Hearing Cynthia’s candid thoughts, Celestine couldn’t help but laugh. “You have point.”
A flicker of delight crossed Cynthia’s face.
This was wonderful–Miss Angel really was going to get a divorce! Yes!
Raymond tried calling Celestine several more times, but every call went unanswered.
For as long as he’d had a phone, this was the first time his mom refused to pick up. And she’d ignored him over and over!
Raymond’s heart ached. He slipped out of the hospital alone, only to spot Celestine cradling that annoying little girl in her arms, smiling down at her with gentle
warmth.
His mom used to smile like that only at him and his siblings.
Raymond clenched his fists, forcing himself to walk past them as if he didn’t care.
Celestine saw him and called out habitually, “Ray?”
Raymond pretended not to hear, huffing as he marched past with his chin held high. Whenever he was upset before, Mom would always find some way to make him
feel better.
He’d already noticed the lunchbox in her hand, the thermos inside–he knew she’d made her usual nourishing soup.
Mom was really putting on airs this time.
If she didn’t come to apologize first, he was determined not to talk to her!
This time, unless she promised to make Miss Sinclair soup every day for a whole month, he simply wouldn’t forgive her.
But as Raymond reached the end of the corridor, the sound of Celestine’s voice didn’t follow.
He found it hard to keep up the act.
Glancing back, he saw Celestine hugging Cynthia and waving goodbye.
She picked up her lunchbox and headed toward the car.
“Mom! You can’t leave!” Raymond finally snapped, rushing forward to grab her am
Celestine smoothly pulled her hand away, her earlier smile fading. “What is it?”
“Miss Sinclair can’t eat because of you! You can’t be so selfish!”
“Oh?” Celestine raised an eyebrow. “She has a crush on me?”
Raymond flushed scarlet, momentarily lost for words. “Of course not! Get over yourself!”
“You need to go see her now. Miss Sinclair wants your soup, and you should apologize to her. She’s really kind–she’ll forgive you!” Raymond kept his eyes fixed on the lunchbox, tugging at her arm again.
Celestine caught the naked hunger in his gaze. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind.
She stepped back, dodging his grip.
Right in front of him, she pulled out the thermos, unscrewed the lid, and dramatically tipped the empty flask upside–down over the nearest trash bin.
“Stop! Don’t do that!”
Raymond panicked, convinced there was soup inside, and lunged to stop her.
But Celestine calmly showed him the “emptied” thermos.
Raymond’s anger boiled over. “Mom, what’s wrong with you? You’d rather throw it out than let Miss Sinclair have any? You’re so mean–I hate you!”
“You hate me? Well, I have the right to dislike people too.” Celestine’s lips curled into a small, cold smile. “This soup isn’t for you. The thought of giving it to someone who hates me makes me sick.”
Raymond’s eyes filled with tears, his chest heaving.
She’d never spoken to him so harshly before–it hurt more than he could stand.
Celestine tapped his shoulder, then, out of nowhere, asked, “If your father and I get divorced, who would you rather live with?”
“Dad, of course! I’d never choose you!” Raymond answered without hesitation.
A storm passed through Celestine’s eyes, her body suddenly cold.
She’d always suspected he might choose this way, but hearing his answer–so
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unflinching, so final–felt like a knife twisting in her heart.
Celestine forced herself to endure the ache in her chest.
After a long moment, she looked him in the eye. “Fine, that’s your choice.”
The lawyer had said that, during a divorce, the court would consider the child’s wishes in assigning custody.
Perhaps she’d worried too much.
By now, Chester should have received the divorce papers.
Raymond couldn’t understand why his mother’s attitude had changed so drastically. His mom loved his dad so much–how could she really bear to get a divorce?
He remembered a TV drama Miss Sinclair had starred in; in it, a wife who wasn’t loved by her husband pretended she wanted a divorce to win him back, even using the kids to threaten him.
He wasn’t going to let his mom get away with that!
