Cody had a smug little look on his face, waiting for Cristelle’s praise.
“Cody, you are the best boy,” Cristelle ruffled his hair, “And you, Candace. You’re the best girl.”
Linford pulled a face, “Not good enough. I entered primary school at his age.”
Cody started to pout. Candace also looked a bit down.
Cristelle whipped around to glare at him, “What’s wrong with you? My babies are my babies. They are not other kids. Stop comparing them to anyone!”
Mrs. Weston also scolded Linford, “How could you do that to your kids? You peed yourself when you came to the kindergarten. Don’t you remember that?”
Has he peed himself?
Cody laughed as he thought of that. Candace’s eyes widened. A smile stretched across her lips as she looked at her dad.
“Mrs. Weston… Could you stop mentioning that?” Linford looked a bit gloomy.
Cody wriggled his eyebrows at his dad challengingly.
How dare he even compares himself to them when he peed his pants during kindergarten?
“Alright, the babies are quite healthy. We can have the formalities done now. Cristelle and Linford, you both needed to fill in a couple of sheets. And we need both your signatures as their parents.”
Cristelle and Linford took the sheets and hovered over them. The first thing she needed to fill in was the babies’ names. She faltered as she looked at Linford’s sheets.
He was writing down “Cody Bradley” and “Candace Bradley” without any hesitation.
The babies needed to have their dad’s surname, after all. The Friesley house had fallen. There were so many dangerous people out there, ready to sabotage them at any time.
That powerful surname could be her babies’ protector.
After all the formalities had been done, Mrs. Weston suggested that Cristelle and Linford should leave without the babies, giving them some time to adjust to the new environment.
Cristelle wasn’t worried about Cody. It was just Candace…
“Cristelle, you don’t need to be concerned. I’ll take care of Candace. Linford told me Candace likes Drew. I’ll ask him on the phone if we have any problems. Candace needs to spend more time with strangers,” Mrs. Weston sounded serious. Cristelle knew she was only for Candace’s good.
Linford also tried to persuade her, “Mrs. Weston has been running Childcare for tens of years. She’s an expert. Just listen to me, give Candace some space.”
Cristelle could agree with him right now. Before she left, she pinched Cody’s cheek gently, “Take care of your sister, will you? Mommy will be back to pick up you guys later.”
Cody nodded heavily, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take care of Candace.”
Candace almost cried seeing her Mom and Dad walking out of the gate. Cody went to comfort his sister instantly, “Don’t cry, Candace. They’ll be back for us this evening. Let’s go play puzzles. Candace, it would help if you were strong for mommy and me. I’ll be here with you.”
Candace only nodded reluctantly now, grabbing her brother’s hand and entering the room with Mrs. Weston.
Mrs. Weston was amused, smiling. The boy knew how to take care of his sister at such a young age. She felt proud of these twins.
She remembered Linford saying he had forgotten what he had gone through. But he suddenly had such a smart pair of twins.
If his mom were still alive, she would have been so proud of his son. Mrs. Weston let out a heavy sigh after remembering her best friend.
****
Meanwhile, Linford and Cristelle were sitting in a car, driving back home. Cristelle was still thinking about Candace, being unnervingly silent beside Linford.
“We’ll pick them up this afternoon. You can ask about Candace’s experience at the Childcare by then. If she doesn’t like it, I’ll figure out another way,” Linford suggested with a gentle voice.
Cristelle’s lips were set into a thin line, “I know. Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. They are also my children.”
They were his responsibility. And he would give them the best things in this world.
Cristelle was just worried about another problem in her head, “Mr. Bradley, I believe your influence might…. It’s just… If you suddenly send the babies to the kindergarten yourself, people will…”
Would it affect her babies? She didn’t want her children to be the center of any gossip.
“You don’t need to worry about that. No one dares to touch my children. Besides, Mrs. Weston is also there. Everything will be fine.”
Linford had known from the beginning that he wouldn’t be able to hide this information from anyone. Besides, he didn’t even want to hide it. He just didn’t want those people from his family to get involved with his personal affair.
If they decided to interfere, he had so many ways to make them give up the idea.
Cristelle finally looked relaxed, “That’s good. Thank you.”
“Haven’t I told you before? Stop saying ‘thank you to me,” Linford frowned, “When can you drop the formality? We are the babies’ parents. You can’t make the babies think I’m a stranger. It’s bad for their growth.”
Cristelle only looked away.
But he was a stranger indeed.
****
That afternoon, Cristelle went to the kindergarten ahead of time, waiting anxiously for her babies. Linford’s car also followed.
This was the first time they picked up the babies from the school. They were both so excited.
The car stopped by the gate. The school would be over by 5. There were still 20 minutes before they got out. Fancy cars lined up before the kindergarten during this time. Most parents were stunned upon seeing Linford.
What was Linford Bradley doing here today?
Most of them didn’t have a clue. Cristelle stepped off the car when the bell buzzed. Linford hastily followed her. Some people were sneaking glances in their direction.
Linford only got closer to Cristelle, asserting his ownership silently. That stance only made people even more curious.
The gate was pushed open. Teachers led groups of children out of the gate. Cristelle was craning her neck at this point.
“It’s okay. Relax,” Linford comforted her.
Cristelle didn’t say anything.
It only took a couple of minutes before the teacher held Candace’s hand and led the kids out of the school. Cody followed as if he was his sister’s protector.