9
Three days later. Reuben and Addison came back with the kids.
“Mom! I’m starving, make some food for us!*
“Yeah, Addy needs some matrition too.”
Wes and Nolan started calling out upstairs the moment they walked in, and Reuben just smiled helplessly.
Let Addy sit down first,” he said, “She’s been lying in the hospital so long. She must be uncomfortable”
Addison nodded shyly, her arm clinging tightly to Reuben’s shoulder.
“We’d better not trouble Evelyn as soon as we get back”
“Relax” Reuben replied, She’s got nothing to do at home anyway. If something happened to you, ΤΗ
regret
He carefully set her down on the sofa, and as he looked up, his gaze fell on the divorce papers and note on the coffee table.
He recognized Evelyn’s handwriting at a glance.
the smile on his face slowly stiffened.
His strange expression caught the others‘ attention, too.
Wes mumbled, Divorce papers! This
This must be fake.”
Nolan nodded.
“Definitely fake Mom would never divorce Dad”
The two kids nodded in agreement, but their eyes kept darting to the coffee table.
Reuben, though, didn’t stay calm as he picked up the divorce
and
opened
He frowned, staring at the contents in disbelief. It was real
Evelyn had really left him!
Moreover, Reuben couldn’t recall ever signing a divorce agreement.
When on earth did the divorce papers come about?
He clutched the thin document rightly, and suddenly a memory flashed.
After he’d forced Evelyn to drop the idea of calling the police, she’d handed him
a fear files.
Ar the time, he’d assumed they were just another agreement about gifts, so he hadn’t bothered reading through.
Now, he finally realized… she’d decided to divorce him just because he wouldn’t let her call the police!
Reuben slammed his far on the coffee table.
“This is absurd! How dare the joke about something like this? Where’s Evelyn? Go fetch her for me!”
He was abour to order the butler to handle it when Addison stopped him.
“Let it go, Reuben,” she said softly, “She probably did this expecting you to chase after her. Just ignore it. She’ll come crawling back in a few days.” She stroked his arm to calm him, then pulled the boys closer.”Besides, I’m here, aren’t I? If Evelyn wants to leave, let her. I’ll take care of you for now…
I’ll be like a mom to you, okay?”
She smiled gently, head bowed, and the boys cheered instantly.
our mom!*
“Great! Addy is our
“Yeah! We don’t want that mean mom anymore! She didn’t want us, so we don’t want her either. Having Addy is more than enough“”
Faced with his sons eager stars, Reuben swallowed down the strange unease gnawing at him.
“Thanks for all this, Addy. You’ve had it rough lately. When Evelyn gets back, I have a serious talk with her.”
He smiled, leaned over, and kissed Addison.
A faint flush colored Addison’s cheeks.
She stood up to head for the kitchen, with Wes and Nolan trailing after her
Left alone in the living room, Reuben picked up the note.
Staring at the familiar handwriting, his fingers tightened around it.
“Evelyn was just trying to piss me off. She’d pulled stunts like this before to grab my attention. This is no different.” He told himself that, but his gaze lingered on the paper.
Finally, he crumpled up both the divorce papers and the note, tossed them in the trash, and forced himself not to look back
Reuben rose and walked to the kitchen
He heard his sons‘ excited voices
“Addy, you’re amazing!”
“Wow, eating your cooking is the best!”
Wes and Nolan were already carrying plates to the table.
Reuben glanced over.
Only one simple dish, but with little time to prepare, he didn’t think much of
Thanks for your hard work, Addy,” he said, stepping in to help serve.
A man who’d never bothered with such small chores at home was now pitching in, all because of Addison.
The three of them sat around the dining table, laughing like a real family.
