Chapter 9 Mom, Are You Gonna Hook up a New Dad for Me

• Having set the time and place for the appointment, Nicole briskly ended the phone call.
• On the other end of the line, Joseph was holding his cell phone with his eyes full of disbelief. He had only called Lisa to give it a try, thinking that even if there was only a remote chance that she would agree to meet him, he had to strive for it. But who would have thought that Lisa would agree to meet him right away? He curled his lips with delight written all over his face. If I manage to get this done, my dad will probably think better of me…
• Meanwhile, Nicole was coaxing Hayden to eat lunch. "Hayden, I've cooked some hot cereal. Let's hurry up and go eat it." She put her phone on the sofa before taking her son to lunch.
• Hayden raised his little head and asked in puzzlement, "Mom, who were you talking to just now?"
• "Your dad," Nicole replied.
• Hayden's face lit up with a hint of delight. "Was it Colton?"
• Nicole was baffled. How did this brat commit Colton's name to memory right away? Seriously, I don't want to see that sort of weird and conceited guy anymore in my life. "You and your wild ideas. Listen, Hayden, he's not your dad—your dad is Joseph!"
• Hayden's initially cheerful little face fell at once. He pouted his lips, arguing, "He's not my dad! Colton is!"
• Nicole was perplexed. Hayden had only met Colton once, so why would he assert right away that the latter was his father, as though he had been put under the latter's spell? "He's not! Stop daydreaming!"
• …
• In the afternoon, Nicole dressed in warm colors with a pure white camisole underneath a cream-colored overcoat, which made her look competent and yet mild-mannered. After wearing light makeup, she curled her hair and left her room.
• Hayden was sitting in the living room watching TV. The instant he saw Nicole coming out, his eyes lit up involuntarily. "Mom, are you gonna hook up a new dad for me?"
• Nicole looked discombobulated. Since when did my son become so liberal in thinking? "I'll be taking you to see your dad this afternoon," she said. It was 1:30PM right now, so they could dawdle for half an hour.
• A look of surprise flashed across Hayden's face, and there was a note of joy in his voice. "Are we gonna meet Colton?"
• Nicole frowned. "Nope, it's Joseph that we're gonna meet. I've told you about it!" This little brat must have been bewitched by Colton!
• Hayden's face screwed up instantly. "I'm not going with you!"
• "You'll be going with me, even if you don't want to." Nicole grabbed the boy's collar and lifted him up. "Let's go meet him, and don't call any random guy 'Dad' anymore!"
• Pouting his lips aggrievedly, Hayden protested in displeasure, "A playboy like him can't possibly be my dad! There's no way that a faithful, clever, and outstanding citizen like me is born to someone like him!"
• Patting her son's chubby cheek, Nicole replied, "They say that boys are more likely to take after their mothers, so you probably resemble me." I've got to wake my son up to reality lest he keep thinking about Colton all day long. The thought of that guy gives me goosebumps, she thought.
• However, Hayden retorted flat out, "There's no way I'd resemble you! I'm so smart, after all."
• Nicole was rendered speechless. Is this little rascal trying to imply that I'm stupid?
• As reluctant as Hayden was, Nicole got him into the car. On their way to Scottsdale Mall, she said worriedly, "I'm just letting you meet him, so don't call him 'Dad' when you get there."
• "I'm not gonna acknowledge him as my dad," Hayden muttered with a long face. He leaned on the car window, staring fixedly out of the window.
• After driving to the Scottsdale Mall, Nicole got out of her car with Hayden.
• There were few people in the cafe in the afternoon. After glancing around the place, Nicole spotted the man sitting in the corner and took Hayden there. Despite knowing that the man before her was Joseph, she nevertheless asked, "Hi, may I ask if you're Joseph Mann?"
• Upon hearing her voice, the man looked up at the woman before him. Dressed in a cream-colored overcoat, she was wearing light makeup, and her hair was slightly curled. On top of having a refreshing quality about her, she had a gentle smile, and her beautiful eyes were as clear as a lake that was full of life.
• Joseph couldn't help being moved by the woman's beauty, but his eyes slowly darkened when he laid eyes on the kid next to her. "You're Nicole?"