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.

not in pain, but he pointed

kind of illness is this?

Lucas. I’ll

trotted over. “Don’t

“You can’t share your medicine, Camila. Stomachaches require a different kind of medication,

blankly. “I understand, Mommy.”

differed wildly. Lucas was witty and outspoken, while Camila

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

the prospect of getting jabbed, he gave a violent

to school is infinitely preferable to

jumped up. “It doesn’t hurt anymore,

he got to his feet, looking

looking so sickly earlier, he’s looking much better within a few short seconds.

his hand tenderly. “I’ll call in sick for you if you don’t want to attend school, but you

Mommy.

family

was well-behaved. She remained in her mother’s arms while she held onto her father’s hand. “I’m not

but she needs to continue taking her medication until her coughing stops. Remember to have plenty

take her medicine and

feel drowsy and asked her mother to put her to sleep. Christina glanced at the clock and, upon realizing it was their nap time,

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

were sound asleep before leaving their room.

found that Lina had called her many times and left multiple text

addressed them one at a time. She asked Lina to send the documents to her inbox, then

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

Nathaniel had never changed the password even after

brightly lit photograph greeted her at once,

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