Meredith squinted her eyes and gazed at Josiah with blurred eyes. "You like kids?"Josiah thought she was referring to those kids to whom he provided accommodation. "No, I only like Nia."The reason why he fully sponsored the piano competition organized by the Love Youth Training Institutions was that he wanted to make Meredith and Nia happy."I mean your own kids," Meredith said."Yes, of course, I do," Josiah answered."Then why don't you find yourself a wife and have your own kids if you like kids these two years?" Meredith asked.Josiah looked at her and was speechless. "Meredith Leighton, do you still need to ask when you already know the answer to that question?It was then Meredith realized she was asking a dumb question. However, two years was not a short period of time. He could actually wait for them when she and Nia were completely missing without any news. Guessed he really did care about her and Nia.Meredith crackled but it was a desolate type of laugh."What are
"I don't want to go back…" Meredith turned her body to avoid Josiah's hand.Josiah admired how innocent and silly Meredith was right now. Her safety was no longer her concern but she looked so cute just like Nia.Josiah leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Didn't you just say you need to go back early tonight because Nia's competition is tomorrow?"As expected, Meredith was responsive when she heard about tomorrow's competition. She tried hard to sit up straight. Then she nodded her head while getting up on her feet. "That's right, Nia's competition is tomorrow. I need to go back."Just as she tried to walk, her legs got tangled by the table and fell into Josiah's arms."Be careful, let me carry you back," Josiah offered."No. I'm not drunk," Meredith rejected."You're not drunk. Just tired." Josiah did not care that she rejected his offer. He pulled her and placed her on his back and used both of his hands to support her legs. Then he walked to the entrance to leave the b
Josiah looked surprised when Meredith asked that question. He smiled faintly. "Do you think I'll do anything? Or should I ask, can't you feel it yourself if I did anything to you?"Meredith was lost in words. As she expected, she should not ask that question at all.Josiah saw the embarrassingly look on her face and knew he should stop teasing her. "Don't worry. I did nothing other than piggyback you back here and placed you on the bed.""You did not say good night to me?" Meredith asked without thinking much."Oh. Of course, I did," Josiah replied.There was more Meredith wanted to ask but she was too shy to ask. 'Argh, screw it. It doesn't matter if it was real or a dream. I'll just pretend I don't know anything.'She got off the bed and walked to the bathroom. After she freshened up and changed her clothes, the waiter was just there to send breakfast when she was walking downstairs."Come and eat your breakfast." Josiah waved at her."You haven't had your breakfast? Did Nia
Meredith did not expect Josiah was referring to that time. Moreover, she did not expect him to be there and recognized her and Nia. However, it was all in the past and she had no mean to look back on it.On the other hand, Nia was surprised. She asked, "Really? Did I perform together with Mommy before? When did that happen?""It was three years ago. You have forgotten about it," Meredith said."How was I?" Nia asked.Suddenly, Meredith looked at Josiah. Only the audience knew how was the performance.Josiah nodded with compliments, "Very good. All the audience was stunned and astonish. So were me and Great Grandma. Great Grandma even said she wants to bring you back immediately.""Really?" Nia giggled, "Then why didn't Great Grandma bring me back home?""Because Daddy disallowed," Meredith answered plainly.As expected, Nia asked again, "Why did Daddy disallow Great Grandma?""Because Daddy was an idiot back then," Josiah gave a fuzzy answer. Then he quickly changed the topic,
The competition started and many kids performed quite well. Of course, they were nothing compared to Nia, who could already play very well when she was three years old.Nia held the trophy and ran into Josiah's arm. Josiah carried her up and turned one round and praised her, "The other kids did well but Nia did the best!""Thank you, Daddy!" Nia kissed Josiah's cheek and also Meredith's Cheek. "Mommy, thank you too.""Good girl. Shall we go out to the sea to celebrate you winning first prize?" Josiah asked."Oh, yes!" Nia cheered and looked at Meredith, "Mommy, can you go?"Although Meredith was not feeling comfortable, she did not want to ruin Nia's mood, so she nodded and agreed, "Yes, sure.""But…" She looked at Josiah, "I'm not the one who is scared of water. You should ask your Daddy if he is okay with it.""What? Daddy is afraid of the water?" Nia asked surprisingly.Josiah knew Meredith was talking about the time he nearly drowned when he was a kid. He smiled. "A little.
Meredith caught up with Josiah and Nia. "Anything. I'll let you two choose what to eat."She was never a picking eater. Josiah was also not a picking eater when he was with Meredith and Nia. He asked, "Nia, what do you want to eat?""I want to eat steak and pasta," Nia answered."Alright, then we'll have steak and pasta." Josiah put Nia down and held her hand to walk toward the restaurant in the resort.The restaurant was a more formal restaurant. Josiah made the decision and ordered two recommended main dishes and one kids' meal. After the waiter served the steak, Josiah helped Nia to cut the steak into cubes and did the same for Meredith. Then he looked at them satisfyingly and said, "Try it."Nia tried a piece and nodded her head. "Delicious." Then she tried to feed one to her Daddy. "Daddy, try this."Josiah took a bite and nodded as Nia did. "Yes, it's my first time trying the kids' meal. It's delicious."Nia patted her chest and said, "Don't worry, Daddy. You can always ea
However, Meredith did not want to be seen as purposely distancing herself from Josiah. Thus, she still put a shrimp ball onto Josiah's plate. Before she started to eat her food, Josiah said, "I want one more."Meredith paused what she was doing and gave him another one."One more, please."Meredith was lost in words. When she gave him for the third time, she said, "If you eat more, then there is no more for Nia and me.""It's fine. We can order another plate." Josiah looked at the shrimp ball on his plate and ate it satisfyingly.It had been a long time since Meredith gave him food, so he wanted to take the time to enjoy it.Nia cooperated nicely with Josiah. "Mommy, you can give more to Daddy. One is enough for me.""Hurry up and finish your food." Meredith urged, "Do you still want to go out to the sea?""Yes." Nia quickly ate her food when she heard Meredith ask.When they finished lunch, they took the car that was arranged to arrive at the pier where they board a luxury me
Nia crackled and pulled Josiah's hand and waved at him. Josiah bent down and put his ear next to Nia's face. "Do you have a secret to tell me?"Nia lowered her voice, "Daddy, I think Mommy is still unhappy. She didn't come out to look at the view."Josiah smiled and comforted, "It's fine. Let's take our time.""Daddy, did I not behave good enough?" Nia asked with uncertainty. She was afraid she was not good enough but also was being too over and making her mother feel sick and stressed.Josiah felt heartbroken to see how insecure Nia was. He said, "You have been doing a good job. One day, Mommy will get better.""Alright then." Nia was once again the happy little girl.The ship stopped in the middle of the sea. The crew started to recollect the net they put in previously. It was Nia's first time seeing it. She was so excited that she wanted to help. Meredith was afraid that Nia might get hurt by the fish so she helped Nia to put on a pair of gloves."Daddy, there's so many small