Alone with mommy
Nate picked Scarlet from the kindergarten soon before lunch.
Jaden observed how his sister left holding hands with that man. He pouted until his mother appeared to collect him and go home.
He held Lara's hand while they walked back home, still unhappy about the situation.
«You don't need to be jealous,» Lara said, noticing his complicated mood. «Your father will spend some time with you in a few days.»
«I am not jealous. I am unhappy.»
«You have no reason to be,» she considered. «Your sister will be back this evening. As for your father, I told you he'll pick you up as well.»
«I don't need to spend time with him. Rather, Scarlet should stop being so easy to manipulate!»
«What?» Lara laughed at her son's words. «Where did you hear such words?»
«Is it important?»
«No, indeed...»
She sighed, wondering how to explain the situation to him.
Jaden, on the other hand, didn't need an explanation. He had noticed how his sister was being tame when Nate was around.
Not just that she had sneaked out just to talk with him, but she also accepted his hand when he came to collect her things and spent some time together.
She even called him daddy by mistake!
She had sworn to Jaden she wasn't changing her mind. She still wanted to protect mommy from that man. However, growling and trying to kill him didn't work, so she was just changing tactics.
Even if Scarlet was so convinced when she said that, Jaden suspected she was falling into her own trap.
In the end, that man had quite a few tricks. A lot of food was always somewhere when they were together, and he also bought them things.
But Jaden wasn't as superficial as his sister. He wouldn't change his mind in exchange for something new. No matter how pretty or useful.
«None of them will forget about you, Jaden,» Lara said. «It's just a few hours.»
She opened the door of their home, and they walked in.
«Also, your expression is making me suffer.»
«Why is mommy suffering?»
«Because you don't like being with me...» She sighed, looking at a corner of the kitchen for a moment before starting to take out the ingredients for lunch.
Jaden sat at the table, considering the situation.
A big smile appeared on his face as he realised he was alone with his mommy. Not just that man was out of the picture: even Scarlet wasn't there to compete for Lara's attention.
Jaden giggled to himself as his ears appeared under his hair. His tail was blocked by the clothes, so Lara reached out to free it from the shorts.
Once free, Jaden wagged his tail and hugged his mother. He brushed his hair on her shoulder until Lara needed to continue cooking.
His bad mood disappeared, and he focused on the bright side of that day. Even if it was a difficult day, one of those where their mommy would caress and cuddle them for the whole night, he was happy.
He would eat with his mommy. Then, they could rest on the bed together. Or take a walk hand in hand. Only the two of them.
«I see you're feeling better,» Lara noted.
«Yes!» Jaden confirmed. He took a few bites from his plate before offering one to Lara.
She accepted her son's offerings and ate. As he fed himself and her, alternating, she could observe his attentive expression as he made sure she chewed. He would nod, pleased, and return to look for the next bite.
After lunch, Lara cleaned a little. She was going to do it on Saturday, initially, but her plans were disrupted. She decided to do a little every day to have the apartment clean before the end of the week.
Also, Nate was coming for dinner. She needed to have a cosy home welcoming him.
As she moved from one room to the other, cleaning and tidying, Jaden followed and moved the lighter things to their place. He didn't even need to talk: it was enough to be in the same room with his mommy.
When they were done with most of the work, they lay on the bed to rest for a little.
«What do we do for dinner?» she mumbled.
Jaden was resting his head on her shoulder. The other arm was free to move, but she felt the weight on that side missing.
She had felt relieved of taking care of a single cub for half the day. An evil thought crossed her mind a few times: it was so easy with a single baby! She had felt awful for thinking that way. What kind of mother would?
Yet, she couldn't help it.
However, she ended up missing Scarlet. Who knew if she was having fun? Maybe she also missed her a little.
Lara wasn't convinced about that. The little girl already spent several hours far from her in the kindergarten. What difference could those additional hours make?
«I have to prepare dinner,» she said.
«Later,» Jaden mumbled, hugging her tighter. He rubbed his head on her shoulder like a kitten in search of attention.
«Later,» Lara agreed.
She turned to the side and embraced her son back. It was a rare occasion: she could hug him with both arms.
«Mommy's good boy,» she said before pecking his head.
«Am I?» Jaden inquired, pursing his lips in a sweet try to hide his happy grin.
«You are!»
He giggled, all happy, as she caressed his hair and back.
«The best boy mommy has given birth to.»
«You are also the best mommy,» he said. «The best mommy in the whole world!»
«Hmm? What makes you think so?»
«You love Scarlet and me. And we love our mommy. We don't want you to leave us...»
«I won't leave, Jaden. What makes you think I would?»
«That man wants you,» he said. «But you're already our mommy! He came late, right?»
«Right,» she sighed. She didn't know how to reply.
Nate just wanted to be close to his kids: he didn't have any intention to meddle with her.
«I'm staying,» she said. «Your mommy isn't going anywhere.»