Iâm so happy today!â Timothy clasped his hands together. âThis is the happiest day of my life!â
Abelâs face went taut.
Since Timothy was born, Abel had been overseas and had never paid too much attention to his son.
Of course, his âmotherâ Alana did not pay him much attention either.
Rosaline had raised Timothy by herself, so Timothy was closer to his grandmother.
When Timothy was with Emmeline, it was obvious he was closer to Emmeline than to Rosaline.
It was as though Emmeline was Timothyâs mother.
Emmelineâs heart ached.
Even though the triplets did not grow up with a father figure, she had given them all her love.
Robert and Waylon treated the children well. They gave them the fatherly love they lacked.
The triplets were much happier in comparison with Timothy.
âYou should eat more, Timothy,â Emmeline said as she filled up Timothyâs plate. âIâll cook whatever you want to eat.â
âReally?â Timothyâs eyes widened. âWill I get to eat your food more often?â
âOf course.â Emmeline smiled and patted Timothyâs head.
âBut Mommy and Daddy will be separating. Timothy wonât get to eat Mommyâs food, and we wonât get to eat Daddyâs food,â Sun said.
Emmeline and Abel lowered their heads They found it impossibly difficult to fulfill the childrenâs request.
âLetâs not talk about that today. We should enjoy our dinner while we still have the chance,â Abel said.
He filled up the childrenâs plates again.
Timothy and the triplets exchanged glances, and the triplets nodded.
Heheheh! Weâll trap you and Mommy together later. You wonât get away!
After dinner, Emmeline and Abel cleaned up, and the four boys went upstairs to play.
Emmeline squeezed liquid soap into the sink. âYou should rest in the living room. I can handle this.â
âItâs a lot of dishes. I should help you,â Abel said.
âYou donât even have a dishwasher here. Looks like you donât stay here often,â Emmeline said.
âIâll get Luca to buy one tomorrow. What else do you need? Iâll get everything,â Abel said.
âGet a sterilizer and a microwave oven then. Itâs not much, but theyâll come in handy,â Emmeline said.
âAlright. That makes the place more homely.â
The two people were taken aback by those words. They exchanged a glance and turned their heads away.
Both of them were thinking of different things.
Too bad thisâll be Alanaâs home, Emmeline thought.
How can I tell her this will be her home? Abel thought.
âOuch!â Emmeline cried out softly and pulled her hand away.
âWhat happened?â
âI cut myself on the scouring pad.â
âLet me see.â Abel took her hand and saw a small line on her index finger. A drop of blood was forming.
âYouâre so clumsy.â Abel placed the finger into his mouth.
âAh! What are you doing?â
Emmeline cried.
âIâm sucking away the bacteria. Thatâs usually how we do it when I was a boy,â Abel said.
Emmeline could not help but chuckle.
âI didnât know you believed in folk remedies, Mr. Ryker.â
âIf it works, it works. Donât look down on alternative methods.â
Suddenly, Sun called out, âDaddy! Mommy! Come here quickly!â
Abel and Emmeline were shocked. Did something happen to the kids?
Emmeline ran out of the kitchen. âWhat happened, Sun?â
Abel followed behind. âWhat happened? Tell me!â
âWe were playing hide-and-seek in Daddyâs bedroom, but we accidentally toppled the clothes basket.
Can you help clean it up?â
Emmeline patted her chest. âYou gave me such a fright. Iâm glad youâre all safe.â
âYeah. I was so worried something happened to you,â Abel said.
The two adults were about to head back into the kitchen when Moon came down the stairs and said, âThe whole room is a mess, and we canât play there. Can you help us tidy up?â