Diego threw all the gifts he had brought into the trash bin.
That’s my boy. Linford thought amusingly.
“Officer Charles, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect Cody to really call you,” Cristelle sounded apologetic. She knew how busy Officer Charles was.
Charles only smiled, “Cody only did the right thing. Just call me whenever you guys are in trouble.”
Cody held the toy gun tightly, “Thank you, sir. We will.”
“Nice gun, by the way,” Charles smiled at the boy.
Cody was a bit unhappy about the compliment. This gun was Linford’s gift. He had been too nervous back then. He had just grabbed a random gun and dashed out.
Linford smiled. The boy wouldn’t admit it, but he could tell he liked the gift.
“Well, since things have settled down, I also need to go back. I’ve got things to handle back in the office,” Charles smiled, hinting that he wanted to leave.
Cristelle went downstairs to send him off. When she returned, Candace had woken up, sitting on Linford’s lap and watching a cartoon.
Linford had taken his grey suit jacket off, wearing only a white shirt. His expensive tie was also discarded randomly on the couch. He held Candace with one hand, the other holding the remote control.
The scene somehow made Cristelle emotional.
“Mom! I’m hungry!” Cody yelled.
Cristelle checked the clock. It was almost 12. She thus said, “I’ll cook soon. By the way, Mr. Bradley, why are you here?”
Linford frowned slightly, knowing he couldn’t tell her he was here because he saw her in danger through the surveillance cameras. So he just answered plainly, “I’m here to check out the kids.”
“We don’t need you to check out on us,” Cody mumbled.
They had had a deal. Cristelle thus didn’t say anything as she returned to the kitchen.
Cody went directly to Linford, “We’re gonna have lunch. We’re not as rich as you. We probably won’t be able to prepare your portion of food.”
“It’s okay. I won’t eat too much,” Linford didn’t look offended.
Cody huffed, “What do you like then? I’ll tell Mom to prepare something, especially for you.”
“Thanks, the salad will be fine,” Linford smiled. He was on a diet.
Cody suddenly had an idea, “You’re welcome. I’m telling Mom right now.”
The boy ran to the kitchen, tipping his chin up as he stared at his Mom. “Mom, let me help you.”
Cristelle smiled as she chopped the vegetables, “It’s okay, baby. Mommy can do it. You go play with your sister.”
Cody was honestly disappointed in Candace. She didn’t even play with him after that man showed up.
Cody sighed, “It’s okay. I want to spend some time with you.”
Cristelle stopped, knowing the boy probably didn’t want to stay in the living room with Linford. So she nodded, “Okay then, let’s cook the meal together.”
Cody opened the refrigerator, “I’ll make a salad.”
Cristelle cooked her kids’ favorites.
“Candace, it’s time to eat!” She called out as usual. Candace usually would run into the kitchen if she heard that, but today she didn’t. Cristelle felt a bit lost.
“Cody, do you mind setting the table? We’re gonna eat soon,” Cristelle asked her sweet son.
Linford walked into the kitchen and helped Cristelle serve the dishes. Cristelle stared at the tall man busy around and a weird feeling suddenly awakened in her chest.
Just like Cody, she didn’t like this man, but she couldn’t resist him.
After the table was ready, Cristelle went to the living room, “Candace, it’s time for lunch. I’ve cooked your favorite.”
Candace was playing with puzzles. Her small face popped out a sweet smile. Cristelle went to look and froze. The puzzle was complete. It was a picture where a family of four had a picnic. This was a gift from Drew.
Had that man already expected this?
“Good job, honey! You completed it so fast!” Cristelle left a kiss on her little girl’s cheek.
****
Cody put the salad away from his Mom and Candace, knowing Candace hated vegetables.
Just as Cody expected, her sister went straight for mac and cheese.
Cody watched as Linford took a forkful of salad and put it in his mouth. He expected Linford to turn green, but that man just chewed the salad quietly, not showing any reaction to its bad taste.
How was it even possible? Cody put extra salt in it.
He must be pretending. Hahaha, he could pretend all he wanted.
Cody couldn’t wait to see if he had lost his temper.
Candace only focused on the macaroni.
Cristelle forked some carrots onto her plate, “Come on, sweetie, you know you can’t only eat macaroni. Carrots will be upset if you don’t eat them.”
Candace pouted, forking the carrots back into Cristelle’s plate
“Candace, carrots are tasty. You will become as beautiful as Mom if you eat carrots daily.” Linford forked a piece of carrot and put it in his mouth.
Candace looked at Cristelle’s face and ate all the carrots.
Cristelle knew how difficult it was to make Candace eat vegetables. But the problem was just solved by this man so easily.
Cristelle felt a bit bitter. On the other hand, her baby girl seemed to like this man.
Candace suddenly learned that she could be as beautiful as her Mom if she ate vegetables. So the little girl extended her arm to fork the bowl of salad.
Linford cast a glance at Cody. Cody stopped his little sister instantly, “Candace, you can’t eat that!”
Candace looked at her brother confusingly.
“Why?” Cristelle also asked as she forked some into her plate. The next minute, her face changed color as she spat the salad out.
“What happened to the salad? It’s so salty!” Cristelle took a gulp from her glass. Linford had almost finished the bowl of salad by himself.
Cristelle looked at Cody and suddenly knew everything. She felt awful for Linford.
“The salad is not bad,” Linford commented as he wiped his mouth with a piece of napkin elegantly, “But it isn’t for Mom or Candace.”
The boy was glaring at him, looking pissed off. But Cristelle was clearly angry, so he didn’t say anything.
“Cody, say sorry to your dad. You can’t do this again,” Cristelle wouldn’t allow her boy to do things like this, even though she didn’t want to admit that Linford was their father.