“Yes, Daddy.”
Anthony continued without blinking, “Was what Uncle Nathaniel said true? Are you struggling with your computer science homework?”
His words implied that he was blaming Gregory.
If Gregory could solve his computer science problems alone, he no longer needed Nathaniel’s help, and we could leave for good.
I thought it rather inappropriate to drag the children into this, yet I remained silent. I was aware this would be the wrong time for me to voice my opinion.
Everyone had their way of solving things, after all.
It turned out my worry was for naught. Gregory had lived with Anthony for many years, and he was well aware of his father’s expressions and intentions. Some thought later, Gregory had an answer for his father.
“No, Daddy. I can solve them on my own now.” With that, Gregory turned to Nathaniel next and bowed respectfully. “Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Nathaniel. I can solve those problems alone now, and I shan’t need to trouble you again. I don’t have any more questions on computer science.”
Whether it was Gregory putting up a tough front or caving out of fear toward Anthony, I was relieved that he had not made the wrong choice despite his past relationship with Nathaniel.
Anthony nodded lightly as satisfaction flashed through his gaze. He stared at Nathaniel and said, “You heard that.”
It was impossible to discern Nathaniel’s true feelings on the matter behind his smile. He chuckled and replied to Anthony, “What about Nora and Letty’s long-awaited reunion? We were so excited to introduce you to some of our friends. Staying a while longer won’t hurt anyone. Why, Sienna, don’t you want to get to know your older sister a little better?”
He stressed his last sentence, and his weird tone hinted that he was up to something.
It was not until Audrey piqued up that I knew he was targeting the children.
“Mommy, isn’t Ms. Nora your older sister? Don’t you want to be together if you haven’t seen each other in a long time? Just like how I want to be with Greg forever and ever!”
I explained hastily, “Audrey, don’t say that. Mommy’s just like you as in I only have an older brother. I don’t have an older sister. You know Mommy and Uncle John meet all the time. We have a great relationship, right?”
“Oh, yeah.” Audrey nodded innocently. Barely a moment later, she exclaimed, “But Mommy, the two of you look the same! Aunt Emma said that people who look the same on TV are long-lost twins!”
I held in my urge to hunt down Emma that very instant.
The situation turned incredibly awkward after Audrey’s outburst.
Suddenly, Shaun broke his silence and said, “The dolls you play with every day have the same face, but they’re not from the same family.”
“You’re right, Shaun! Does that mean Mommy and Ms. Nora aren’t sisters at all?”
“Yes.” I glanced at Shaun, barely able to hide my surprise. He had been standing silently behind Gregory all this while, and if I had not turned around earlier, I might have questioned my hearing. Shaun had, without a doubt, drawn the analogy of the dolls calmly.
Despite the glaring lack of scientific evidence backing his claims, it was more than enough to convince Audrey.
Children of the same age had an inexplicable way of understanding one another. Both Gregory and Shaun had the same uncanny way of getting through to Audrey where adults could not.
There was virtue in keeping things simple, especially when it came to reasoning with children.
Children viewed the world through a simple lens, and they tended to categorize things into neat blacks and whites. They were acceptable of boundaries their parents drew; yet, raising them in an overly- sheltered environment could inadvertently backfire and impede their development.
I relaxed slightly as these thoughts crossed my mind. The sight of Nora’s eerily-similar face no longer frightened me as much as it did.
Shaun’s words completely helped us out of the situation. Thus, Nathaniel and Nora had no excuse to keep us from leaving anymore.
I had no desire to stay in this wretched place any longer.
Anthony silently made a move to lead the kids away. Nora, however, was not about to let Shaun getaway after ruining her plans, and she grabbed him before he could approach us.
She planted her hands on Shaun’s shoulder menacingly and scrutinized him. She cooed like an excessively-friendly elder, “Which family are you from?”
Shaun glanced at her calmly before looking at Anthony and me. He said, “Mr. and Mrs. Featherstone adopted me. I’m their adopted son.”
“Is it?” With her gaze locked on Shaun, Nora continued, “Your family has finally reunited after a long time. I thought you’d be dying to shower your biological kids with love before taking in an unwanted orphan.”
She paused slightly, but not long enough for any of us to rebuke her. “Fate has brought this kid into our acquaintance. It’s fortuitous that Nat and I don’t have children. Why don’t we adopt him instead? We can share your burdens of childcare.”
I was about to reject her offer when Anthony’s voice rang out. “I can afford to care for as many kids as I please. There’s no need to trouble outsiders at all.”
He lowered his gaze and glanced at Shaun. “Why are you standing there? Do you really want to stay here?”
Shaun caught his meaning immediately and plucked off Nora’s hands from his shoulders. He walked toward us determinedly, making his stance toward her offer crystal clear.
He did not even need to say a thing to convey his decision.
I mussed his hair fondly in approval.
“We’ll get going, then. You don’t have to send us out,” I declared.
I nodded at the couple in farewell and ushered the kids out the door, Anthony following closely behind.
Once we were safely in the car, the children began fooling around in the backseat.
Audrey was so excited that even Gregory struggled to keep her in her seat.
“I’m starving! I can’t wait to eat the cake when I get home! Greg, Shaun, you can’t eat my share!”
Gregory replied in resignation, “Whatever you want.”
Shaun remained silent.
“Mommy, did Daddy really make the cake? Daddy’s the best! Isn’t Daddy Superman?”
I answered her patiently, “Of course, Daddy made it himself! Daddy isn’t Superman, though. Superman is too busy saving the world than to spend time with us.”
“Mommy, does Daddy know how to make lollipops too? Those super huge ones!”
“I- erm, why don’t you ask Daddy?”
Audrey’s questions came flooding out like a dam that had burst.
“Daddy, do you know how to do it?” In her excitement, she had leaned forward between the two front seats in the car.
I thought Anthony would appease her like he usually did. To my surprise, he pulled up to the curb.
Despite his safe stop, the car still shook slightly from the sudden motion. Audrey wobbled on her feet and would have fallen over if I had not caught her.
I was getting perplexed at Anthony’s poor driving technique when the man in question said sternly, “Audrey, do you not want to eat cake tonight?”
Anthony’s anger was palpable, and the temperature in the car seemed to drop several degrees.
Even Audrey knew not to behave in her usual daring manner in the face of her father’s anger. She retreated to the backseat and mumbled, “I do…”
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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