Just as the boys were guessing who the owner of the car was, Jack’s head popped out from behind Roxanne, and he smiled at them. “Did you two just come home from your kindergarten?”
The children nodded slowly, feeling a little upset. Mommy said they were only going to work, but why is she home so late? And why is Mr. Damaris sending her home?
No matter how hard they looked, there seemed to be some intimacy between the adults. Immediately, the imaginary alarm in the children’s minds went off.
No way. We must help Daddy look after Mommy before they make up with each other.
Meanwhile, Roxanne knew what was on their minds the moment she saw their expressions. She could not help but feel exasperated.
Regardless, she turned around and said, “I’ll take them home first. Please let me know when you’ve reached home, Mr. Damaris.”
Jack gave a brief answer and drove off.
Once the car was out of sight, Roxanne spun around to explain, “My car wasn’t repaired completely, so I couldn’t start it. That’s why Mr. Damaris sent me home today.”
She was sure the kids’ imaginations would be running wild if she did not clear things up right there and then.
Obviously unsatisfied with her explanation, the kids asked, “Were you two working together the entire day?”
Roxanne nodded. “Mr. Galloway was there, too.”
Of course, the kids knew who Colby was. They felt that he was also one of Lucian’s love rivals, too.
Hearing that, the boys grew more worried.
Roxanne felt a wave of exasperation wash over her when she took in the boys’ expressions.
She believed she had clarified things enough, including her relationship with Jack.
Yet, the children looked more suspicious than before.
“We saw Mr. Farwell today!” Benny suddenly changed the topic.
Roxanne’s expression stiffened when she heard Lucian’s name.
Instantly, she recalled what Colby said at lunch and the scene where Lucian and Aubree stood side by side last night.
Sadly, the boys were unaware of what was going through her mind. All they wanted was to remind her of Lucian.
Just then, Benny cast her a piteous look. “Mr. Farwell doesn’t seem to have recovered yet. Mommy, why don’t you go over and help him? Essie is very worried!”
Roxanne snapped back to her senses and forced a smile at them. “I’m very busy.”
However, the boys did not intend to give up.
Before they could even utter a word, Roxanne said, “Besides, Mr. Farwell is just having common flu. It’ll take him a week to recover. Tell Essie to not worry too much, okay?”
With that, she patted their heads and went upstairs.
She really did not want to listen to her children talking about Lucian when she was already having a lot on her mind.
As Archie and Benny watched Roxanne head up the stairs, they exchanged glances, not understanding what had just happened.
They only wanted to make Lucian’s presence known. Yet, they got the feeling that their mother’s reaction was completely different from what they had expected.
“Archie, did I say something wrong again?” Benny sounded slightly defeated.
Patting his brother on the shoulder, Archie comforted, “No. We just have to mention Daddy to Mommy often.”
Only then did Benny feel more at ease.
That night, Roxanne received a text from Jack before she went to bed. It contained the details to the medical consultation. It was in two days, and the location was an orphanage in the city.
After making a mental note of the information, Roxanne typed a simple answer and went to bed early. However, her mind was so occupied with Colby’s words that she could not fall asleep.
It was only after an indeterminate time that she finally drifted off to sleep. In the next two days, the boys kept trying to get Roxanne’s attention. To be more specific, they were doing it on Lucian’s behalf.
Meanwhile, Roxanne was clueless as to why Archie and Benny were so persistent in mentioning Lucian to her, nor did she know how to deal with them.
After pondering about it for some time, she decided to pour all her attention into preparing the medical consultation.
When the boys saw she was at work, they finally gave up.
Two days later, Jack’s car appeared in front of Roxanne’s house early in the morning.
Roxanne was about to step out of the house to get a cab when she saw his car at the entrance. A look of surprise flashed past her eyes.
“I figured your car wouldn’t be ready so soon, so I decided to swing by to pick you up.” Jack flashed her a smile.
Hearing that, Roxanne had no choice but to suppress the peculiar feelings she felt and got into the car.
She had many things with her.
After what happened last time, she learned her lesson and prepared many gifts for the orphans.
Jack was stunned by the bags she had with her.
“You’re really thoughtful. No wonder the children at the previous orphanage loved you,” he remarked.
A gentle expression crept upon Roxanne’s face. “Maybe it’s because I’ve interacted with many children in my life.”
That was why she could not bear to see the children at orphanages suffer.
She hoped she could help bring changes to their lives to the best of her ability.
Instead of assessing her, Jack only said, “I’m sure the children will be very grateful to you this time as well.”
Roxanne pursed her lips to form a smile.
With that, they were on their way.
In the meantime, Archie and Benny only poked their heads out of the door to watch their mother leave with Jack.
Although Roxanne had informed them that she was going to treat some children, they could not help but feel a sense of danger.
Their parents had not talked to each other for the past two days.
Jack, on the other hand, had come looking for Roxanne quite often.
The boys could not stop worrying even though Roxanne had already sworn that she and Jack were just colleagues.
Still, there was nothing they could do if Roxanne wanted to avoid Lucian.
As they exchanged glances with each other, a crestfallen look fell upon their faces.
…
The orphanage was an hour away from Roxanne’s house.
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.