A Crazy Night Novel

As soon as Christina spoke, she heard footsteps behind her.

Turning around, she found herself gazing into Nathaniel’s eyes.

What a coincidence! Nathaniel shows up every time we say something about him. Did he put a wiretap in this house?

Nathaniel lifted Lucas and slung his schoolbag onto his shoulder. “It’s time to go to school, Lucas.”

“But Camila is sick. I want to stay and take care of her.” Lucas pursed his lips and blinked, trying to appeal to his father.

“There are plenty of people at home to look after her. You need to get to school on time.” As he spoke, Nathaniel marched toward the door with Lucas in his arms.

Having not seen his mother for a long time, Lucas was reluctant to attend kindergarten. Besides, he could recite the syllabus with his eyes closed.

He was determined to remain by his mother’s side. To that end, he clutched his stomach and yelled, “Ow! My stomach hurts! I don’t think I can go to school.”

Nathaniel scowled. He was fine earlier, and now he’s having a stomachache at the prospect of going to school. Nice try.

“I don’t care what hurts. You will go to school,” he insisted, his voice becoming dangerously soft.

Lucas’ panic grew when his father was about to leave the house with him. “Help, Mommy! It hurts so bad!”

Watching him gnash his teeth in agony, Christina became convinced that he was telling the truth. Concerned, she ran after the pair and stopped them.

“Didn’t you hear him say that he’s not feeling well?” Christina strode over and snatched Lucas out of Nathaniel’s arms.

Like a koala, Lucas clung to his mother. Thank God for Mommy. She loves me more than Daddy does.

Nuzzling against Christina’s bosom, he did not dare meet his father’s gaze for fear of being discovered.

“Where does it hurt? Show me.” Christina carried Lucas in and sat him down on the couch.

was not in pain, but he pointed arbitrarily nonetheless. “Here, and

is this?

“Don’t worry, Lucas. I’ll take you to the doctor.”

over. “Don’t be

your medicine, Camila. Stomachaches require a different kind of medication,

“I

differed wildly. Lucas was witty and

summoned the doctor. He’s coming to

prospect of getting jabbed, he gave

to school is infinitely preferable

doesn’t hurt anymore, Mommy. I’d better get going to school.”

his feet, looking good as

sickly earlier, he’s looking much better within a few

held his hand tenderly. “I’ll call in sick for you if you don’t want to attend school, but you must never lie to me

“I understand, Mommy. I

the family

her mother’s arms while she held onto her father’s hand. “I’m not

she needs

left, Christina coaxed Camila to take her medicine and sketched while she

her to sleep. Christina glanced at the clock and, upon realizing it was their

soft lull of nursery rhymes Christina crooned, the

the children were sound

she silenced her phone upon arriving home, she found that Lina had called her many

a time. She asked Lina to send

via a series of questions that it was nothing serious, she ended the

on the computer in the study. Nathaniel had never changed the password even after

lit photograph greeted her at once, and

of us together when we visited the amusement park? I can’t