Estre looked around the ward, noticing many fresh fruits and snacks beside the cab. She had a
rough idea of what was going on.
Estre walked calmly into the ward, and Jason looked up, greeting her with a “You’re
here.”
In his arms, Isaac seemed oblivious to Estre’s arrival,pletely engrossed in ying
with his Lego bricks.
Estre let out a nomittal ‘hmm’ in response to Jason just as her phone buzzed in her pocket. It
was a call from Autumn.
“Mom,” Estre called out, and Autumn’s voice came through, “Estre, I took Isaac to see Jason at the
hospital this afternoon and twisted my ankle. Isaac refused to leave, so after getting it treated, I headed
back home. If you’reing back from Glimmering Lake, could you pick Isaac up on your way?”
“I’m already here, I’ll take Isaac home soon,” Estre replied after ending the call.
She noticed Isaac still hadn’t realized her presence, his attention fully captured by the Lego set.
Estre’s face was a picture of exasperation. Pocketing her phone, Estre moved closer to the
bedside and ruffled Isaac’s hair, “Jeez, kid, you’ve got toys and you
wouldn’t even notice your mother.”
Jason chuckled as he got out of bed, “He’s really focused, smart kid. And Isaac has grown so much
lately, looks more like a two-and-a-half-year-old than under two.”
Jason’s roundabout hints made Estre give him a look before casually remarking, “My mom knows
how to feed him well.”
It was only then that Isaac slightly snapped out of his Lego world, looking up at Estre and cheerfully
calling out, “Mommy!”
Estre tousled his hair again, “Time to head home, kiddo. It’s getting dark.”
Isaac was still serious about his Lego, “Wait for me, Mommy.”
Estre was speechless as she observed the unfinished Lego set. How long was this going to take?
Jason, noticing Estre’s distaste, tried to smooth things over, “When you’ve got something fun,
nothing else matters, not even your ears.”
When Isaac first arrived at the hospital, he was excitedly calling Jason ‘Daddy,’ but once the Lego was
in Isaac’s hands, the rest of the world ceased to exist for him. No matter how Jason called or spoke to
him, Isaac was unresponsive.
Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
Then, turning to Estre, Jason mentioned, “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Mom just
08:41
brought some food over.”
As Jason spoke, he set the food on the table.
Kristin was more on the ball than Autumn, noticing Isaac’s visit and Autumn’s twisted ankle, Kristin
immediately got Autumn’s foot treated and then sent her home. This allowed Jason the chance to bond
with Isaac alone and also to invite Estre over.
As Isaac appeared so absorbed with the Lego, Estre didn’t stand on ceremony with Jason. She was
feeling hungry herself as well.
All dishes Kristin prepared were Estre’s favorites.
“Thanks.” Taking the cutlery Jason handed her, Estre was quite polite.
Jason then turned to Isaac, “Come eat, Isaac.”
On the bed, Isaac was lost in his Lego, not hearing anyone speaking to him.
Estre took a bite of the ribs, “Nothing will disturb him now, not even if the sky falls. You eat. We’ll
save some for him.”
Jason pulled up a chair and sat down, “Such focus when he’s serious. I wonder if he takes after you or
me.”
Estre paused mid-bite, then looked up at him. Staring at Jason for a while, she said with amusement,
“How does he suddenly look like you?” Before Jason could respond, she continued, “Jason, if you’re
having doubts, the kid is with you. You can get a DNA test anytime.”
Since entering the room, Jason had been probing her twice, probably because Isaac had spent some
time with him today, and Jason had grown suspicious.
Estre, poised and calm, took a chicken leg Jason offered. Then Jason said indifferently, “Can’t he
resemble me without that connection?”
Estre continued eating, and when she finished and tried to clear the table, Jason wouldn’t let her. So,
she didn’t insist and settled onto the couch with a cushion, resting while watching Isaac with the Lego.
For a two-year-old, he was incredibly skilled at something meant for older kids, a sure sign
of a nimble mind.
Watching Isaac, and noticing it was now 8:40 PM, Estre yawned, “Buddy, how about we take the
Lego home to y?”
After several nights of poor sleep and a full day’s work, Estre was struggling to stay
awake.
Isaac, focused on the Lego, said in his childish voice, “Wait for me, Mommy.”
Estre sighed. This kid was so patient for his age. Who did he take after?
08:4
“Then eat before you y,” she told Isaac, who chose to ignore her and didn’t reply.
Estre didn’t bother hurrying him and yawned, leaning back on the couch to rest her eyes. Jason had
just finished a work call and, seeing Estre asleep on the couch, walked over, draped a nket gently
over her. He softly brushed her forehead, moving stray hairs aside. Then he picked up a book and
started reading by her side, the hospital room filled with an almost domestic warmth.
“Mommy, the ne is done.” It was past eleven when Isaac finally finished his airne model, excitedly
jumping on the bed.
Jason hushed him softly, “Isaac, Mommy’s tired and asleep. Let’s show her when she wakes up.”
Isaac nced at the sleeping Estre, put his finger to his lips, and nodded, understanding the need to
be quiet. Barefoot, he hopped out of bed and eagerly presented his airne model to Jason.
“You’re awesome, bud,” Jason praised Isaac, lifting him from the floor and gently patting his tiny feet.
“No more running around without shoes, okay? If you catch a cold, Estre is going to be super
worried.”
“Okay.” The little guy nodded vigorously, then made the airne take a loop-de-loop in front of Jason’s
eyes.
Jason chuckled, then negotiated, “Isaac, it’s already pitch-dark outside, and mom’s knocked out from
exhaustion. How about you two crash here tonight and head back home in the morning? Sound good?”
Isaac bobbed his head enthusiastically. “Good” Home was wherever Estre was. If Estre had fallen
asleep there, then that was home for tonight.
Jason ruffled his hair, “Alright, I’ll carry mom to bed.”
At that, Isaac rolled up his sleeves and dered, “I’ll do it.”