When Cristofer had made this decision, even the lawyer had advised him to reconsider because the children were too young, and there was no rush to make such a decision. It seemed the lawyer had a point, but Cristofer was undeterred.
“No need to go to the children’s school to have them sign the documents,” Cristofer replied, understanding that it wasn’t the right time for the children to know about the money. “It’s not the appropriate moment to discuss this with them. You can focus on other matters, and I’ll handle the signatures.”
Vincent felt relieved upon hearing this and said cheerfully, “Alright, boss, I’ll get to work then.”
“Thank you,” Cristofer responded before ending the call. He looked out the window again, but Estelle and Neptune had left the yard. Even Neptune wasn’t in her new cozy spot. Feeling a bit puzzled, he heard familiar footsteps outside the door and eagerly turned his attention toward it. The door opened, revealing Estelle carrying Neptune in her arms as she entered the bedroom.
“Neptune is so small. I can’t leave her out in the yard. How about we let her stay inside the house?” Despite her phrasing it as a question, Estelle’s tone was gentle yet determined. Despite Cristofer’s earlier advice, it was clear she had made up her mind to have Neptune live indoors.
Meanwhile, Neptune, seemingly trying to cooperate, lifted her fluffy little head and gazed at them innocently.
“Of course,” Cristofer replied with a sincere smile on his pale face. He wanted to reach out and hug Estelle, but it felt awkward, so he kept his hands to himself.
Estelle noticed Cristofer’s attempt but chose to ignore it. She fetched a soft blanket from the bedroom and held it, saying, “I want to make a little bed for Neptune. You should take some rest. The cold might not be too severe, but you’re still recovering.” With that, she left the bedroom quickly, as if her only purpose in coming had been to reassure him that she wouldn’t leave.
The afternoon passed by swiftly. Estelle felt like she hadn’t been in the study for long when she heard Luke switching on the hallway lights as evening approached. Shortly after, Mrs. Moorsum returned with the children, who entered the living room energetically, resembling little bunnies.
“Grandpa Luke, where are mom and dad? They didn’t come out last night. Are they still resting? Can we check on them?” Yvonne asked considerately.
Meanwhile, Yohan set aside his sisters’ school bags and spoke seriously, “Dad is still recovering from his cold, so let’s not disturb them. You mentioned having homework today, right? I’ll help you with it. Come here.” He made space for them on the sofa and added, while patting the seat, “Come on. Dinner will be ready soon, and you won’t have time for homework afterward.”
Seeing how well-behaved the children were, Mrs. Moorsum had no worries. She allowed Luke to take care of them while she prepared dinner. Considering Cristofer was still unwell and they had more guests for dinner, she included a light vegetable dish alongside the main course, which was pasta.
“Estelle, Mr. Hans, should I bring the dishes upstairs for you? Dinner is ready,” Mrs. Moorsum asked, standing in the stairway. She assumed that Estelle was still in the bedroom with Cristofer, so she refrained from knocking on the door to avoid any awkwardness, as happened the previous night.
Estelle then opened the door to the study and peeked outside. “No need. I’ll go downstairs to eat with the children.”
“Me too.” Cristofer actively joined in, opening the door and adding his agreement. He had donned a pajama coat and walked out with the help of his cane. ‘I may have overplayed the symptoms a bit,’ he thought, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Cristofer was slightly self-conscious, but since Estelle didn’t comment on it, he chose not to dwell on it further. Estelle didn’t call him out on his exaggeration. She lowered her head and said, “Are you sure you can walk? If you can’t, Luke can help you.”
It wasn’t that she was unwilling to face him, but she felt a bit self-conscious after the events of this afternoon. So, she was particularly reluctant to make eye contact.
Cristofer cleared his throat and shook his head firmly. “No, thanks. My leg is nearly back to normal. I can go downstairs on my own, even without the walking stick. You don’t need to worry.”
“Okay,” Estelle acknowledged, but as she descended the stairs, she couldn’t help but glance back occasionally. She was concerned he might slip on the stairs. Cristofer appreciated her silent concern, which motivated him to take slow and careful steps to reassure her.
The children were excited to see their parents and rushed over, eagerly gazing at them.
“Mom,” Christina quickly greeted first, “Did you and Dad have a good rest? Have you been together since yesterday?”
“Well, Dad caught a cold, so he needed me to take care of him, just like when any of you weren’t feeling well. I’d take care of you too,” Estelle replied, secretly patting herself on the back for her quick thinking.
To her surprise, Yvonne looked at Cristofer and clapped her hands. “No wonder Dad is recovering so quickly! It’s all thanks to Mom!”
****
Meanwhile, Yohan observed them curiously, wondering what his parents had been up to today.
“Okay,” Cristofer pulled out a chair and sat at the table, trying to spare Estelle any embarrassment. “Don’t tease your mom. Let’s dig into the pasta that Mrs. Moorsum prepared. They’re still piping hot from the oven. Pasta isn’t as enjoyable when it gets cold.”
Since Mrs. Moorsum’s food was the children’s favorite, they quickly settled at the table, leaving Estelle with limited seating choices. She hesitated briefly, but her options dwindled, with Mrs. Moorsum and Luke also take their seats. Estelle ended up sitting at the far end of the long table to avoid sitting directly beside Cristofer. However, this position made it challenging for her to reach the food.
With no other option, Estelle awkwardly pulled a chair to the side and settled beside Cristofer. She appeared tense, almost resembling a student who had made a mistake and was caught. Their three children noticed the unusual atmosphere because they had never seen their parents sitting so rigidly.
Sensing Estelle’s discomfort, Cristofer recalled how she had suspected him earlier and discovered his pretense of illness. He assumed that Estelle might still be upset with him, so he shifted slightly in his seat. Although it wasn’t very comfortable for his legs, he sat even straighter than Estelle to give her more space.
Yohan was as sensitive as Cristofer. He sensed his parents could reconcile, so he said deliberately, “Dad, your posture looks the same as mom’s.”
“It’s just a coincidence,” said Estelle. Then, she changed to a more relaxed posture without hesitation. However, Cristofer also subconsciously relaxed himself. As a result, they sat in the same pose again.