Ellinor paused before asking Baber, âYou wanna leave this place?â
Baber looked a little nervy but he nodded anyway.
âAnd where do you want to go?â Ellinor asked again.
Baber tried his best to express himself, âThe orphanage.â
Orphanage?
Damn, the kid even wanted to go back to the orphanage. Life at the Howardâs must really suck.
Ellinor gently ruffled his hair, trying to comfort him and build trust. Tâd love to give you a hand, but youâve gotta understand, Iâm just a guest here, and Patricia is your legal guardian. Unless we can find some dirt on her and strip her of her custody, I canât help you leave this place.â
Baber was all ears, but his understanding was limited, and he still looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Ellinor realized she might have been talking over his head.
She sighed and simplified, âWhat Iâm saying is, youâve gotta be patient. Wait for the right moment, and Iâll help you make a run for it, okay?â
Baber looked blank for a moment, but his eyes gradually lost their guarded look, and he obediently nodded.
Ellinor stressed again, âTo keep yourself safe, youâve gotta learn to play it cool. Donât be too quick to show resistance when things get tough. Itâll just make the bad guys meaner. Pretend to like them, got it?â
Baber looked lost again. It seemed like he was in a daze once more.
Ellinor was patient. She took a necklace from around her neck and put it around Baberâs, adjusting it to fit him.
âThis is my lucky charm. Itâs got some magic in it. As long as youâre wearing it, itâll protect you. No one can push you around. But you canât cry, okay?â
This time, Baber pretty much got it. He treasured the necklace around his neck and nodded vigorously.
âI believe in you. When you see your mom later, no matter how scared you are, remember not to cry.
Smile and call her mom. That way, she wonât hurt youâ Ellinor encouraged him.
Upon hearing he would soon meet the âmomâ who scared him, Baber started to shake in fear.
Ellinor comforted him, âI know youâre scared, but donât forget, youâve got this magical necklace to protect you. So, thereâs nothing to fear.â
Baber looked at Ellinor, his eyes filled with determination, âYeah! Iâm not scaredâ¦â
Ellinor gently stroked his head again and then put him on the bed, letting him rest first.
-He would face the wicked woman after waking up.
Teaching such a young kid to be patient was hard and heartbreaking.
She had no other choice but to get the evidence of Patricia abusing the child before she could truly save him. She had to be patient and couldnât screw up the big picture over a small hitch.
Soon, it was dinner time at the Howardsâ home.
Fred came to invite Ellinor downstairs.
âMs. Mendoza, dinnerâs ready. Dean, Alyssa, and Mr. Howard all asked me to fetch you.â
A voice came from inside the room, âYeah, got it. You go ahead; Iâll be down in a bit.â
âAlright, Ms. Mendoza