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Chapter 4 – Ice Cream

  • Terra
  • Ah, another day, another way to live. It feels amazing to wake up in a familiar atmosphere—especially with Linney and Lynette still here with me.
  • Ever since I saw him at the airport, I’ve been more on edge than usual. But so far, nothing has happened. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe I don’t need to worry… at least not yet.
  • “Come on, guys. Time to wake up. Today we’re meeting Aunt Clorinde at the mall for ice cream,” I called out cheerfully.
  • “Ice cream!” Lynette’s eyes popped open with a big smile.
  • “Linney, Mommy’s taking us to get ice cream,” she added, tugging on her brother’s pajamas.
  • The little man stirred slowly—not quite as excited, but I could tell he was happy. He’d been cooped up too long. For their safety, I’d been avoiding going out in public, but today, I decided it was time.
  • Together, we went through our usual morning routine, then got dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast.
  • “Good morning,” my mother greeted us as we reached the stairs. “Oh my, who is this handsome man?” she cooed, lifting Linney into her arms with a beaming smile.
  • “Good morning, Grandma,” Linney chimed.
  • “Good morning, Grandpa,” Lynette added, running over to my father and planting a kiss on his cheek.
  • The scene was so familiar—it warmed my heart in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.
  • “What are you two up to today?” my father asked.
  • “Mommy’s taking us to get ice cream at the mall!” Lynette beamed.
  • “At the mall?” His eyes flicked to mine, then back to the kids—concern etched across his face, as if the world outside were a warzone, too dangerous for us to walk through.
  • “It’s okay,” I assured him softly. “I’m all grown up now. I can take care of myself—and my children.”
  • My father frowned. I understood him, though. Some might say he’s overprotective, but he has every right to be. In the past, I’ve made some questionable life choices—and my only regret is that those decisions hurt both him and my mother.
  • “Don’t make that face. We’ll be fine, I promise.”
  • I walked around and hugged him from behind. He didn’t push me away, but my words didn’t soothe his worry either.
  • “Ace,” my mother chimed in, “you know you can’t shield her forever, right? She’s a grown woman, and we’re getting older. Better to let her face the world with our support than without it.”
  • His expression darkened, but he finally relented.
  • “Okay, but if you run into any trouble, call me or your brother right away,” he demanded.
  • To ease his mind, I agreed. But before he let me go, he made sure I had everyone’s number on speed dial—his was number one, followed by Tyson, Zeru, and Maxwell. If there had been room, I’m sure he would’ve added Celine, Ella, and Anna too.
  • My father double-checked that I knew how to use the speed dial function before he even let me step one foot outside the house.
  • “Bye! We’ll get you something from the mall,” I called out, quickly getting into the car before he could change his mind.
  • A few minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot and got out.
  • “Aunty!” Lynette shouted from across the lot.
  • Clorinde was already waiting for us by the entrance. She rushed over, scooped Lynette up in her arms, and showered her with kisses—Lynette was definitely her favorite.
  • “Oh! My little princess has grown so big!”
  • “Aunty, are you calling me fat?” Lynette asked, pouting.
  • “Yes!” Linney answered before Clorinde could explain.
  • Lynette’s face crumpled, eyes glistening with tears.
  • “No, that’s not what I meant,” Clorinde said quickly, then turned to Linney. “And you! Only little boys bully others. Didn’t you just tell me you’re a grown-up now?”
  • The little boy didn’t answer and crossed his arms in a pout.
  • “A man should apologize for hurting someone else’s feelings,” I said, and Clorinde nodded in agreement.
  • Linney looked like he was about to cry, but instead, he puffed up his chest, walked over to Lynette, and muttered, “Lynette, I’m sorry.”
  • “It’s okay. I forgive you,” my daughter replied sweetly, her smile finally returning.
  • It seems my daughter is more sensible than my son.
  • With that settled, the two of them held hands and ran toward the ice cream shop. Naturally, Clorinde and I followed close behind to keep an eye on them.
  • “How are you?” Clorinde asked.
  • “I’m good. Nothing to worry about,” I replied casually.
  • “I’m talking about you being back around here,” she said.
  • I sucked in a heavy breath.
  • “I saw him at the airport a few days ago. Turns out… I didn’t even know his real name,” I said quietly, my eyes drifting to my kids—the very image of him. “He’s changed.”
  • Clorinde reached over and gently squeezed my hand. “He did. But so did you.”
  • I smiled faintly. “I came back to be with my family, not to mope over the past.”
  • “What if he finds out about…” Clorinde glanced toward the twins.
  • “I have my family,” I said, following her gaze. “There’s nothing to fear.”
  • “Good. If you ever need a good lawyer, you know where to find me. Custody battles are my turf,” Clorinde said with a wink.
  • “Are you just looking for clients, or are you hoping for some drama?” I teased.
  • “My skills never fail me. Drama’s just a bonus. But if it’s you, I’m fighting with tooth and nail. Don’t worry—I’ve got your back,” she said proudly.
  • She might be small, but Clorinde packed one hell of a punch. This woman had never lost a case—whether her client was in the right or dead wrong.
  • “Thanks. I’ll remember that.”
  • “Mommy! I don’t know what to get!” My daughter suddenly ran over, caught in the greatest crisis of her five-year-old life. “There are so many flavors!”
  • To a child, the dilemma of choosing an ice cream flavor feels like the weight of the world. Little do they know—life only gets harder from here.
  • After sampling nearly every flavor behind the glass, Lynette finally settled on her favorite: strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. A timeless choice.
  • Linney, on the other hand, went with a moose tracks and pistachio combo, topped with crushed nuts. He proudly told me he liked the crunch and the richness of pistachio—just like a certain someone.
  • We found a cozy spot by the window and dug into our treats while Clorinde and I caught up. Most of the conversation was her ranting about how she’s pushing thirty and still doesn’t have a boyfriend—she made it sound like being single was a terminal illness diagnosis.
  • As for me, I wanted nothing to do with men—at least not right now. I’ve had enough of tricks and lies to last a lifetime. Every ounce of my energy is reserved for my kids and my work.
  • My family encouraged me to be a stay-at-home mom, but I refused. Linney and Lynette will be starting kindergarten soon, and being home alone for too long would probably drive me insane.
  • So, to keep myself occupied and make use of my degree, I took a job at Anderson Corp as a designer—working alongside Anna. With her pregnancy, the team needed an extra pair of hands, and I was more than ready to jump in.
  • “Hey, you’ve been to the land of buffed men—tell me, did anyone catch your eye?” Clorinde asked with a mischievous smile.
  • “No, and you know how I feel about men. Why are you even bringing this up?” I frowned.
  • “Not for you—for me,” she clarified.
  • “Nope. I wasn’t looking.”
  • Clorinde sighed in defeat and took a dramatic bite of her ice cream like a woman nursing a broken heart.
  • After ice cream, we took the kids shopping for new clothes and a few necessities. Once our hands were full, Clorinde offered to run everything to the car while the kids and I waited by the empty playground.
  • As soon as she disappeared from sight, an uneasy feeling crept over me—like we were being watched. I glanced around, scanning the area and checking behind the car, but saw no one suspicious. Still, the sensation lingered, sending a chill down my spine.
  • Trying to shake it off, I led the kids to a more crowded part of the plaza and texted Clorinde our new location. But even in the open, the discomfort only grew worse. My instincts screamed at me that something wasn’t right.
  • Linney and Lynette ran around, laughing and playing—completely unaware of the storm building inside me.
  • I pulled out my phone, finally deciding to call Clorinde and rush her—just in case. But before I could even unlock the screen, a hand clamped down on my shoulder.
  • And I froze.