At the entrance of the hospital, Theodore said, “Rose, let me take you and Steve out for a little spin.”
“Where to?” Rosalie asked.
Theodore thought for a moment before saying, “Wherever we end up.”
Rosalie asked, “Don’t you think we should plan it first?”
“Can’t we be spontaneous?” Theodore countered.
Rosalie thought for a few seconds before nodding. “Alright, let’s go for a drive.”
Theodore’s car was equipped with a child seat. After Rosalie placed Steve in it and fastened him securely, Theodore took the driver’s seat and buckled his seatbelt.
Theodore didn’t start the car immediately. Instead, he reached over to the side and passed a folder to Rosalie.
She took the folder and opened it, slightly stunned by the contents. “This is…”
“The shares Cynthia stole from you. I’ve gotten them back for you. Don’t give them to others so easily from now on.”
“Theo, I’m sorry for not telling you before. I couldn’t say anything because I was worried…”
“I know everything,” Theodore interrupted her. “You were threatened by Cynthia, who made you swear on Steve’s life. No one would want to risk their child. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t have said anything either. But now, it’s all over.”
Rosalie nodded. “I hope so.” For some reason, she still felt a sense of foreboding.
Theodore drove and brought Rosalie to a flower field. A gentle breeze blew through the flowers, causing them to sway like waves, creating a beautiful
scene.
Rosalie stood among the flowers, breathing in the fresh air. She opened her eyes and looked at the view in the distance, feeling more relaxed than she had in a long time.
Theodore, holding Steve, walked up behind her. He looked at her side profile, not saying a word, just silently keeping her company.
“If only every day could be this relaxing,” Rosalie said as she stretched.
“Rose, if you like, I can take you to different places to relax more often.”
Rosalie turned around and smiled. “It’s fine. You have plenty of things to keep you busy.”
“I can make time,” Theodore insisted.
Rosalie smiled without saying anything.
“Rose,” Theodore asked again, “what do you plan to do next?”
Rosalie thought for a moment before replying, “I want to look for a full-time job. Before, I had to take care of Steve, so I didn’t have time for anything else. I don’t trust
elet
nannies, either. Now that he has you as his father, I feel much more at ease.”
“Rose, why don’t you just move in with me?”
“W-What did you say?”
“I don’t mean anything else. I just feel uneasy with you living outside. Also, I think Steve needs both of his parents around him more often.”
“But we’re divorced. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to live together.”
“I know we’re divorced. I’m not
expecting us to remarry, but after knowing each other for so many
years, there’s still a familial bon
between us. My home is your home. We can sleep in separate rooms. You don’t need to worry.”
“Theo, I’m not worried about what you might do. I just… Let me think about it.”
“Mama, Dada… Stay together…” An idea seemed to pop into Steve’s head, and his eyes lit up. He spoke a complete sentence.
Rosalie was startled. “Steve, what did you just say?”
“Stay together, stay together!” Steve clapped and giggled.
Theodore kissed Steve’s face. “Steve, you’re brilliant!”
Rosalie walked over and held Steve’s hand. “Steve, do you know what you’re saying?”
“Mama, Dada, stay together.”
Rosalie was a little emotional.
Although he was still under a year
old, he already had his own thoughts. Children were so pure. What he said had no complexity-he just wanted his parents to be together.
However, it was never that simple for adults.