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,

kind of illness is this?

Lucas. I’ll take you to the

as well. She trotted over. “Don’t be scared, Lucas. I’ll bring you

words. “You can’t share your medicine, Camila. Stomachaches require

nodded blankly. “I understand, Mommy.”

wildly. Lucas was witty and outspoken, while Camila was delicate and

Lucas’ expression intently. “I summoned the doctor. He’s coming to examine you and give you a

the needle. At the prospect of getting jabbed, he gave a

is infinitely preferable to

“It doesn’t hurt anymore,

his feet,

earlier, he’s looking much

motives, Christina held his hand tenderly. “I’ll call in sick for you if you

understand, Mommy.

the family doctor turned

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

take long for the doctor to finish his examination. “She’s doing much better, but she needs to continue taking her medication until her coughing stops. Remember to have plenty of rest.”

Christina coaxed Camila to take her medicine and sketched while she stayed

to sleep. Christina glanced

old times, the trio lay in bed together. Amid the soft lull of nursery rhymes Christina crooned, the children soon fell

children were sound asleep before leaving their room.

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

asked Lina to send

learning via a series of questions that it

never changed the password even after all those years.

her at once,

the photograph of all of us together when we visited the amusement park? I can’t believe Nathaniel