Chapter 28
The landlord’s hand, which had been hovering over the elevator’s close button, suddenly stopped.
“Passed away?”
The landlord swiped their access card and gave an awkward yet polite smile. “Sorry, I didn’t know the boss–the child’s father–had passed away.”
Early on Saturday morning, the enthusiastic landlord called me, saying they’d found a moving company for me.
Indra overheard me talking on the phone and joked, “Where did you find such a passionate landlord? Rent a place and get a full–service move included?”
Me: “Must be God’s gift…” []
The moving truck arrived quickly. With the help of the professionals, I managed to finish most of the moving by noon. []
The new place was already cleaned thoroughly by a housekeeper the landlord had hired. All I had to do was unpack my things and put them in place.
After organizing the apartment, I took Jasper out for lunch, then drove to a market near Opal Heights to buy ingredients for making cookies.[]
I planned to make some snacks for Jasper in the afternoon and share a few cookies with the kind hearted landlord upstairs.
It was late summer, with the sun warm but not scorching, and the breeze carrying a hint of autumn’s coolness. [
I opened all the kitchen windows. Soft breezes filtered in, and the light slowly shifted westward. The butter on the counter softened at room temperature.
I lifted Jasper onto the counter. His delicate features were like a miniature version of Adrian’s. My fingers gently scratched Jasper’s soft chin.
Jasper tilted his head to avoid me, clutching his pudding tightly. He muttered one word, “Ticklish.” [
“Mommy, it tickles.” [
I stopped my fingers on his chin, leaned down, and kissed his dark, grape–like eyes. With a small smile, I said, “Then give Mommy a smile. If you smile, I won’t tickle you anymore.” [
As I spoke, my fingers moved slightly, pretending to threaten him. “Jasper baby, are you going to smile or not, hmm?“[]
Jasper, too ticklish to escape, burst into laughter after a short struggle.
A small dimple appeared on the left side of his mouth–a faint little dimple, very sweet. []
I stopped teasing him and fed him some pudding with a small spoon. Once the butter had softened, I began making cookies.
With Jasper around, most of my attention stayed on him, so the cookies took longer to make.[]
After mixing the dough with chocolate chips, I brushed butter on the baking tray and lined it with parchment paper.
Jasper grabbed a teddy bear–shaped cookie cutter and let out an “ah” sound as he watched me handle the dough. []
Seizing the moment, I smeared a bit of cookie dough on his nose with my fingertip.
Using a spoon, I scooped dough into Jasper’s teddy bear mold and patiently helped him shape the cookies. [
“No hands!” I caught Jasper’s fingers just as he tried to poke the dough. “Where’s your little spoon, Jasper?” []
Jasper blinked at me, wiggled his fingers, and replied in a soft voice, “Where’s the little spoon?” []
His nose still had the cookie dough I’d smudged earlier, making him look like a mischievous little orange cat caught stealing snacks. []
Once the tray was in the oven, I checked the time and gave Jasper a bath. Freshly bathed, Jasper smelled sweet and looked even more adorable.[]
I dressed him in a cow print onesie with a hood.
The timer chimed, signaling that the red bean porridge I’d been cooking was ready. []
After feeding Jasper dinner, I let him choose some cookies to place on a wooden tray. Carrying the tray in one arm and Jasper in the other, I headed upstairs. []
“Jasper, ring the doorbell,” I said, my hands too full to do it myself.
Before leaving, I had pulled the hood of his cow print onesie over his head, so now Jasper was nestled in my arms with little cow horns atop his head.]
Chapter 28
His chubby body leaned forward as he reached to press the doorbell.
My loose hair brushed against my face as Jasper’s movements tickled me. 0
The doorbell rang, and the door opened. A familiar figure stood at the entrance. []
“Huh?” Jasper’s soft baby voice trembled as he rubbed his eyes.
Balancing the tray, I followed Jasper’s gaze upward. []
My eyes scanned the man’s finely tailored deep blue and white striped shirt, paused at his dark solid tie and the curve of his Adam’s apple, and finally landed on his face.
I froze.
It was a face I knew all too well, one I’d once been intimately close to.
In Opal Heights, each floor housed just one unit. [
The landlord lived upstairs.
And the man who opened the door was Adrian. [
Adrian was my landlord? |
Adrian looked at me and spoke slowly, “Hello again, wife.“[]
–The Author Speaks–
Adrian: Rumor that he passed away? [
He will make sure Adeline knows, through his actions, whether he’s really dead or not.
