Summer felt stuffed to the gills after breakfast.
She could have ignored what Leonardo said, but when Rosie finished her breakfast and showed Summer her empty plate, she had no choice but to finish hers too. She may have regained her appetite recently, but she still did not eat as much as a normal woman did.
While Leonardo headed off to the office after breakfast, Summer played with Rosie. Back then at the Emersons’ old residence, it was the maids who played with Rosie. But they could not do that as heartily as Summer did because they were conscious of who they were.
Children need company, and playing with them is the easiest way to establish relationships. Things became easier since Rosie was fond of Summer.
Leonardo was not coming home for lunch. So during the afternoon nap, Rosie insisted that Summer gave her company. So she obliged.
With someone beside her, Rosie was having a long nap, and nothing was going to wake her up. Following that, Summer had dozed off, too.
In her semi-consciousness, Summer heard the creaking of the door opening and abruptly opened her eyes. She first checked Rosie, who was cuddling in her arms and still sound asleep beside her. She then looked in the door’s direction.
The sky outside had dimmed. So too inside the room. She screwed up her brow, trying to adapt to the interior light, then only made out the figure at the doorway where the door was open ajar. Leonardo was standing there. He was still in the meticulous business suit that he wore in the morning. He looked especially tall in that attire.
She looked at him, transfixed, then gingerly got out of bed, not forgetting to take her mobile phone along as she went. She made sure that she had not woken up Rosie before walking to the door.
Seeing that she was coming out, Leonardo turned around and walked out, too. Closing the door behind them, Summer followed Leonardo from behind. She checked the time. It was well after five in the evening. It was no wonder that Leonardo had come home.
She saw a missed call and an unread text message on her mobile phone, which she had switched into silent mode before she slept. Both the missed call and unread text message were from Jessica. Jessica had probably followed up with the text message when Summer did not answer her call.
The message read, “Do you have time tomorrow afternoon? Let’s meet up.”
Summer replied, “Sure.”
She then looked at Leonardo, who was standing not far away, staring at her. She felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
“What would you like for dinner?” she asked.
“Take a guess.”
It was supposedly just a joke, but he said it in a way that sounded as if he was serious.
Summer pursed her lips. Without a word, she went down to the kitchen. Fortunately, she had asked the maids and learned from them about his likes and dislikes. This man was seemingly ever ready to find fault with her.
…
Tonight’s dinner looked like a feast. Summer had prepared seven to eight dishes, most of which were cooked to meet Leonardo’s taste. She had also made a few light dishes, two soups, and a special children meal of meat and vegetarian and cute garnish.
Rosie held a spoon in her hand, seemingly dying to dig in. “That’s so lovely. It must be super good!”
“You haven’t tasted it yet.” Summer chortled. She filled a bowl with soup, stirred it, and let it cool down a bit. Then, she put it in front of Rosie. “Here you go.”
Rosie first drank from the spoon and then directly from the bowl. After she finished, Summer poured her half a bowl.
Before the soup in the bowl cooled down enough, she sensed a stare from Leonardo, who was sitting opposite her. She looked up and followed his eyes, finding that he was staring at the bowl of soup in her hand, which she intended for Rosie.
“You… want any soup?” she asked, feeling puzzled. Judging by his personality, she thought his stare was just a signal telling her to work out what he meant. But the next second, Leonardo replied with an “Mhm”. He put down his chopsticks and waited for her to pour him a bowl of soup.
Summer was a bit surprised but said nothing. She poured him a bowl and put it in front of him. She tested the soup to see if it had cooled down enough for drinking. Feeling the temperature was still a little too high, she blew to cool down the soup with her mouth.
While she was doing it, she sensed as if Leonardo was staring at her. So she looked up and sure enough, he was looking at her.
What more did he want? Did she not already pour him a bowl of soup? Did she have to serve him just as she served Rosie, testing the soup’s temperature and blowing on it to cool it down on his behalf?
The thought frightened her. Leonardo might behave childishly sometimes, but he was not really a kid. Probably she over thought.
As they were about to finish their dinner, Summer got a text message from Jessica, informing her of the time and venue for their meeting as well as asking if she could bring Rosie along.
Since she and Leonardo were staying under the same roof, she thought it was only proper to tell him about it. So she gave it a little thought and then looked at him.
“I’ll be going out tomorrow afternoon.”
“Where are you going?” He took a hand towel from a maid to wipe his hands.
“Do I have to report to you where I go?” She thought that was totally unnecessary.
Leonardo put down the hand towel and looked at her. “You want to bring Rosie along while I’m at the office, of course I have to know where you’re going.”
“I can bring Rosie along?” That was a pleasant surprise.
“Are you thinking of leaving her at home alone?” Leonardo’s brows were knitted together, his voice reeking of reproach.
“No…” She quickly shook her head. “You know the person I’m seeing. It’s Jessica.”
“Someone will fetch you two tomorrow.” After he said that, he left the dining room.
Rosie sat motionless in the chair after dinner, as though she had spaced out.
“Rosie?” Summer called out.
“Aah?” Rosie still did not move.
Summer sat down in front of Rosie. “Your daddy says you can follow me out tomorrow!”
“Out?” Rosie seemed to come back to life, and her eyes brightened up. “I want to go out!”
During her time at the old house, Leonardo was working and the only place where Rosie could move around was the house. She had been craving to go outdoors for a long time. That was the reason Amber was able to take her out last time.
“We’re going out tomorrow!” Summer patted her on the head.
…
In the afternoon the next day, as Summer was heading out, she saw Tim waiting by his car outside.