When There Is Nothing Left But Love

Michael was an introvert. He gripped his father’s hand tightly as he stared at Summer and nodded. “Mhm. Thank you, Ms. Stovall!”

“Let’s go, then!”

At home, Summer and Michael busied themselves with picking produce in the backyard while Colin left to purchase fish.

Meanwhile, I started washing vegetables in the kitchen.

For the past four years, I had made a habit of personally cooking for Summer so as to ensure she had a balanced diet. As a result, my cooking skills had improved greatly.

After I’d washed the vegetables, the two kids came stumbling into the kitchen, each carrying a small basket.

Michael’s basket was filled to the brim—some of the vegetables inside threatening to spill over.

Summer’s basket only had several miscellaneous vegetables. It looked like she had been walking behind Michael and carefully picking up anything that had actually fallen out of his basket.

“We’re back, Mommy!” Summer proudly held her basket high up in the air, her face streaked with dirt.

I took the basket from Michael, hurriedly wiping away the sweat on his face. “You should share some with Summer next time. It’s too heavy for you to carry yourself!”

The boy grinned, his eyes soft and full of affection as he looked at Summer. “She’s too small to carry this!”

“That’s right, Mommy! I asked Michael to help me carry these because I’m not strong enough!” Summer giggled. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had learned this shamelessness from Jackson.

Furrowing my eyebrows, I scolded, “If you bully Michael like this again, I’ll make you water all the vegetables in the backyard by yourself.”

won’t be by

This little…

whenever she was receiving punishment. It would seem that she had gotten used to his company, and there was nothing I

came back, having bought some

shrimp and started chasing poor Michael around with it

me, Colin said, “I’ll wash these. The fish have been cleaned, so you can

I nodded.

the food and gathered around the stove, staring

Colin ordered them, putting down the

to take out the plates

picking her up in his arms and setting her aside. “Be a good girl and take the fruits by the sink and place them on the dinner table. We’ll

in my direction,

I plated up the dishes and Colin served them

when I spotted the kids were already waiting eagerly in

for you, Mommy!” Summer suggested, grinning in anticipation

Summer and I went

of watermelon seeds in the garden last spring and bought several peach trees when I first moved to R Province. Now, the yard would bless us with an abundance of fresh fruits every year at the height of

in one arm, Summer picked up some peaches from

pinching her tiny nose. “What are

held her chin, deep in thought. “I was thinking

Daddy that badly?” I did