My Heart only Beats for You (Natalie Godfrey)

But she never felt bad about Montez.

Montez was her favorite little boy.

"Here Montez, sit down and i'll go make you something to eat and drink." Yesseca let go of Montez and wiped away his tears. "You haven't had my cooking in a long time haven't you?" Montez nodded eagerly.

It had been a long time since he had tasted Yesseca's cooking.

He also missed her very much.

He had always felt that Yesseca's cooking was the best in the whole wide world. She could easily beat any of the chef's in the Quartley Palace.

Yesseca soon came back with some strawberry milk and a slice of cake.

Montez happily gobbled them up.

Yesseca gently patted Montez's back, "Don't rush Montez. Eat slowly."

Montez looked up at her with cake crumbs and milk stains all over his face. "I can't slow down

Yesseca, the food you made is so delicious!"

Yesseca's eyes glistened with joy.

This was so strange. She thought that she would feel somewhat estranged with Montez when she saw him again after such a long time apart.

But when they met, that wasn't the case at all.

There was no estrangement between them at all. They were still as close as ever.

After Montez had finished eating, Yesseca gave him a cup of warm water. "Here Montez, have some water."

After he had drunk the warm water, Montez said, "Yesseca, you're so nice to me. I... I'm so sorry."

"You silly boy." Yesseca stroked Montez's head. "I knew you would never let me down."

"Yeah." Montez's eyelashes trembled. "Back then, I had completely believed her. I... I didn't believe you."

Montez hung his head down.

Yesseca could see how guilty he felt.

She also knew he was referring to Qiana.

She sighed.

She then said, "Montez, I forgive you. You were fooled as well. I also thought she was your birth mother. It's not your fault at all. If you want to blame anyone, blame her. It's not your fault." "Really, Yesseca?" "Really." Yesseca replied with complete certainty.

Yesseca wasn't sure if Montez would understand, since he was such a young boy. But she explained, "Montez, it's okay. You shouldn't feel guilty for someone's else's mistakes."

Montez was quiet.

Yesseca continued, "Montez, are you full? Would you like something else to eat? I can make something for you."

Montez shook his head. "It's alright Yesseca, I've had enough to eat. I came to talk to you."

"Alright then, let's chat." Yesseca said.

Montez summoned up his courage and said, "Yesseca, you said you've forgiven me. Can you forgive my dad as well?" Yesseca was shocked.

It wasn't Tremaine's fault...

She smiled wryly.

No!

Montez was just a child. He had no way of distinguishing his real mother from a fake one. Of course he would trust his own mother no matter what.

Tremaine however, had the ability to distinguish things.

They had been together for such a long time. Yet Tremaine was so quick to turn the tables against her. He didn't trust her at all and even banished her from Nashaland. She was barred from returning for life. She couldn't forget all the pain he had caused her.

She couldn't forgive him for doing that to her.

"Montez, can we not talk about your dad?" Yesseca asked softly.

"But Yesseca, ever since you left, dad's been miserable." Montez became misty eyed as her continued, "Every day when I get up and see my dad, I can tell how unhappy he is."

Yesseca looked away and didn't say anything.

Montez grabbed Yesseca's hand and said, "Yesseca, can't you forgive my dad?"

Montez's pleading nearly caused Yesseca to break out in tears.

She remembered all the times she spoke to Montez about Tremaine, of how terrible he was. He was such a terrible person that they even had a nickname for him, the big, horrible monster. But now, he was here to beg her on Tremaine's behalf. She felt very uncomfortable.

Despite her best efforts to contain her emotions, Yesseca choked as she said, "Montez, don't overthink this. I don't hate you or your father.

We've just gone our separate ways. We're now living our own lives."

"Your father lives in Nashaland and I've come back home to Agaphen City."

As she said this, she pointed

towards her surroundings. "See this whole bakery Montez? My best friend

and

I own and run it. I have a

very happy life here now. That's why

I won't be going back to Nashaland."

"But Yesseca, dad..."

"Montez, don't mention your father, okay?" Yesseca interrupted.

Montez bit down on his lip.

After waiting for some time, Montez finally said, "Yesseca, are you really never going back to Nashaland? Are you never going to see my dad again?" "No, never again." Yesseca told this to Montez with certainty.

There was some hesitation in Montez's eyes, then he said, "Yesseca, if you're not going to be with my dad, then he's going to marry another woman. Montez had no other choice.

He hoped that by saying this, Yesseca might change her mind.

But he hadn't expected Yesseca to have already known this.

As she heard Montez say this, her heart ached, but she also felt relieved.

Wasn't it a good thing for Tremaine to marry someone else?

After breaking up with her, Tremaine was now able to move on and continue with his own life. This was good.

Yesseca smiled and said, "Well yes, that's very good. I'm very happy for him."

Montez hadn't expected Yesseca to react this way. It took him some effort to stammer out, "Yesseca, you're not upset about that?"

"There's nothing to be upset about." Yesseca's smile grew wider. "This is a good thing. Why would I be upset? Montez you should be happy about this too. Your father finally found his own happiness." Montez fell silent.

Yesseca didn't say anything more after that.

Time slowly ticked away.

The silence saddened Yesseca.

She looked outside the window and said, "Montez, you should head back to Nashaland with Mr. Hawls. I'm going to be very busy soon."

Truth was, it wasn't going to be that busy. Preslie could manage just fine by herself.

It was just that after Montez

mentioned that Tremaine was going to marry another woman, she had no way of continuing their

conversation. So, rather than

thinking of something else to talk

about, she decided it would be better

to ask Montez to leave.

Montez stood up.

"Alright then. In that case Yesseca, I'll be taking my leave now." Then behaving very much like an adult, he turned around and said, "Please take good care of yourself."

Yesseca reached out, patted Montez on the head and said, "You too. Take good care of yourself."

Just as Montez was about to walk out, Yesseca said, "Montez, when you grow older, spend more with your dad and get closer to him. You should know that your dad loves you very much." Montez nodded firmly.

He said, "I know Yesseca. I know my dad loves me very much."