Chapter 103
Theo spoke so loudly that his voice echoed off the restroom walls. He froze, feeling awkward when he realized he might have come off as a little anxious. “Uh, what I meant was…”
“In that case, I’ll return the handkerchief to you after I’ve washed,” Anathea said mildly, her expression betraying nothing.
Theo studied her face and nodded dumbly in response.
Anathea had no plans to linger and make small talk with Theo, so she shoved the handkerchief into her purse and bid him goodbye. “I’ll get going then.”
With that, she turned to leave.
Theo watched her walk away. For a long while, he didn’t take hits eyes off of her. He stared at the purse she was carrying, misshapen from the last time he squashed it, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.
Xander was stacking Lego bricks in the living room when Anathea came home. When he saw her, he bounded up to her. “Mom!”
Anathea hummed in response as she changed into slippers.
“Mom, guess what? I did well in school today, and the teacher rewarded me with a little red flower!” Xander held up the red paper flower to show Anathea.
“How wonderful.” Anathea praised him.
“You can have it.” Xander placed the paper flower in Anathea’s hand and asked, “Do you like it, Mom?”
Anathea thought about the 99 paper cranes Xander had previously made for Natalie. Her expression remained neutral, though she quirked her mouth and said, “Yes, I do.”
“Then can you make me a snack, Mom?” Xander asked, blinking hopefully. “It’s been so long since you made cookies for me. I want to have them now.”
Gregory had told him that no one would do anything for him for free. Now that he’d given Anathea a gift, surely she would agree to make cookies for him.
Anathea had wanted to take it easy for the night, but upon seeing the piteous look on Xander’s face that made him resemble a puppy on the roadside, she acceded. “Sure.”
After all, this could be the last time she made him a snack.
“Yay!” Xander cheered, jumping in joy. “Finally, I’ll get to have a snack from you!”
Anathea smiled when she saw how excited Xander looked.
Seeing this, Jenny voluntarily helped Anathea prepare the ingredients. “Mr. Xander has been looking forward to having your cookies for days! As expected, your snacks are the best, Mrs. Sinclair.”
Anathea smiled. She waited for Jenny to wash the molds, then started on the baking. She spent over an hour working on the cookies before they were done.
When Anathea took the cookies out of the oven, Jenny couldn’t help exclaiming, “Wow, those cookies smell so good! You made them so well, Mrs. Sinclair! Mr. Xander will love these.”
A soft laugh escaped Anathea as she set the cookies on the table to cool, after which she would pack them into airtight bags.
Jenny had already put some of the cookies on a plate. “I’ll bring these to Mr. Xander!”
No sooner did she say the words than Xander came downstairs, looking as if he was raring to go.
“Right on time, Mr. Xander! Come and try Mrs. Sinclair’s baking. They’re cranberry cookies, your favorite-” Jenny hurried over to him.
But Xander barely glanced at the cookies before he turned his gaze away. “I’m heading out, Jenny. I’ll have them when I come back later!”
Jenny gave him a puzzled look. “But you said you’ve been craving these cookies! What are you heading out for anyway? Is it more important than having the cookies?”
“Of course it is!” Xander’s face lit up. “Ms. Whitman said she’s bringing me out for a late–night snack!”
Jenny froze, and Xander immediately clapped a hand over his mouth like he was worried Anathea might hear him. After all, the late–night snack was a secret between him and Natalie, and Anathea couldn’t know about it.
Xander carefully peered at Anathea. He heaved a breath of relief when he saw she was busy with something and didn’t look his way. He began putting on his shoes.
“I can’t talk now, Jenny. I have to get going!”
“You don’t have to be in such a rush!”
Jenny wanted to stop him from leaving. She handed him the plate of cookies. “Try one, Mr. Xander. The cookies are fresh out of the oven, and they smell heavenly. Mrs. Sinclair worked on them for more than an hour—‘
She hadn’t even finished speaking when Xander straightened up after putting on his shoes, and his shoulder bumped against the plate. With a loud crash, the plate fell to the floor and broke into pieces along with the cookies.
Jenny gasped in shock.
Xander, however, merely glanced at the time on his smartwatch. “Look, Jenny, I must go now or I won’t make it. Bye!” He jogged out the door and got into the driver’s car after that, not sparing a single glance at the cookies on the floor. “Mr. Xander!” Jenny cried after him. She didn’t get any response save for the sound of the car speeding off into the distance.
