跳过内容
Novel Catalog
Chapter 28
Cordy couldn’t help but smile at John’s reply. She had expected a quick response, but the part about him picking Richard up “later” was a bit amusing.
She glanced down at Richard, who was still holding her hand tightly, looking up at her with an expectant gaze. “Looks like we’re on our own for a bit, Dicky,” she said, ruffling his hair.
Richard pouted but quickly brightened up, his excitement from the day’s events still shining through. “That’s okay, Mommy. We can have our own fun!”
Cordy chuckled softly as she sent John a final message: [Alright. We’ll be home soon. I’ll make sure he’s fed.]
When the car pulled up to their home, Cordy helped Richard out, her thoughts briefly flickering back to Kyle’s words. “You’ll regret this.” She didn’t feel regret. She felt more determined than ever to build her own future and protect her son from the toxic influence of people like him.
As they walked up to the front door, Cordy knelt down to Richard’s level. “What do you want to eat tonight?” she asked, genuinely curious.
Richard’s face lit up. “Spaghetti, please!” he said in his most pleading tone.
Cordy smiled. “Spaghetti it is.”
She quickly settled into her routine, making dinner and chatting with Richard about his day, trying her best to shield him from the ugly realities that surrounded them. The evening passed in a peaceful, cozy routine, just the two of them—until a knock at the door interrupted their quiet night.
Cordy rose to answer, surprised to see John standing there, his expression more serious than usual. “You look exhausted,” she noted, stepping aside to let him in.
John sighed, his exhaustion visible in his features, but his eyes softened when they met Cordy’s. “I told you I’d come by.”
Cordy raised an eyebrow. “You know, you’re a hard man to get a hold of. I’m starting to think you’re avoiding me.”
John smiled lightly, but there was a hint of something unreadable in his gaze. “I was working, and now I’m here,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Richard, hearing the familiar voice, peeked around the corner. “Hi, Uncle John!” he called, grinning.
John’s face broke into a genuine smile, and he stepped forward to scoop Richard up in his arms. “Hey, champ. How was your day?”
“Mommy and I went shopping!” Richard said proudly. “And we met Aunt Mandy and Aunt Noel, but they were mean to Mommy.”
Cordy froze for a moment, but John just chuckled, not seeming at all fazed by Richard’s bluntness. “Sounds like you had quite the adventure,” he said, lowering Richard back down.
Cordy smiled, relieved that John wasn’t upset by what had happened. “We survived. And now we’re going to have some spaghetti. Want to join us?”
“Can’t say no to spaghetti,” John replied, grinning. “But you’ll have to put up with me being too tired to help cook.”
“I’ve got it covered,” Cordy said, already heading toward the kitchen. “You can sit with Dicky and relax.”
As they sat down to eat, the tension that had followed Cordy all day seemed to melt away. For a few hours, everything felt right. And even though she knew there was still more to come—more battles, more challenges—she couldn’t help but feel a small sense of peace, surrounded by the people who mattered most.
For now, it was enough.