Ford drove the car to pick up the two little ones and made sure to ask if Jasmine had gotten into any fights at kindergarten that day.
“Nope! How could I be the type to get into fights?” Jasmine declared proudly. “Today, I even told all my classmates that I have a mom now!”
“Oh yeah? And what did they say?” Ford asked.
Jasmine lifted her chin high. “I told them my mom is super pretty! They were all so surprised! So shocked! They even said they wanted my mom to pick me up tomorrow. Ford, is Mommy coming back tomorrow?”
“Why don’t you ask her yourself and have her tell you, okay?”
“Okay!” Jasmine climbed into the car, and Ford went to pick up Quincy.
“Ford, I can get in by myself.” Quincy put on a serious grown-up look as he climbed into the car and buckled his seatbelt. “Why didn’t Mom Lillian and Mr. Conrad come to pick us up today?”
Ford chuckled. “They said they were cooking for you two, so they went grocery shopping. They’re already home now, so you’ll be just in time for dinner.”
“Wow, really? Is Mommy cooking for me?” She’d only had her mom’s cooking once before – and it had been so delicious.
At that moment, Jasmine couldn’t help but feel really jealous of Quincy.
Quincy had wanted to say he missed his dad, but when he saw how excited Jasmine was over just one meal cooked by their mom, he swallowed his words.
By the time they got back to Hillside Villa, the kids’ attention had completely shifted to the flock of baby chicks running around the yard.
“Whoa!!! Where did all these chicks come from?!”
“They’re so cute!!!” Jasmine bounced happily. “Quincy, look!”
The two little ones squatted near the gate, staring intently at the chicks gathered inside a cardboard box.
“Huh? Why do all the chicks have numbers on their little legs?”
“Oh, that’s so everyone can recognize their own chick, miss. That one – number seven – is mine.”
“Your chick is adorable!”
“Miss, our number six is pretty cute too!”
“Yours is nice too.”
“I think our number ten is the smartest and liveliest one here.”
“Pfft, brag all you want, but I think it’s just clumsy. It keeps running forward because its head’s too big and it’s off balance.”
“That’s because it’s a rooster! Just because yours is a hen doesn’t mean you can badmouth my chick!”
“Don’t listen to them, Number Ten – it’s just slander!”
Meanwhile, Lillian was busy cooking in the kitchen. Conrad refused to stay outside and insisted on helping.
Nancy was all too happy to pass the torch, shoving a bunch of green onions into his hands and winking at him like crazy.
When Lillian saw him come in, she quickly slammed the pot lid down. “What are you doing in here? Go outside and check if Jasmine’s back yet.”
“I want to help.” Conrad turned on the faucet and started washing the onions.
“That’s not how you do it. You can’t just scrub them like that with a brush!” Lillian hurried over when she saw him about to shred the onions into thin strands. “You need to hold them like this under the faucet…”
As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed his hand to guide him. Both of them froze for a second, and Conrad couldn’t help but smile a little.
“And then?” he asked.
Lillian bit her lip. “Just rinse them off lightly, that’s all.”
“That easy?” He grinned. “Got anything trickier?”
“You’re trying to run before you’ve even learned to crawl?”
Lillian couldn’t help but laugh. Typical Conrad – always eager to be the best at everything.
“Then teach me,” he said. “Once I’ve got it down, I’ll cook for you and Jasmine from now on, okay?”
It seemed like he was afraid she’d refuse, so he quickly changed the subject before she could respond.
“Your apron’s a little loose,” he added. “Want me to fix it for you?”
Lillian hadn’t even processed what was happening when Conrad had already moved behind her. His arms hovered loosely around her waist as he reached out and tied a knot at the back of her apron, wrapping it snugly around her slender frame.
From this angle, he could see the smooth, pale skin of her neck and catch the faint scent lingering on her. More importantly, with just a slight tilt of his head, he could press a kiss against her neck.
Conrad’s Adam’s apple shifted slightly as he swallowed.
Lillian kept waiting for him to step back.
But he didn’t move.
And neither did she.
It was the sound of children’s laughter that suddenly broke the moment, snapping Lillian back to reality. She turned her head just in time to see Jasmine run into the kitchen, giggling.
“Daddy! Mommy! Did you guys buy me those chicks? I love them so much!”
Conrad took her sweaty little hand in his. “Yeah. Looks like you had a busy day – you’re all sweaty.”
“Of course! I spent the whole day at school showing off that I have a mom now! I even went to the principal’s office – I told everyone! I was so busy!”
Conrad tapped her nose playfully. “Nancy, take her upstairs for a bath. When you’re all cleaned up, dinner will be ready.”
Jasmine twirled in excitement, her face glowing with joy. She loved today!
All her classmates knew she had a mom now!
And the moment she got home, she saw both her mom and dad together!
“I’m so happy! I wish today would never end. This is my favorite day ever!” Jasmine bounced in place, giggling as she spun around.
Lillian smiled as she watched Quincy quietly walk in behind Jasmine. After Nancy took Jasmine upstairs, one of the housekeepers stepped forward to take Quincy for his bath as well.
But before they could, Lillian spoke up to stop them. “I’ll go give Quincy a bath first. I’ll talk to him too. With the new environment, he’s probably feeling a little unsettled.”
Conrad couldn’t stop her.
“The food in the pot should be ready. Keep an eye on the heat, and the soup just needs to simmer for another fifteen minutes,” Lillian instructed the housekeeper before taking Quincy outside to the yard.
Conrad didn’t go anywhere – but he couldn’t stay in the kitchen either.
From the living room window, he could see Lillian holding Quincy on her lap, talking to him for quite a while.
What were they talking about?
Were they discussing Ethan?
Had Ethan contacted her?
That guy already had an ex-wife – wasn’t that enough? Why did he have to come bothering his Lillian too?
Jealousy boiled inside Conrad, churning uncontrollably.
Was she planning to leave?
Was she going to pack up Quincy and head home tomorrow?
And for what? To wait for Ethan?
His thoughts spiraled out of control, and his emotions started slipping from his grasp. His face darkened.
In truth, Lillian really was talking to Quincy about Ethan.
From yesterday until now, Ethan hadn’t reached out. Lillian didn’t mind, but Quincy was worried.
So Lillian called him on a video chat.
The call connected quickly. Ethan was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, and the background showed the stark white walls of a hospital.
“Dad!”
“Quincy.”
“Dad, where are you? When are you coming home?”
“I’m in City A. Not sure when I’ll be back yet. Have you been listening to Mom Lillian?”
“I have! I’m at Jasmine’s house now. Her place is so big, and Mr. Conrad’s been really nice to me too. Oh, and guess what? There were a bunch of new baby chicks in the yard today – too bad you couldn’t see them! Oh, and I went to kindergarten, and Jasmine introduced me to lots of new friends!”
Seeing how happy Quincy was, Ethan smiled and nodded. “That’s good. Listen to Mom Lillian and Mr. Conrad, okay?”
“I will, Dad.”
Once the father and son finished talking, Lillian had someone take Quincy for his bath. Only then did she bring up Phyllis’s situation.
“She still needs surgery. I’m just waiting for news now. How about you?”
Lillian gazed at the sunset reflecting off the ocean.
She’d sat in that rocking chair countless times before, watching the sunset over the water – but never had it felt this peaceful.
“Ethan, let’s talk when you get back.”
“Alright.”