Without further ado, he ordered two steaks and said to me, “You lost weight.”
I chuckled. “Are you here on a business trip?”
“I’m here to see you!” He was very honest. “Uncle Louis told me you’re in R Province, so I came.”
I simply acknowledged and kept quiet thereafter.
Time flies, he’s already in his thirties.
“When will you be going back to K City?” He posted a direct question to me.
“I don’t plan to return.”
He frowned. “What about Summer’s future? She could enjoy a better school and a plethora of resources. Why would you say no to that?”
The weather was very humid. I rubbed my forehead and replied impatiently, “John, can’t we just sit and eat?”
Que sera sera. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. What’s the use of discussing in advance?
He fell silent at that and watched me eat, but consumed nothing himself. It was a weird habit of his.
I would not step foot into such a good restaurant on my own. It’s too expensive for my limited salary.
As we left the restaurant, I looked up at the scorching sun. The heat was unbearable in R Province, and it could easily make someone snappy.
“Shall I take you home?” he asked.
I squinted my eyes at him. “Going to see Summer?”
He was surprised. “May I?”
“Why not? You’re her uncle.”
He beamed with joy but tried to suppress it.
We went to pick Summer up from her school.
She had not seen John even once during the four years here in R Province. However, she was not too shocked to see him as we had been having many visitors recently.
Summer and I took the back seat. She turned her head to and fro to look at John and I. “Mommy, is Mr. Stanhope your friend?”
I nodded. “Summer, he’s your Uncle John.”
“Uncle?” she gasped.
John thought she was calling him and he immediately turned around gleefully.
“Watch out!” I yelled upon seeing the cars coming our way.
Luckily, his quick reflexes in maneuvering the steering wheel prevented a car crash.
He pulled over and cast a serious look at both of us. With anticipation, he asked, “Summer, call me again.”
I…
Summer was flabbergasted but did as he said. “Uncle John!” she addressed him sweetly.
A delighted smug settled upon his face. He exclaimed ecstatically, “Did you hear that, Sienna? She called me ‘Uncle John’!”
I could totally feel him. He’s just like me, lonely on the inside and always searching for a sense of belonging.
A simple greeting from Summer made John feel joyful. It gave him the warmth that he had been yearning.
He was very happy. At the same time, he also had a complicated feeling toward others.
When he sent us home, I noticed that his gaze was fixated on Summer for a very long time. He looked like he was in deep thoughts.
Something’s not right.
As soon as we reached home, Summer went to pluck some fruits. I asked, “Is there anything bothering you?”
He came back to his senses. “Sienna, what would you do if you’re pregnant but the father of the child wants you to abort the baby?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Well, since it’s your child, there’s no reason for you to abandon it. John, don’t disappoint the person who holds you in her heart dearly.”
Feeling rather embarrassed and shocked, he clarified, “I didn’t say it’s my child.”
I found it amusing. “When you stared at Summer, you’re imagining if the child would be as adorable as Summer, given the chance to be born into this world. Am I right?”
He hissed and sat down on the rattan chair in sizzling annoyance.
Holding his head with both his hands, he seemed lost.
I squatted down next to him and shared my two cents. “Regardless of the situation, if that’s your child, you can’t leave it alone nor cut off ties with it. John, don’t do something you’ll regret.”
He abruptly got up from his seat. Looking slightly dazed, he left me a sentence before leaving the yard. “I’m heading back to K City. I’ll come see you again in a few days’ time.”
Seeing him walking away, I could not help but smile. People will always be healed, whether through an eventful life or the existence of a child.
Summer came out carrying a watermelon with all her might. She scanned around for John. “Mommy, where’s Uncle John?”
I took over the watermelon from her and put it aside. “He’s left.” I sighed. “Summer, the fruit will rot if we don’t finish it quick enough.”
She lowered her head. “I wanted to eat it with Uncle John.”
I stroked her hair and sat her down on the rattan chair. “Summer, do you want to live in the city where Grandpa and Uncle John are?”
She tilted her head, looking confused. “Will Michael be there too?”
Gosh!
I was rendered speechless and struggled to come up with a reply. “No, he won’t. Michael will stay here with his daddy.”
“Oh, I see.” She was disappointed. “If I’m gone, Michael won’t have any friends left.”
Pondering over the idea, she asked, “Mommy, will I have a daddy if I go live with Grandpa and Uncle John?”
I felt uneasy. All children would want their fathers to be by their sides. Summer is no exception.
I felt sorry for her. “Summer, do you want a daddy that badly?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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