Sylvia carried Flint and held Liam’s hand as she followed them inside. They arrived at the living hall after going through a short corridor. Tea and snacks were prepared on the tea table. Odell and John went to the couch and sat opposite each other. Sylvia and the kids sat beside Odell, while Madam Stockton, Queenie, and Julie sat on the other end. Odell and John talked about work. Sylvia looked around the place. She believed it was Madam Stockton’s place judging from the retro designs and decorations. There were even two middle-aged maids outside the door. Sherry should be at her usual place. While Sylvia was wondering if Sherry had breakfast, Flint suddenly crawled out of her arms. Sylvia turned to the boy and saw him crawling toward the end of the couch. The boy crawled toward Queenie, who was the nearest, and looked up at her. Then he gurgled happily. Queenie did not expect the baby’s interest and she was awestruck by his adorable smile and voice. Madam St
There was an air of coziness in the living room. Sylvia could not sit still for long as she needed to look for Sherry. Grabbing the paper bag with food inside from Odell, Sylvia got on her feet. All eyes turned to her. Sylvia looked at Odell and John. “Carry on with your conversation. I’m going to check on Sherry.” Despite the emotions behind his eyes, John let out a smile. “Be my guest, Mrs. Carter.” Odell returned her a smile. “Go on.” Julie abruptly asked, “Mrs. Carter, do you need me to come along?” “It’s okay. I know the way. I can go there myself.” She kept her eyes on Flint and Isabel while replying. Flint was being his cute self in Madam Stockton’s arms. Detecting Sylvia’s gaze, Madam Stockton’s face fell as she clung onto Flint with reluctance to let go. Isabel was coiling Queenie’s hair around her finger, engrossed in styling her hair. Queenie shifted away from Sylvia’s gaze as she sat still for Isabel to do her up. Letting out a helpless grin, Sylvia
Sylvia let Sherry know about Odell bringing all three children over. Shocked, Sherry immediately swallowed the food that was nearly spat out. With her mouth no longer full, she pressed on with more questions. “So, Isabel and Flint are here too? Where are they? “They’re with Odell at Mrs. Stockton’s compound.” “Alright.” Meanwhile, Liam was returning from the loo. His face was drenched, and so were his hair strands in the front. Sherry remarked in surprise, “That was quick, Liam.” Liam replied, “All I did was wash my face and nothing else.” Sherry’s eyes widened. “Did you go to the loo just to wash your face?” Liam answered, “Yeah.” His straight face bore no other emotions. Sherry was reminded of the smooches she forced onto him moments ago. “…” Hurt, she munched on the bread. Once her belly was full, Sherry sat back down and went back to her needlework. Sylvia and Liam sat in company with her. To Sylvia’s surprise, Liam was fixated on Sherry’s embroidery b
Sylvia winced, and it showed in her lips. Unimpressed by Queenie’s appearance, Madam Stockton furrowed her brows and gave the former a look to wash up. Alas, Queenie’s full attention was on Isabel who was trying to run away. Unaware of the looks she was getting, Queenie picked Isabel up and pinned the girl down on the seat next to her. Isabel, held by the scuff of her neck, helplessly remarked, “Miss Lion, you can’t find a boyfriend if you’re so nasty and rough.” Queenie glared at her. “I might not get a boyfriend, but I’m still going to hold you down!” Madam Stockton averted her gaze, pretending to see nothing while extending hospitality to Odell and Sylvia. “Mr. and Mrs. Carter, don’t be a stranger. Make yourselves at home.” She was clearly trying to steer Odell and Sylvia’s attention away from Queenie’s hair. Sylvia courteously responded before placing a napkin over her lap. Apart from the occasional bickering between Queenie and Isabel, it was a pleasant lunch. At
Odell pursed his lips. The mention of Sherry drained the color off everyone else’s faces at the table. John fell silent for a while before curling his lips. “Mrs. Carter, you’ve been with her for a week. It’s okay to miss one afternoon now that Master Carter and the children are here. How about I take all of you on a stroll around Glanchester?” Sylvia frowned. The air was still in the room until a flat albeit young voice broke the silence. “Can’t we bring Aunt Sherry along?” Liam stared at John with his clear yet still eyes. Sitting beside Queenie, Isabel echoed her brother’s thoughts. “Uh-huh. Aunt Sherry should come along to make it a double date!” Silence befell the room once again. Madam Stockton pulled a long face. Queenie whispered to Isabel, “What do you know, kiddo? Don’t talk about her.” Julie’s head hung low. Sylvia and Odell looked at John. Adjusting his glasses up his nose, John replied with a smile, “Sure. Anything Liam and Isabel say. Let’s take he
The thought of Flint’s adorable little face put a smile on Madam Stockton’s face. “I’ve never seen such a sweet kid. If only John had a kid as well.” “John’s still young. He’ll have a child sooner or later.” As her eyes shifted, Julie added, “But Master Carter has three strange children. All three of them have different personalities. They might share some resemblance in appearance, but that’s how far their similarity goes.” Madam Stockton’s face fell. “The oldest is quite like Master Carter. The not very well-behaved girl probably takes after her mom. It’s too early to identify personality markers on the youngest.” Julie chimed in. “Yeah. The youngest is the cutest. I hope he stays that way. He better not be like his sister.” Madam Stockton callously remarked, “That’s right.” “I think the kiddo is adorable,” standing behind them, Queenie mumbled under her breath. Madam Stockton turned her head and looked at Queenie. Her unsightly hairdo was an eyesore. “Adorable? The naugh
Seeing that Odell got her out of a fix during lunch, Sylvia decided to cut him some slack. She put her hand on his. The man’s dark brows on fleek and deep eyes reflected his surprise. However, the curl across his lips soon followed as he held her hand. “Take your time. Watch your feet.” Turning her head away, Sylvia paid him no heed. Odell quietly curled his lips. On the other side, John approached the shuttle bus after Odell. Standing next to Sherry’s seat, John checked Sherry out from head to toe before asking with a smile, “Do you need my help to get off the bus?” As cheerfulness lifted from her face, Sherry mimicked his fake smile and replied with a question, “Are you willing to help me?” “It would depend on whether you need it.” “I need if you want to, but I don’t if you won’t.” He was not the only one who had a way with words. John never broke character with the grin. “I want if you need. I won’t if you don’t.” Sherry responded, “Ha… Why don’t you guess if I
After getting ahold of himself, John reflected tenderness and joy through his facial features. With Flint in his arms, John turned around and said to Odell and Sylvia, “Master Carter and Mrs. Carter, let’s get in the car.”It did not matter to him whether Sherry had exited the shuttle bus as John carried Flint straight into the limo. Sherry jumped off the shuttle bus. “Give me Flint!” She went after John. Since it was not the time and place to pick fights with Odell, Sylvia let him take her into the car. It was a spacious vehicle. Sylvia and Odell were sitting down when Sherry squeezed into the seat next to John to fight over the baby. “Give Flint to me now!” John was too preoccupied with holding Flint to give her the time of the day. Sherry extended her arms to steal Flint back. John finally looked at her. Behind the lens of his glasses, his gentle eyes turned cold and hostile. Pale in the face, Sherry withdrew her arms, but nothing could stop her from mumbling he