Chapter 18 Rachel's Return

Jodie pursed her lips but still managed to squeeze out a rigid smile.

"I guess that's fine, it's a rare opportunity! But Rachel, when are you planning to leave?"

Rachel looked at the apartment with a few things of her own and said laughing, "Tomorrow, might as well."

As Rachel spoke, Jodie leaped up from the sofa. "Rachel, you unthankful bird! Do you really need to rush off just like that?!"

"Yeah, but don't worry, I'll be back."

Facing Rachel's serious face, Jodie swallowed everything she had wanted to say to her best friend.

The night fell quickly, but the baby was the only one sound asleep, while both Rachel and Jodie stayed up the entire night for different reasons.

The next day, a puffy-eyed Jodie scowled begrudgingly at Rachel who was about to board her flight.

When the airport announcement recited Rachel's flight code, she turned around and began to walk away with the baby in her arms.

Unable to hold back, Jodie yelled at Rachel from behind. "Rachel! You promised to come back! If you break the promise, I will draw a circle every day to curse you!"

Rachel jogged away without looking back at Jodie, but she waved her hand above her head. "I know."

She was afraid she might be persuaded the moment she looked back and would decide not to leave...

Five years later—

The airport was bustling with travelers, and amid the traffic, there was an adult and a child.

"Mommy, why isn't Aunt Jodie here yet?"

A handsome young boy turned his sharp-featured face to the side and looked at the cosmetics-free but stunningly gorgeous woman in a sundress.

Rachel tiptoed a little to look at the far end of the hall. "Not sure, she should be here."

"Rachel! Ziggy-boy!"

In the crowd, they heard a familiar voice before a tall silhouette squeezed between people and heaved Ziggy up from the ground.

Seeing Jodie's entrance, Rachel laughed softly with her mouth covered. "It's been five years, Jodie, and you're still the same."

Jodie planted a kiss on Ziggy's puffy face. "If you dare to call me handsome, I will absolutely, unhesitatingly beat you into a pulp!"

"Aunt Jodie, if you hit mommy, I will upload a picture of you in a dress online and hire an army of spammers to keep the thread at the top. I believe the Comer family will see it soon enough."

Ziggy, who was still in Jodie's arms, swayed his tiny head and brandished the phone in his hand.

Jodie pouted. "Rachel, your son is threatening me!"

Rachel shrugged happily. "Jodie, I guess you better rethink your bullying ways around me, I have my own guardian angel now!"

Jodie lightly slapped Ziggy's bottom. "Right-o! Let's go! I'm bringing you two to a fancy place!"

In a private room of a restaurant, Jodie was playing with the highchair excitedly.

Sat beside Rachel on his own, Ziggy looked at Jodie like an underaged adult.

"Aunt Jodie, are you trying to sit in that? I don't think you can fit in it with your size."

Jodie was startled, but immediately hoisted the chair over and set it down in front of Ziggy. "What are you talking about? This is for you!"

Ziggy leaned back onto the one in which he was sitting on and, while looking at the highchair, retorted, "Aunt Jodie, I'm five! I don't need this anymore."

Jodie pinched Ziggy's cheek. "You cheeky boy, acting like an adult now, are you?"

"One-year-olds are babies, three-year-olds are kids, but five-year-olds? Five-year-olds are adults, do you understand?"

Ziggy explained to Jodie seriously; he hated being treated like a child!

Jodie nodded dismissively and turned to Rachel. "Rachel, how are you back so suddenly?"

Rachel smiled. "I’ve missed you, so I came back."

Jodie was moved, but just as she opened her mouth to respond, Ziggy's soft voice wafted in her ears.

"Aunt Jodie, don't get affected by that!"

Jodie asked in surprise, "Why?"

Gracefully, Ziggy used the utensils to cut up the steak before putting them onto Rachel's plate.

"Because the dean in Istituto Marangoni wanted mommy to get a better degree in the United States on her own. But she was worried about me, so we came back. She didn't even finish her degree at Istituto Marangoni!"

Jodie was so shocked that all hints of affection disappeared as she made a disgusted look.

Rachel smiled awkwardly. "Jodie, listen to me. I was missing you the whole time, or I wouldn't have contacted you the moment I decided to come back!"

Jodie sighed silently. "Why didn't you at least get the degree first? Are you planning to stay here permanently?"

"That's right, so I need to find a place to live as well as a job."

Rachel nodded, ignoring Jodie's other question.

Jodie poked Rachel's forehead out of frustration. "Then why didn’t you get the degree before coming back! Didn't you know that the Orange Country is filled with talents? If you had the degree from Istituto Marangoni, there would at least be a line of companies wanting to hire you! How would anyone believe you if you don't even have anything to prove that you went to Istituto Marangoni?"

Ziggy placed himself in between Rachel and Jodie, letting Jodie poke him instead. "The dean gave mommy no choice. He said if mommy doesn't want to go, he'll ask mommy to become an associate dean! Mommy said no, but the dean only gave mommy two choices, or he will not allow mommy to graduate! So mommy came home with me."

Jodie retracted her hand and shot Rachel a suggestive look. "Rachel, be honest, is the dean interested in you?!"

Ziggy pressed his hands against Jodie's dancing eyebrows. "Aunt Jodie! That dean can even be your grandfather, so stop joking around!"

Jodie grabbed Ziggy's hands and looked at him in feigned anger. "You've been calling Rachel mommy this whole time, don't you know I'm your godmother? You should at least call me 'godmommy', right?"

Ziggy stared at Jodie seriously for a moment and opened his mouth. "Aunt Jodie."

Jodie paused but continued to teach him patiently. "Not 'Aunt Jodie', say 'godmommy', gawd-mom-me, do you understand?"