Chris lifted Matty from my arms and laid him gently on the bed. Then, turning back to me, he took both my hands in his, rubbing the calluses on my palms with his thumbs.
“Nadine, it is my fault for making you wait all these years. Has someone in the village been mistreating you?”
I pulled my hands away from his and looked down at the rough calluses, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
“Everyone is so exhausted they barely have time to sleep,” I said quietly. “Who has the energy to bully anyone? I am just tired, that is all. Don't overthink it.”
Chris, who grew up in the countryside himself, knew how tough farm work could be. He also understood that I was not just working the fields; I was caring for our son with cerebral palsy and his mother, who had a crippled leg.
So instead of pushing further, he just wrapped his arms around me.
“Nadine, you will not have to work so hard anymore,” he said gently. “I bought a place in the city. This time, I came back to bring you there so you can finally enjoy life. But there is something I want to discuss. We are just a little short on paying off the mortgage. And with school district housing, there is a rule. If you have no outstanding loans under your name, you can register two children at the same time.”
My throat tightened, and heat rose behind my eyes.
Instinctively, I tightened my grip around the peace pendant in my hand. It was the small dowry I had saved for myself after years of scrimping and scraping.
And this man wanted to use that money to pay off his mortgage.
“Chris, we only have one child,” I said slowly. “We do not need two school slots.”
The moment the words left my mouth, the bedroom door swung open.
Gemma was the first to appear, her limp as familiar as ever. Behind her, Melissa and a little boy followed, who looked almost exactly like me when I was young.
Without meeting my eyes, Gemma went straight to Matty’s bedside.
Melissa, however, stepped forward. She deliberately, slowly opened her handbag, pulled out a property certificate, and handed it to me, making sure her new wedding ring caught the light.
“Nadine, do not misunderstand,” she said smoothly. “Chris only did this because he felt sorry for me. He wanted to help my child get a spot to study in the city.”
I stayed silent.
She placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and nudged him forward.
“Tucker, say hi to Aunt Nadine.”
“I don’t wanna call some country lady Auntie!” Tucker cried. “I wanna go home! The mosquitoes here won’t stop biting me!”
He recoiled from me as if I carried something infectious.
Still silent, I opened the property certificate.
On the line labeled “Owner,” Melissa’s name was printed clearly.
I froze.
Noticing my reaction, Chris immediately jumped in, talking fast.
“Nadine, don’t take it the wrong way. Getting kids into a city school is complicated. I only put her name down so the property records and the school paperwork would line up. Melissa lost her whole family in a fire, and she’s been raising her kid on her own. Since we’re all from the same hometown, I figured… if we could help, we should. But if you mind, I will change the property information as soon as I get back. And we can take our time paying off the mortgage.”
He snatched the certificate from my hand, as if he feared I would fling it across the room.
But I said, calm and detached, “Schooling is important. Handle it however you think is best.”
Shock flickered across his face, followed by visible relief and then almost giddy joy.
“Nadine, I knew you would be the most understanding.”
Right then, I thought, 'No, Chris. I'm not understanding. I don't care anymore.'
I glanced over at Tucker. He was hiding behind Melissa, scratching at his mosquito bites impatiently, looking at me as if I were just another insect buzzing nearby.
“Um… Nadine,” Melissa said, trying to sound gentle, “Tucker does not seem used to staying here. Maybe we should pack up and head back to the city tomorrow?”
I lowered my head and smoothed Matty’s bedding, not bothering to look at her.
“I have no problem with that,” I said evenly. “But if everyone goes together, the car will be overloaded.”
Tucker tugged on Chris’s sleeve, his voice small and pitiful. “Daddy, I do not want to stay here feeding mosquitoes…”
Chris gave me a panicked look and quickly tried to explain, “He is just a kid. He talks nonsense. Nadine, do not take it to heart.”
