Pop went to his grandson, “What are you laughing at? The boy isn’t good at dancing, but at least he’s trying. I bet you don’t have his courage as a grown man.”
Linford repeatedly apologized as he slung his arm around his grandpa’s shoulder. The rehearsal finally continued.
Franco and Lily were sitting on the couch, looking at them as the rehearsal went on, clapping and cheering occasionally.
Candace was overjoyed that she had an audience. Cody felt a bit awkward, but he still decided to finish what he was determined to do for his Mom and sister. He mustered his courage and finished all the moves he needed to do on the stage, his face as red as a tomato all the while.
Cristelle didn’t want to win the competition. She just wanted to ensure their children enjoyed the process. Another bonus was that Cody finally managed to challenge something he didn’t dare to do this time. She was quite proud of the boy.
But Cody’s next challenge came way too soon.
The challenge appeared when Cristelle took out their costumes on stage after dinner.
Candace was whirling in her white tutu dress. Cody went blue as he noticed the tights he had to wear.
Did he really have to wear these on the stage? Cody felt desperate.
“Honey, you’ve rehearsed the whole afternoon for our performance. We don’t mind if you don’t want to wear these,” Cristelle smiled as she patted Cody’s head gently, “I know you don’t like dancing but you still chose to be brave for your sister. I just want you to know that it’s okay if you don’t want to wear these or won’t go to the stage with us. Whatever the decision you make, we will still be very proud of you.”
If he didn’t wear the dress and refused to perform with their family, the performance wouldn’t be perfect.
Besides, it was Candace’s wish.
Cody sighed as he put the costume on. It was not that bad at all, to be honest.
Cody winced as he stared at himself in the mirror.
Candace came forth and flattened the shirt for him.
“Cody was like a Prince,” the little girl complimented seriously.
“Thank you, Princess Candace,” Cody smiled.
Candace bent her knee a bit.
“Look at the babies. They’re so beautiful, aren’t they?” Pop was proud.
“Of course, sir. They’re Linford’s children.” Lily agreed.
Linford sat before the piano in his suit. When he started to play, Cristelle started to dance with the babies.
Cody was still trying to get familiar with the moves, but he was more at ease compared with before.
Cristelle was in her tutu dress as well. She twirled and jumped on her toes lightly. She looked like an angel descended from heaven.
Linford couldn’t even take his eyes away from her as he played the piano.
Franco and Lily couldn’t stop smiling as they stared at the beautiful family.
Linford had gone through a lot. Franco was
grateful his grandson finally got what he deserved and was longing for.
He wished Linford’s happiness would last forever.
The rehearsal was quite successful. Cristelle didn’t demand it to be perfect. She just wanted the babies to enjoy the performance itself.
After taking a bath, she walked out of the bathroom.
She faltered as she saw Linford. The man was standing by the door in his bathrobe.
“Why are you…” Cristelle opened her mouth.
Linford smiled as he pulled her in, “The rehearsal was perfect.”
“Oh,” Cristelle looked away, blushing. They were standing too close to each other. Cristelle could even breathe his aftershave.
She pulled away, frowning. “What is this again?”
Linford leaned forward and trapped her between his arms against the wall, a mischievous smirk on his lips. He dipped his head, and his lips were only inches away from Cristelle’s.
Cristelle stopped breathing.
“What are you guys doing?” Cody’s voice suddenly boomed by the door.
Cristelle pushed Linford away instantly, her face furiously red, “We… We’re not doing anything… Why… Why are you here, Cody?”
Cody was so pissed off that his head was gonna explode as he glared at Linford, “What are you trying to do when I’m away, Linford Bradley? Are you trying to take advantage of Mom?”
Cristelle was so embarrassed as she heard what Cody had said. Being walked on by her son was the last thing she wanted to experience.
Cody was yelling quite loudly, and Franco heard the boy from his room. So he came up to check them, “What’s wrong? What happened? Linford, did you bully the boy again?”
Linford thought the boy would keep yelling and screaming, but the boy didn’t. Instead, Cody’s eyes went red. He stumbled a couple of steps backward.
And then, he started to cry. He cried so sadly that he sounded like he was howling in pain. Linford went pale. He took a step forward, but the boy suddenly spun around and ran back to his room.
“What did you do to the boy, Linford?!” Pop didn’t know what just had happened. He stomped his cane against the floor, thinking Linford had started a fight with the poor boy again.
Cristelle went to knock on Cody’s door. But the boy refused to open the door. He was burying his face into the pillow and crying loudly.
He didn’t want to see anyone right now.
Cody had never cried like this before.
Cristelle didn’t even know what to do anymore. Cody had always been the sweetest and smartest boy. He could handle a lot of things like a little adult. When he acted like a real five-year-old, Cristelle suddenly felt bad for him and was defeated.
Linford pushed her away gently as he knocked on the boy’s door, “Cody, can we talk?”
But the boy still refused to open the door.
“Cody, can you open the door? I’m worried,” Cristelle begged. She looked like she was about to cry as well.
Cody didn’t want his Mom to worry. So he answered weakly, “Sorry, Mom, I don’t want to see anyone right now. I need to spend some time alone. I will be fine.” His voice was muffled.
This was unfair. The boy thought.
In their hometown, he and his sister were bullied and called “fatherless little bastards.”
Back then, Linford Bradley had never shown up.
He had tried so hard to protect his Mom and sister. But that man just jumped out of nowhere and took them away just because he was a strong adult.
Cody didn’t like this idea at all.
Linford Bradley had never been there when they needed him the most. How could he just show up and be a part of their family as if he had the right to do so?
It was so unfair.