Adina always addressed Mabel as Mrs. Winters. Today, she took the initiative to call herâ Motherâ.
Mabel felt as if a huge weight was off her heart.
If Duke and Adina accepted her as their mother, it meant that they had forgiven the past.
âOh⦠Addy, donât you worry. Leave your children with me. I will take care of them,â she said happily âMommy, I donât want to live away from you!â Harold lunged at Adina and wrapped his arms around her neck. He cried, âMommy, I want to stay with you. Please, I beg you!â Melody tugged on Adinaâs sleeve and said, âMommy, Iâve never lived away from you. Please donât move out⦠please!â Even though George and Alden were quiet, it was clear that they shared their siblingâs wish. They looked very reluctant.
Alden, especially, looked hesitant. He and Melody had never been away from their mother. Even when Adina was at her busiest, she had taken them along with her.
The Jones Corporation resort project seemed fine for now. He knew that the situation there wasnât as grave for her to move out for the sake of work.
He wondered if they had come up with that excuse because his mother and father wanted some private and intimate time together. If that was the case, everything made sense. âMommy will come home every day to visit you.â Adina stroked her childrenâs head. âLetâs go up. Help me pack, okay?â âNoâ¦â
Harold pouted. âI want to stay with you, Mommy. I donât want to be away from you.â
âMommy, let me stay with you too!â said Melody. âI will be a good girl. I will listen to everything you say.
I wonât be naughty. Please!â
Adina felt sad. She wanted to sort out her problem and live in peace with her children. But this was too difficult, It would be perfect if she could solve her problem within a month. But if she couldnât, then she would have to part with her children longer than intended.
âHal, Mel, Georgie, Al. Listen to me. Mommy loves all of you,â Adina forced a gentle smile. â As soon as I finish my work, Iâll move back home. Itâs only for a month. You wonât even notice how it will pass by.â
âMommy, I love you too.â Harold drew close to her. He was very reluctant to be away from her tor even a moment. âI love you the most. I donât want to be away from you.â
Melody tugged on Adinaâs sleeve. âMommy, I love you too.â
Her childrenâs voice faded into a buzzing background noise. Adina sprang up She knew this feeling. It was happening again, A mechanical female voice rang in her mind, âLeave them. Leave them.â
Adina clenched her fists. âDuke, please hurry! Take me upstairs.â
Duke lifted her up and carried her upstairs in the blink of an eye. He quickly locked the door to the master bedroom.
When the door was closed, Adina unwillingly bit Dukeâs arm which held her.
The children looked at one another.
âI think Iâve made Mommy angry again,â said Harold, startled. âWhat should I do?â