Randy wasn't as vexed as he had been the previous time. The feeling that rose within him was more akin to a sense of loss.
However, this seemed like a promising lead to Mommy's whereabouts. Hope rekindled within Randy's heart, and he felt a renewed sense of vigor surge through him.
Randy was young, but he knew that the more something was shrouded in secrecy, the more there was waiting to be uncovered.
He was determined to get to the bottom of things. What did that woman from Northridge have to do with Mommy?
Why did her figure look just like Mommy's?
Most of all, why did she have Mommy's ring?
Randy's actions had alarmed her now, however. He couldn't afford to be reckless.
As he was deep in thought, there was a banging on the door followed by Zayn's voice hollering, "Randy, can I come in?"
"Daddy!" Randy dashed to the door and opened it. "Please come in."
Zayn entered the room. He draped his jacket over the small sofa and surveyed his surroundings. "Naya did up this room for you when you were three and a half years old. Now that you're older, would you like a revamp?"
"No, I like it like this, " Randy said, handing a cup of fruit juice to Zayn. "I only have fruit juice, milk, and yogurt. There's no alcohol here."
"Ha!" Zayn chortled. "Wait till you grow up. I'll install a mini-bar here for you."
"How old must I be?" Randy queried, pouring himself a glass of milk.
Zayn clinked his glass of fruit juice against Randy's milk. He glanced down at Randy fondly and said, "Mentally and intellectually, you're already pretty grown up. But your body is still that of a child's, so you're still one."
"Thank you, " Randy said, taking it as a compliment.
"Josh and Venus complained that their rooms were too childish for them. They're insistent on renovating it. Are you really fine with keeping yours the way it is?" Zayn quizzed.
"Yes, " Randy answered, looking around his room. His gaze landed on the family portrait hanging on the wall. "This room still has traces of Mommy and Mrs. Borah."
At this, Zayn fell silent. When Carla had left all those years ago, Randy was the only one who had ever seen her. Randy was thus privy to much more nostalgic sentiments than Josh or Venus.
Randy was already a lot more mature than other children his age. He was able to piece things together even when the event had been incomprehensible to him when it happened. Randy was thus aware of the fact that it was Jombo who had forced Carla to leave.
Randy's resentment towards Jombo was therefore perfectly reasonable.
"Why did you come back so early today?" Randy asked, changing the subject in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Mr. Thompson called to say that you'd shut yourself in your room all day without taking a single step outside. Great-grandpa was very worried about you. He hasn't eaten or drunk anything, " Zayn replied, looking meaningfully at Randy.
"Huh? Why didn't Great-grandpa eat or drink anything?" Randy asked, stunned. "I was busy doing something in my room. I had lunch."
"Great-grandpa was just concerned about you. At the same time, he also feels a sense of guilt towards you…"
Zayn trailed off. This was the first time he'd confronted Randy about this matter. However, Zayn was never really good with words. He was at a loss on how to finish what he had impulsively started.
Zayn felt bitter towards Jombo and usually kept his distance as well. How could he then expect Randy to put on a facade of affection for Jombo when even Zayn could not bring himself to do so?
"So?" Randy frowned. "What are you trying to tell me?"
"Treat it as if you're doing Daddy a favor. Go visit Great-grandpa, " Zayn said, gently ruffling Randy's hair. "He's getting along in years and if he doesn't eat, he'll destroy his body."
"All right, I'll go, " Randy said smoothly. "But there's something I've been meaning to ask you for a very long time, Daddy."
"What is it?" Zayn asked warmly.
"Why didn't you protect Mommy?" Randy's clear gaze seemed to penetrate right through Zayn. "Why did you abandon her?"
Zayn lowered his gaze. Memories of the past crowded into his mind, clamoring. "It's not that I didn't protect her. I just didn't do it well enough. I didn't abandon her either."
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