head and disappeared.

7 hours later, Sunday and Stella arrived in London. It was already 2 in the afternoon there. They went home straight, and Stella fell asleep on the couch as Sunday was placing their used clothes inside the washing machine.

Can she really allow Zack to date? She doesn't even own him. Why does she care? She would just have to face the truth and accept it.

This is no fairytale. This is reality.

Back in Baltimore, Holly was making some spaghetti for lunch. It was still 9 in the morning, and Zack didn't understand why she's making lunch this early.

She was pacing around the kitchen, and her face showed no mood. She was frantic. Zack stopped from playing the guitar and asked her.

"Holly." Zack stood up and walked to her. "Are you okay? Is there something bothering you?"

"Nothing. Go back to playing your guitar." Holly answered as she continued slicing some tomatoes. Zack scratched his head.

"Is it the guitar?"

He got no answer this time.

He sighed. "Is this about Sunday?"

Right after Zack mentioned her name, Holly stopped from sprinkling salt on the cooking pasta. "Why would it be about her, Zack?"

"Why wouldn't it be about her? If not, then tell me. Is this because you finally met my daughter and you feel uncomfortable about it?" Zack pushed.

Holly looked at Zack, hurt by his words. "The time you told me you have a kid with your best friend, I accepted that. It did not make me love you less. That was really offensive of you to say, Zack."

Zack pulled his hair. "And this is really annoying. Tell me what the problem is and I'll try to solve it."

"Fine." Holly straightened up. "It is about Sunday. It's like she doesn't even want me there or near her kid. What's up, Zack? Do you think I can't feel it? I do, and I can. It has offended me. I tried making it up with her by bringing some pie for Stella. At the end of the day, though, she refused it."

"That's because my daughter is allergic to cherries. It's not her fault that she only remembers it at the end. She's a mum, Holly, she's got a lot happening in her mind." Zack explained.

Holly sat down on the high chair and massaged her head. "And now you're defending her."

Zack just suddenly lost it. "Obviously, Holly! Even before she became the mother of my child, she was my best friend. And friends defend each other. I don't even know what's up with you. I'm leaving."

"Where are you going, Zachary?" Holly asked with all the power left in her.

"To my friends who are sane. Go enjoy your spaghetti. Never liked it, anyway. Too bland for my taste." Zack grabbed his car keys from the counter and left a gasping and crying Holly.

"But you never complained about them before! Come back here, Gordon!"