Betty and Tylor didn’t know what “accuse” meant. They were a bit daunted by Cody’s questions. But there was no way back. They could only keep lying, “We just see it!”
Joe was the one who saved the problem, “Guys, stop saying anything. I believe Candace will never do that. You two probably saw it wrong, didn’t you?”
Betty and Tylor couldn’t handle the pressure anymore, so they nodded, “Yes. We probably saw it wrong.”
“You shouldn’t have done that, guys. You need evidence when you say someone did anything bad. Or it may cause misunderstanding,” Joe shook his head, “Please stop saying anything like this anymore. You guys picked the most tomatoes, but you just wronged Candace. So you won’t get the prize today.”
Betty and Tylor huffed and sat down.
Cody was a bit unhappy about the result. They hadn’t even apologized to his sister yet.
****
Linford and Cristelle came to pick the babies up together after school.
Cody and Candace both held their baskets, walking out of the gate together. Candace stretched her arms and buried herself into Cristelle’s chest the moment she saw her.
Linford had already stretched his arms toward his little girl, but clearly, Candace only wanted to be held by her Mom today. He was a bit jealous, but he didn’t let it show.
The family of four climbed into the car.
Candace sat on Cristelle’s lap; as she cupped Cristelle’s face with her chubby hands, looking into her eyes silently.
Mommy was so beautiful. She was not a bad woman.
Those people should apologize to her.
Candace buried her face in Cristelle’s shoulder. She knew she couldn’t speak, and those kids were calling her a little mute.
It made her sad that she couldn’t defend her Mom. Candace sniffed as she hooked her arms around Cristelle’s neck.
“What’s wrong, honey? Are you feeling upset?” Cristelle asked gently.
Linford also stared at the girl. He sensed there was something off with his baby girl today. Did someone bully her in school?
“What happened to your sister?” Linford asked Cody.
Cody put down his bag and saw Candace’s pleading eyes. Before they got in the car, his sister had begged him not to tell their parents anything.
Cody thus coughed a bit, “Joe took us to pick tomatoes today. Candace and Amy were startled by a little frog. I guess Candace’s still scared.”
“Oh… Is it a little frog? Don’t be afraid, honey. Little frogs are good. They eat pests to protect vegetables,” Cristelle explained carefully to Candace.
Candace nodded. She knew this. She wasn’t scared of little frogs after all.
“That’s it?” Linford arched an eyebrow.
“That’s it,” Cody shrugged.
Linford didn’t believe it. Then, before he could ask anything, a message suddenly burped in. It was from Joe. The young teacher explained everything that happened today.
This was a little friction between the kids. They should solve the problem by themselves. Linford knew he shouldn’t interfere unless he was asked to. Linford stared at the message, frowning. He looked up at his daughter.
Were other kids jealous of Candace because she was too cute?
The jealousy from kids can be scary sometimes.
Betty White and Tylor Wayne.
Linford didn’t expect the kids to be from the two houses. Joe said he had told their parents. They would stop harassing Candace after this incident. Linford didn’t want to deal with those people.
When they went back, Jack was there waiting, bringing the fresh grapes to the kids.
“Why did Pop send you, Jack?” Linford was a bit worried that Jack wasn’t around Pop all the time. He didn’t trust other people to look after his grandpa.
Jack vowed and smiled, “He said the grapes are for the kids. He thus wanted me to send it here. What happened to Candace?”
The old man noticed the look on the little girl’s face.
Linford frowned a bit, “She’s okay.
“Thank you for the grapes. You should go back now, Jack. Pop will feel inconvenient without you being around.”
Cody brought a little box out of the kitchen. It contained the cookies he had baked with Cristelle a couple of days ago.
“Sir, please bring this to Pop. Mom and I made these. They’re really good.”
Jack extended his hand to accept it, smiling, “Of course. Sir Franco will love it.”
After Jack had left, Linford shot his son a glance, “Pop can’t eat sweets.”
Cody looked up. “I know. We didn’t put much sugar in them.”
Linford cast Cristelle a glance. Cristelle had put Candace down, taking the basket of grapes into the kitchen.
Linford dropped his gaze. Pop gave them gifts, and they would treat him to a meal. Pop brought them some grapes, and they would give back cookies.
It might sound warm, but it was a bit too polite.
Being too polite felt detached. Like most family members, he wished Cristelle and the babies could get along with his grandpa.
But he wasn’t gonna tell them about his thoughts. He knew they needed time. Candace was sitting beside him, looking at Cody playing with his gun.
The girl tended to do one thing. Whenever she got upset, she always spent time with her Mom or brother. As much as she liked Linford, she still hadn’t gotten used to relying on him.
Linford hoisted her on his lap and turned on the TV. Candace reclined against his chest and started to watch the show silently.
Cristelle brings a plateful of fruit out, “Guys, come to have some fruit. Grapes from Pop and tomatoes you guys just picked in school.”
Candace didn’t eat much. She was not as happy as she usually was. Cody also didn’t want to eat anything. He was too busy with his toys.
Cristelle noticed a sudden change in her daughter’s behavior, putting a hand on her daughter’s head, “What’s wrong honey? Are you feeling upset? Could you tell Mommy what happened?”
Candace looked at her with those wide eyes. She wanted to tell Cristelle everything, but she couldn’t open her mouth. So she sighed and shook her head defeatedly.
Was Candace hiding something from her now?