Chapter 128
Most of his teeth were long gone, and when he smiled, deep wrinkles fanned out across his face. The staff at the home took good care of him, but there are things no amount of care can stave off age and decline come for everyone.
Irwin shrank back, dodging the old man’s reaching hand. He slipped behind Stewart, frowning. “Dad, I don’t know him. Who is he?”
Stewart ruffled Irwin’s hair, his gaze lingering on the old man who just kept grinning blankly at Irwin. Stewart’s eyes darkened, but he said nothing.
By the time they left the nursing home, it was already half past two in the afternoon.
Irwin could hardly contain his excitement–he wanted to see Briony as soon as possible.
“Dad, are we going straight to see Mom?”
Leaning back against the seat, Stewart pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah.”
“Yay!” Irwin cheered. “It’s Valentine’s Day and I haven’t bought any lanterns yet! Dad, can we go pick some out first? I want to choose the prettiest one for Mom!”
Stewart smiled and ruffled his hair again. “Alright.”
There was a big street fair set up along the edge of Pearbrook in Northborough, with stalls selling all sorts of lanterns–heart–shaped, animal–shaped, even wishing lanterns to float into the night sky.
Tonight, Pearbrook was bound to be bustling.
While picking out lanterns, Irwin also chose one for Rosita.
He handed the lantern meant for Rosita to Stewart. “Dad, this one’s for Mom Rosita. But we need to hide it in the car first, okay? Don’t let Mom see it, or she’ll get mad if she finds out I got one for Mom Rosita too!”
Stewart paused, a little taken aback. “Why do you say that?”
“It’s true!” Irwin insisted. “Before Mom Rosita came back, Mom never got mad at me. Mom Rosita said maybe Mom doesn’t like her much, so I shouldn’t mention her too much in front of Mom.”
“Your mom’s not like that,” Stewart said, taking the lantern from him.
“She is!” Irwin’s tone was utterly certain. “Mom Rosita says girls get jealous, and when they get jealous, they get angry! But being jealous just means you love someone, so that means Mom still loves me!”
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Chapter 128
He tilted his head, looking up at Stewart with big, curious eyes. “If Mom gets jealous and mad because I’m close with Mom Rosita, does she get like that with you too?”
Stewart paused, surprised. “Why do you ask that?”
“Well, before Mom Rosita came back, things were good between you and Mom. I even saw you sneak kisses a few times!”
Stewart: “”
Discussing this with a five–year–old felt almost surreal.
He coughed, frowning. “I’m married to your mom. That’s normal.”
“Oh!” Irwin clapped a hand over his mouth, his expression mischievous.
“But Dad, I bet you didn’t know this–every time you went away on business, Mom would stare at your photos when she thought no one was watching. I’d ask if she missed you, and she’d always say no, but she’d get all red in the face! My teacher says when girls blush, it means they’re shy!”
“Dad, has Mom ever blushed in front of you?”
Stewart faltered, his mind wandering back. Briony’s skin was so fair–she did blush easily, especially when they were… together-
He caught himself, frowning harder, startled by the memory’s sudden vividness.
“Dad!”
Stewart blinked back to the present, meeting his son’s innocent gaze.
“I think Mom used to fib a lot,” Irwin said, earnest. “When you were gone a long time, she’d secretly miss you, even though she never admitted it! She must’ve liked you a lot, so now that you’re close to Mom Rosita, of course she’s jealous and mad!”
Stewart’s eyes grew thoughtful as he considered Irwin’s words.
“Dad, Mom really used to be great to us,” Irwin went on, lips pouting. “Sometimes I miss how things used to be… But if Mom Rosita knew that, she’d be sad. Ugh, being a kid is so hard!”
Stewart mussed his hair. “Then don’t let Mom Rosita find out.”
“I won’t!” Irwin chirped. “Mom Rosita’s not well–she cries easily, and I don’t want to make her
sad!”
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