It was only when the two went to the bedroom to check on Alonzo that they realised he was already awake.
He was playing with his fingers with his dark eyes open.
When he heard the door open, he tried to look up at it, but he had just woken up and had little strength, so he leaned back.
When Allyce came closer, she saw that his eyes were moving from side to side, his face was flushed and his little body looked soft and cuddly.
When Allyce looked at Alonzo’s cute little face, her heart, which had calmed down, felt as if a jar of vinegar had been tipped over again.
Allyce sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to touch his face: “Are you awake?
Alonzo blinked and spoke softly, saying two words: “Auntie”.
Allyce’s movements stopped, she knew Alonzo missed Delfina.
He felt a little sad, but for Alonzo now, Delfina was the person he knew best and was closest to.
“We’ll see her tomorrow, she’s had a long day and needs to rest.” Allyce wasn’t telling a lie either, Delfina wasn’t very well at the moment and needed rest and she couldn’t look after Alonzo.
Even if Alonzo did not cry or complain, it would always be exhausting for Delfina.
Alonzo looked at her silently for a few seconds as if he understood and turned his head to start playing with his fingers again.
Allyce picked him up: “Let’s get something to eat first, shall we?
Alonzo hadn’t eaten much at lunchtime and Allyce hadn’t been with children before, so she didn’t know what was normal for a child, so she wanted him to have some fruit or something.
Alonzo didn’t know if he understood or not, but he stroked Allyce’s neck and looked curiously at Severo, who was standing not far away.
…
Allyce herself went to the kitchen to wash and peel the fruit and cut it into small pieces.
When he came out he saw Alonzo sitting on the sofa playing happily with Beef.
Allyce smiled slightly as she remembered how much Alonzo had enjoyed playing with Beef last time.
Severo was sitting across from Alonzo at the time, holding his phone and wondering what he was doing, glancing at Alonzo from time to time.
It was clear that Severo did not know what to do with small children.
Allyce is the same.
She missed Alonzo’s childhood; when she met him he was already walking, eating and speaking simple words.
Allyce paused before approaching with a piece of fruit in her hand: “Alonzo, eat your fruit!
Alonzo turned his head to look at Allyce, saw the red and yellow fruit in her hand, his eyes lit up and he said something.
But Allyce didn’t understand him because he couldn’t spit out the words clearly.
But from the look on his face, he must have wanted to eat her.
He took a piece of watermelon and gave it to Alonzo, who opened his mouth and bit into it in one bite.
Allyce smiled to see that she liked it.
Severo looked up from his phone to see Allyce diligently feeding Alonzo the fruit.
Alonzo was playing with Beef and eating the fruit with his mouth open.
Severus frowned imperceptibly, he had never seen Allyce so attentive to him.
…
Throughout the afternoon, Allyce was entertained by Alonzo.
Severo, on the other hand, kept an eye on them.
Although she cherished her hard-won son, she was a little upset to see that Allyce had all her attention on Alonzo.
After an afternoon of playing with Allyce, Alonzo talked a lot more.
Although Allyce understood almost nothing, she was very happy.
Only in the afternoon, Alonzo suddenly burst into tears.
“Aunty … Aunty …”
Alonzo cried and cried and refused to go to sleep.
Allyce had no experience with children and, after coaxing him for a while, he started crying again and would not go to sleep.
Allyce was distressed to see him crying: “Why don’t we take him to Delfina?
Severo, who had just come out of the bathroom, glanced at Alonzo, who was crying in his arms, and hesitated for a moment before saying: “I’ll take him for a walk, you go and have a bath first.
He then lifted Alonzo up and carried him out of the room.
By the time Allyce got out of the shower and went downstairs to get them, Severo had already returned with Alonzo in his arms.
Alonzo was asleep on Severo’s shoulder.
Severo was wearing his pyjamas, and seemed less cold and more gentle, and the way he was holding the baby seemed a little out of place, but Allyce suddenly felt at peace at the sight of this scene.
The image that had once been a fantasy had finally appeared in reality, and Allyce felt it was too good to be true.
Severo had approached unknowingly and lowered his voice: “Go back to bed”.
Allyce went back to sleep and looked at Alonzo before saying, “Back to sleep so soon?
“There’s a breeze outside and it’s cool right now, he probably doesn’t like the cold air in the room too much.” Severo spoke as he slowly made his way upstairs.
Back in the room, the two men turned off the light and lay down on the bed, placing the child between them.
In the silence, Severo could hear Alonzo’s snoring, very small, in a low voice.
Her heart fluttered and she couldn’t help but reach out and touch his head.
In the darkness, Allyce suddenly spoke up: “Do you want to change Alonzo’s name?
Severo simply asked him in turn: “Which name do you want to change?
Allyce’s voice was soft for fear of upsetting Alonzo, “I don’t think we need to change it, just the surname, whatever Desiderio’s intentions were in the first place, at least he saved our baby, and probably gave us the name.”
“Hmm.
Severo responded only weakly and did not move.
…
The next morning, Allyce was woken up by the ringing of her mobile phone.
She had slept late last night, either because she was too excited or for some other reason, and now she woke up with an empty body.
Not only Severo, but also Alonzo was not in the room.
He looked at the number on the caller ID and sat up abruptly.
It was Desiderio’s phone.
Or, one might say, Adam.
In any case, his identity was almost confirmed.
Allyce looked at the time; it was after nine o’clock and there was no sign of Severo in the room, probably already up.
He hesitated briefly before picking up the phone.
“Allyce, I’ve heard that you haven’t been to the office for many days, is it because you’re not feeling well?
Desiderio’s tone was slow and seemed remarkably soft, but the simple words sent a tingle through Allyce’s scalp.