My Darling, My Dearest novel Chapter 117

Before Jack could sort out his feelings for Rachel, life brought him and her together once more.

It seemed that there was no need to avoid her anymore.

While he was away, he couldn't figure out his feelings. So when he was being given an opportunity to stay with her, he would go with the flow.

It was better to let things happen than to interfere.

After rush hour, the heavy traffic in the city grew lighter, and they were able to return without much trouble.

They got home in less than fifteen minutes. When Jack got out of the car, he felt slightly embarrassed.

Not long ago, he had promised himself that he wouldn't come here unless he sorted out his feelings. At this moment, he was shooting himself in the foot.

Mendes had grown grumpy when he learned that he couldn't play with Jonathan. He frowned until Rachel explained things to him.

The biggest change that they had seen in this kid was that he had become more sensible.

Rachel wondered if this change was brought ■d

upon by growing up without his parents' company.

If that had been the case, she felt sorry for the boy. In a place where a child did not feel a sense of security, he had to have carefully observed others and played smart at his young age to have turned out the way that he had.

She felt a mixture of anger and pity. His parents should have been more responsible.

She liked the kid and was willing to take care of him, not only out of adoration but also out of sympathy.

As soon as they got home, the kid's mood changed.

Upon entering the house, he took a few steps forward and asked, "Can I go get something upstairs?"

'Get something upstairs?' Rachel thought. What did he want to look for?

She didn't ask. She simply nodded her consent. When Jack finally came in, he saw the little boy hurrying up the stairs.

He was stunned. "Where is he going? Why is he running so fast?"

"He's going upstairs to find something."

Had Mendes left some of his valuables here?

He had, indeed, unknown to both Rachel and Jack.

Rachel watched as Mendes dashed up and down the stairs. He ran down to bring all sorts of toys—a model airplane, a tank, race cars—and then ■d

ran back up to get more. He ran tirelessly until he was finished.

"When did he place these things upstairs?" Jack asked.

Rachel shook her head. "I don't know."

Curious, Jack followed the boy upstairs to take a look for himself. Following the sound, he found the boy digging things out of a cabinet.

Jack stood quietly by the door and studied the child. He had no idea as to when the boy had kept all these toys here.

The boy took out a toy gun and was running out of the room, beaming with joy, when Jack gently stopped him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Boy, how many things are you hiding in there?"

Mendes was startled. He hadn't noticed Jack. He turned around in surprise, still holding the gun. He said sheepishly, "This is the last one."

The boy continued on his way down to the living room, where he placed the toys on the carpet. The world seemed to disappear as he now sat in a sea of toys.

Jack and Rachel thought for a while. They both realized that these were the exact same toys that Jonathan had brought the boy last time.

However, they didn't know why the toys were left here. Why hadn't Mendes taken them with him?

"Grandpa Jonathan told me that I could continue to play with them the next time I came here," ■d

Mendes explained. 'This was all planned out. Had he thought that the child would come to be here again?1

Since Mendes was now busy with his toys, he no longer paid attention to the two adults in the house. Rachel walked over to open the living room window and let some air in.

Jack turned around and headed to his room.

Until he was inside his room, he didn't notice that everything was in the same place. Even the quilt looked the way that it had when he left.

Rachel had not touched a single thing in this room. She hadn't cleaned or put away his things.

Pleased, Jack walked around in the room, studying it. When he was satisfied, he went back downstairs.

Moments later, Rachel was walking out of the kitchen with a plateful of fruit. She handed Mendes a fork.

Upon noticing Jack, she asked casually, "Fruit?"

"Okay." He strode over and picked up a slice of mango with a toothpick.

The boy approached, pressed his little body up against Jack, and opened his mouth. "Ahh..."

Jack popped the piece into Mendes' mouth. The boy accepted the fruit with joy.

Jack then rolled up his sleeves and then, turning to Rachel, he said, "I'm going upstairs to work. Call me if you need anything."

She nodded and watched him go up the stairs. ■d