Grounded

Katie pondered what had happened the day before yesterday. No matter how hard she tried to remember, she couldn't recall the incident. She only remembered her umbra had saved Kinsey. After that, she remembered nothing.

The minute she woke up, she woke up in her room while Kinsey was taken to the hospital. She did not remember how Kinsey was taken to the hospital. Even though Katie also wanted to join in accompanying Kinsey until he woke up, so she could apologize to him. Alas, her parents wouldn't let her go.

Katie sighed softly and was still daydreaming. She didn't realize that someone sneaked on her secretly, then ...

"BAH!"

"AAAAA"

Katie jumped, scared silly when a loud voice rang in her ears.

Satisfied with a surprised expression on Katie, the culprit burst into laughter.

"KINSEY!! You meanie! I thought my heart had stopped." grumbled Katie, hitting Kinsey's shoulder.

Kinsey was still laughing, wincing in pain from Katie's punch on his shoulder. But he didn't fight or retaliate, he let this mighty Katie hit him to her heart's content.

"Not my fault. I've been calling you, but you've been quiet. What are you thinking about? Seriously, I felt like an idiot talking myself."

"Hmph! I don't want to talk to you anymore!" Katie nodded as she sat back on the big rock.

Kinsey chuckled before sitting on the rock next to Katie. Katie glanced at Kinsey doubtfully. She had to say what she wanted to say. She must apologize to the boy.

"Kin ..." it's just that the words was swallowed back up as soon as Kinsey cut it off.

"I heard that last time."

"Heard of what?"

"You said you promised you wouldn't be naughty again. That means you wouldn't put pranks on me again, right?"

Katie bowed her head then nodded her head.

"I'm sorry. You are in danger because of me."

"No worries. Aren't I okay now? But I'm quite curious. How did your father save me back then? I remembered that there was no one beside us. And also, I'm sure your father was still working in the factory. So how did he get to the river on time?"

"..." Katie didn't know what to answer.

The one who saved Kinsey was Umbra. But the existence and identity of the Umbra should not be known to strangers. Because of that, her father claimed that he was the one who saved Kinsey at that time.

"Katie, it's time for lunch."

Luckily her mother arrived just in time to save her.

"Oh? Hello, Kinsey. It's nice seeing you are fine. How are you feeling now?"

"I'm fine ma'am, thank you."

"Well, I'm happy you're here, but, sadly, Katie is grounded now. So, she can't go out to play."

"Grounded? Why?"

The mother smiled warmly as she answered. "Because this child had made a mistake."

Kinsey's mouth formed the letter' O' as a sign of understanding. Of course, he knew that Katie was being grounded for making a mistake. What Kinsey wanted to know is what kind of mistakes Katie has done to be grounded like this.

Kinsey knew that Katie liked playing and moving around. Sitting quietly while pondering mistakes was not Katie's true nature. Even though he was curious, Kinsey did not ask further.

Mrs. Morse invited Kinsey to have lunch together, which was accepted by Kinsey happily. When else will he try cooking a mother's style? Kinsey didn't have a mother who could prepare for his daily food. So he was delighted to have a taste of a homemade meal.

He has a biological father and a godfather. Both of them loved him very much, and he could feel their love. But still... he missed the love of a mother.

For the first time, Kinsey felt enthusiastic about tasting Katie's mother's cooking. Not to mention that today he will meet Chloeny again.

He wanted to invite Katie to meet Chloe together. Unfortunately, Katie is being punished. Therefore, he did not ask the girl for a companion.

After lunch, Kinsey excused himself because the appointment time with Chloe was almost there. Katie accompanied Kinsey to the border between the forest and the road.

They chatted as usual and made a joke while laughing together. When they saw Karel, Kinsey realized it will be their last meeting this year.

"I will return to Kentucky this evening. I will come again in March next year."

"You don't live here? I thought your house was here?"

"No. I come here every six months to meet with someone. Today I will meet with that person, then I will go home."

"But you've been here all this time, haven't you?"

"I deliberately asked my father to let me stay here for a week," Kinsey explained patiently. In fact, he almost laughed amused at how Katie insisted that he lived here.

The little girl looked adorable when put on a pouting face. Is she disappoint couldn't meet him tomorrow?

His joy knew no bound, thinking the girl was sad not seeing him.

"I will come again on your birthday."

"Do you even know my birthday?"

"March one, right?"

Katie's mouth widened. "How do you know?"

Kinsey: author, why did you have to make my future wife as a forgetful person???