While setting the dishes on the table, Mrs. Moorsum smiled at Estelle and explained, “Last night, the kids got tired early, so I put them to bed before the meteor shower ended. You might want to ask Mr. Hans about it. He was the one with you last night.”
In Mrs. Moorsum’s mind, what happened indicated a positive turn in Estelle and Cristofer’s relationship, and she couldn’t hide her happiness as she spoke.
Estelle felt even more embarrassed but couldn’t explain further to Mrs. Moorsum. She excused herself, requesting a glass of water, and hurried to the kitchen. All she could do was guess what had happened last night.
‘Uncle Luke isn’t as young as he used to be, and he struggled to carry Yvonne, let alone me as an adult. Cristofer probably did bring me to the bedroom last night,’ Estelle concluded without confusion. However, her worry shifted to Cristofer’s leg. How could he have carried her since he still relied on a walking stick? Did he put her on his back? The thought made Estelle even more self-conscious.
She sighed to herself and thought, ‘It’s better to ask Cristofer directly about last night than to keep overthinking it. I can’t avoid him forever, especially now that we’re practically living under the same roof.’
After some contemplation, Estelle sat down at the table feeling hungry as she gazed at the scrambled eggs and crispy toast. To her surprise, no one else appeared for breakfast until she had already finished her milk and eaten the eggs.
“Mrs. Moorsum, is Cristofer not having breakfast today?” Estelle couldn’t help but ask when she saw Mrs. Moorsum, who was tidying the coffee table.
“Mr. Hans had breakfast earlier before heading to work,” Mrs. Moorsum reassured Estelle, thinking she was concerned about Cristofer. “Don’t worry, he’s already had his morning meal.”
Estelle nodded in response to Mrs. Moorsum’s explanation. She thought to herself, ‘That explains why I didn’t see Cristofer when I woke up. He must have left for work already.’
Seeing Estelle lost in thought, Mrs. Moorsum assumed she was still dwelling on the last night. So, she offered some advice, saying, “Estelle, it’s normal for young couples to have some misunderstanding in their relationship. After you’ve made up, there’s no need to dwell on it. I’m sure you had a lovely night with Cristofer last night.”
Estelle tried to clarify to Mrs. Moorsum, “Actually, it’s not what you’re thinking,” but it only seemed to make things more awkward. Deciding to change the subject, she asked, “Did Cristofer mention where he was going?”
Estelle couldn’t help but worry, thinking, ‘If he hurt his leg carrying me, he might be in the hospital.’
Upon hearing the question, Mrs. Moorsum recalled, “Mr. Hans went to the office. He said he’s working for the children and asked me not to disturb you because you’ve been quite tired lately. That’s why I didn’t wake you up early, Estelle.”
Estelle glanced at the clock and began to hesitate. She thought, ‘If I leave now and don’t encounter any traffic or accidents, I might make it to my workplace on time, but there’s also a chance I’ll be late. Maybe I should request another day off instead?’
Lost in her thoughts, Estelle noticed that the three children had finally finished washing up under Luke’s supervision and ran out of the nursery, laughing.
“Mom!” Yvonne and Christina joyfully exclaimed in unison, rushing into Estelle’s arms like butterflies.
On the other hand, Yohan maintained his composed demeanor and politely asked after taking his seat at the table, “Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Mrs. Moorsum. Where’s Dad?”
Mrs. Moorsum echoed her earlier response to Estelle, saying, “Your dad went to work at the company. Now, you should have your breakfast and then get ready for school.”
Yohan seemed content with the answer and sipped the milk before him. He casually added, “Actually, I’ve already learned what the teacher will teach today.”
People might have thought he was bragging if it had been any other child. However, Yohan had a reputation for being the top student at school, consistently earning straight A’s in every subject. People believed he was brilliant enough to skip a grade or two.
At that moment, Yvonne and Christina clung to their Mom, each holding one of her hands, and looked up at her, trying to capture her attention.
Estelle, who knew her daughters well, smiled and asked, “Alright, spill the beans. What’s on your mind?”
Yvonne, the shiest of the two, blushed and said softly, “Mom, we want to visit Dad’s workplace. Our teacher said we should learn how hard our parents work, and I think seeing Dad in action would help us understand his job better. Can you take us to his company?”
Even though she was just a child, Yvonne knew she needed a valid reason for missing kindergarten, as she considered skipping school, something only naughty kids would do.
Christina quickly added, “She’s right, Mom. We pretty much learn the same things every day in kindergarten, but Dad’s work is different each day.”
Christina, the youngest among them, always had a knack for surprising and amusing the adults.
However, Estelle could see through their excuses for skipping kindergarten. She couldn’t help but think of Cristofer, reflecting, ‘He always puts on a brave front. Even if something’s wrong with his legs, he won’t show it. I’ll be worried if I don’t check on him all day.’
“Alright, I’ll let your teacher know you won’t attend kindergarten today. But this can’t become a regular thing,” Estelle agreed to their plan, deciding to compromise. Then she turned to Yohan and asked, “Would you like to join us, Yohan?”
“Of course!” Yohan confidently replied, patting his chest. “I’m well-prepared for the math competition, so missing school for a day won’t be a problem.”
Impressed by his intelligence, Estelle quickly thought of an excuse and said, “Okay. I’ll inform your head teacher that you need a day off to prepare for the math competition. But you must promise me you’ll complete your homework once you’re back.”
Hearing Estelle’s words, all three children nodded joyfully, relieved they didn’t have to go to school that day.
Estelle kept her promise at noon and brought the children to the Hans Group. She intended to maintain a low profile, but as she approached the parking lot, a security guard recognized her and approached, asking, “Mrs. Hans, are you here to see Mr. Hans?”
“Yes, is he at the company right now?” Estelle asked, rolling down her car window.
“Yes, he is,” the security guard replied politely. He added, “It’s quite cold and windy outside. Please take the children inside the building, and I’ll park the car for you.”