Let Me Stay The Night

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.

in pain, but he pointed arbitrarily nonetheless. “Here, and here.”

of illness is this?

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

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

can’t share your medicine, Camila.

blankly. “I

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

“I summoned the doctor. He’s coming to examine you and give you a jab if you’re

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

school is infinitely preferable to getting jabbed!

“It doesn’t hurt

he got to his feet, looking good

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

“I’ll call in sick for you if you don’t want to attend school, but you must never

Mommy.

the family doctor turned up.

well-behaved. She remained in her mother’s arms while

“She’s doing much better, but she needs to continue taking her medication until her coughing stops. Remember to have plenty of rest.”

her medicine and

drowsy and asked her mother to put her to sleep.

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

waited until the children were sound asleep before leaving their room.

home, she found that Lina had called her many

addressed them one at a time. She asked Lina to send

had been deeply concerned to hear that Camila was feeling unwell. After learning via a

changed the password even after all those years. She keyed in the login

lit photograph greeted her at once, and she froze.

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