Chapter21
Seymour rubbed his temples and glanced at his phone again. The chat history with Felicia was still from her last prenatal check–up.
She had messaged him, asking when he would be home.
Seymour didn’t reply.
He hadn’t received any messages from her since.
Seymour hesitated for a long time, wanting to ask how Minerva was doing, wanting to see his daughter.
But after thinking for a moment, he deleted all the words he had typed.
He couldn’t be the first to give in. That day when their son went missing, she acted like nothing happened. Why should he be the one to reconcile first, given how heartless she was?
Seymour locked the screen and threw the phone on the bedside table.
It was just a craft. Without her, he could do it himself.
The next day, when Ambrose got out of school, he unexpectedly saw Mabel in the car.
“Auntie Mabel, why are you here?”
Mabel smiled gently, “I was passing by your school and thought I’d pick you up. Are you happy?”
“Of course!”
Ambrose sat in the back seat, sipping his special drink placed there,
feeling excited.
“Ambi. do you want to eat out? I will take you to eat anything you want.”
Mabel hadn’t come to pick up Ambrose for no reason. Her last
performance at the amusement park was a failure, and she feared it left a bad impression on Seymour. So she wanted to regain some favor through. Ambrose
She also wanted to deepen her bond with Ambrose, hoping he would say nice things about her to Seymour.
Ambrose shook his head. “Auntie Mabel, I’m eating at home today. My dad and I have to do the craft tonight.”
nning first place this time would allow the project to be displayed in the kindergarten’s glass showcase, which was very impressive. He had boasted to many kids that he would definitely win first place.
After all, this time his dad was helping him. If his mom’s work could get second place, then surely his dad’s work would win first.
Mabel was surprised. “Craft? What craft?”
What craft could make Ambrose, who loved eating out the most, choose to go home instead?
Ambrose proudly puffed out his chest. “Auntie Mabel, today I’m making a little house with Dad. Tomorrow it can be displayed in the glass showcase. Isn’t that awesome?”
Mabel suddenly realized, she had heard Felicia and Edwina talk before about how they found the craft projects from Ambrose’s kindergarten teacher troublesome.
Ambrose thought of something clever. He blinked and said, “Auntie Mabel, will you come with me for my craft activity tonight?”
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Craft projects were difficult for the hands, and without his mother there, no one would massage them for him.
Mabel’s eyes brightened. “Ambi, do you want me to join in?”
“Yes! The teacher said parents can come help, and since you are my mom’s sister, you can come too,”
Working late on the craft with Seymour meant she might have the opportunity to stay the night at his house.
This was very appealing.
Mabel smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, “Alright.”
Mabel knew how to do manicures, but she hadn’t done any handicrafts.
Her long, shiny nails seemed out of place when she was facing a pile of plastic bottles.
“Ambi. you mean we’re supposed to use these bottles for the handicraft?”
“Yes.” Ambrose blinked, “We can draw on the bottles and make clothes for them. Auntie Mabel, you know how to do that, right?”
Mabel forced a smile; she had to pretend she could even though she couldn’t.
“Ambi, when is your dad coming back?”
Without Seymour, she felt lost. She had thought of asking the maid to do it, but that would reveal her lack of skill in handicrafts.
Just then, Bettie spoke up, “Mr. Lucero just called and said he’ll be back
for dinner.”
Mabel glanced at the wall clock; it was only four, three hours until
dinner
Ambrose was excited; today’s handicraft would be done by his two favorite people and was sure to win first place.
“Auntie Mabel, I’m going to my room to do my homework. You can start.”
Mabel was stunned.
At dinner time. Seymour returned on time and was surprised to see Mabel at home.
“Mabel, why are you here?”
“Sey, you’re back. I passed by Ambi’s school today and went to pick him up, but he insisted I come to help him with his handicraft.”
Seymour was relieved to hear she was helping. “Thank you, Mabel. How’s it going?”
As he got closer and saw the messy pile behind her, his eyes flickered.
Bettie had already seen Mabel’s “masterpiece.” Compared to Felicia’s work. Mabel’s handicraft was simply too shoddy.
Would Ambrose really expect to win first place with this tomorrow? It was impossible to win.
