"Yeah." Zayn nodded.
"Don't they have classes in kindergarten today?" Carla hurriedly checked the date on her
phone. "It's a Tuesday."
"He can't learn much there. It's alright to take some days off occasionally." Zayn's reply
was nonchalant.
"Hmm." Carla didn't say much but decided to focus on her meal.
Randy could sense the tension between the both of them. They usually regarded each other
with affection and adoration, but something was not right today. Why were things so
awkward?
"Mommy, you also worked at Daddy's company before, right? Can you come with us?"
Josh's awareness was not as keen as Randy's, so he could not sense the discord between
them. "Maybe you can meet your former colleagues!"
"Yeah, let's bring Mommy with us!" Venus took Carla's hand in hers and cooed at Zayn.
"We'll take Dori too!"
"She can't go."
Carla was about to speak when Zayn interjected. "She wants to rest at home."
Carla glared at him. He did not want her to appear with the children at work, or did he
not want people to know about their relationship?
Then why bring up marriage? Are you going to keep that under wraps too?
"Mommy is sick? Oh, then she should stay home and rest!" Josh still had not noticed
anything but decided to wolf down the warm hot cross bunnies that were on his plate.
"Well, if Mommy can't go, I won't bring Dori along. Dori might run loose and cause trouble."
Venus stroked Dori's head and soothingly said, "You should behave when we're gone, okay?"
"Go, go!"
Dori immediately squawked those words in a panic and rubbed its head against Venus's hand,
seemingly worried that he would be left behind.
"Dori, be good!" Venus could sense the parrot's distress and said, "We're not going to school
today. We're going to Daddy's company! There are too many people, and you cannot go."
"Go, go!" Dori then flew to perch on Venus's shoulder while rubbing its beak on her cheek. "Go!"
Josh had a soft spot for Dori and could not help but empathize with the bird's distress. He
was about to speak, but a warning look from Randy shut him up immediately.
The parrot then emulated Venus and squawked sadly, while using its wings to cover its face.
Venus felt her eyes water when she saw Dori's display.
"Fine, it can come with us, " said Zayn who finally relented.
"Really? Hurray, Daddy!" exclaimed Venus happily.
"Great!" Josh immediately picked Dori up and taught it how to say "Thank you, Daddy!"
"Thank you, Daddy, thank you, Daddy!" came Dori's little squawks as he tried to repeat what
Josh said.
Zayn smirked at how eerily human the parrot seemed. It was like he had a fourth child.
"Thank you, Daddy!" chimed Randy from beside him.
Zayn rubbed his little head gently. "You are still young. It's okay to be a little more like
your siblings and grow up at their pace. You don't have to be so sensible just yet."
"Mr. Jombo said… Wait, no, Great-grandpa said that…." Randy was a little distressed, and his
eyes were red. "Is he alright?"
"We'll visit him tonight, said Zayn as he gave Randy a hug.
"Great, we can visit Mr. Jombo!" Josh and Venus cheered but quickly corrected themselves.
"No, it's Great-grandpa."
"Yes, remember to address him as that next time."
"Yes, Daddy!" tittered the children cheerfully.
"You're coming too, " said Zayn with a cursory glance at Carla.
"Me?" Carla was stunned. "Really?"
"Someone will pick you up later tonight. We'll meet at the hospital." Zayn grunted,
feigning coldness. "Go rest properly!"
"Alright." Carla could finally smile as she released the breath she had been holding.
Share
