My Sugar And Your Spice

"Mr. Walsh. Miss Dillon. Where are you both here?" Chandler was surprised when he saw them.

Toby dusted the footprints off his white shirt while Chandler carried the child in his arms like he had done it a million times. It was hard to believe he wasn't married.

"Oh, my. Did the child do that to your shirt?" Chandler looked uneasy at the sight.

"It's okay." Toby waved his hands nonchalantly and smiled brightly. "Why are you here, though?"

Even though Chandler was adopted by the Alston Family, he was barely acquainted with Toby. So, they only knew of each other at the most and had never talked to one another besides the basic pleasantries required.

"I'm here to help take care of the children." Chandler smiled softly. "I'm free anyways, and the kids are cute."

Toby didn't respond and gave a silent nod instead. It was unclear what he truly thought about Chandler's reason.

Chandler carried the child with one arm and lightly patted his head with another before sighing lightly, "These children are lucky to have Leo adopt them. If not, they'll be an orphan for life. I'm an orphan. I know how tough it is. So, I wanted to do something to lessen the trauma of their parents abandoning them."

He was so emotional that Toby felt rather uncomfortable and awkwardly coughed into his fist in response.

On the other hand, Amelie wasn't one to butt in other people's problems. So, she stayed quiet.

Then, Chandler's gaze landed on her. "Leo will celebrate their birthdays all on one day. It's in two days. Would you like to come, Miss Dillon?"

Amelie guessed his intention and just smiled with a shake of her head. "I'm sorry. I'll be busy."

After her rejection, she noticed the child in Chandler's arms staring at her and felt terrible. So, she offered, "I'll get them birthday gifts, though."

"Oh, sure." He gave a quick smile as if he was very disappointed but tried not to show it.

Finally, he nodded gratefully. "I thank you on their behalf."

"Don't worry about it." Then, Amelie and Toby left.

Chandler looked at them, walking away while standing at the door before carrying the child inside.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Amelie questioned after they were some distance away.

taken aback. "Huh?"

"I didn't expect Leo's children to be here. However, it was Chandler

to the private kitchen we went to earlier and strongly recommended the coffee from this place." Toby pointed at the coffee

saw the sign as

there's something off with Chandler?"

curved the corner of her lips in reply.

she didn't like Chandler. But it wasn't right to accuse him

she had enjoyed a cup of coffee with Toby, she went to the mall alone. She was

young and she didn't know what they liked. In the

classic teddy bear for the boys while the girls all got the famous Eevee.

made up her mind, she realized that she didn't know how many of the children were there. So, after some thought, she called Chandler, and he

buy them gifts," he said sincerely. "I can see that

she felt that

still hope that you will reconsider. Leo's not a playboy. He has been abstinent these few years."

rumors because they wanted to use this as a

gifts to you, Mr. Chandler," Amelie interrupted him as

a sigh before acknowledging her statement.

me sending the gifts," she requested,

worry. I won't,"

…

the day of the children's

and Eugene came jumping out of

out the cake and birthday gifts specially prepared for the children that his wife helped pick out.

open

head lowered in the car hummed through his sealed lips

placed it aside

glanced at the mountain of gifts outside the car before entering the house.

hands together

he

Chandler. It was apparent that he was

help because I saw how busy Miss Potts was."

head and silently shot daggers at Eugene.

forbidding face frightened Eugene, and