Chapter 103 Joshua and the Children's Secret
Finally, Joshua went upstairs with Ava. The two kids must have been waiting for Ava to come back. Ava didn't even need to use her key - the door opened from inside, and two children rushed out and into Ava's arms.
"Mommy, we taught Mia a lesson today. You have to praise us."
The two kids blinked expectantly, their expressions clearly saying "praise me, praise me."
Then they saw Joshua in his black suit standing behind Ava, and both froze for a moment.
"I knew that video today was made by you two little rascals."
"Mommy, why is Daddy here?"
Ava stood up, almost forgetting that Joshua was still standing behind her. "The rain outside is too heavy, not good for going back."
"Okay then, Daddy come in quickly." Finn and Cleo weren't as resistant to Joshua anymore.
Ava's place was a duplex apartment. It was spacious for her and the two kids. The interior was decorated in warm colors, with warm yellow walls displaying photos of Ava, Finn, and Cleo together - it looked very cozy.
Ava raised her hand to check her watch and asked, "Do you want to stay for dinner?"
Mainly because she was hungry, and Finn and Cleo hadn't eaten yet either. Sabrina was still busy in the kitchen. Ava couldn't just let Joshua sit there doing nothing when dinner was served.
Joshua nodded. "Okay."
Ava nodded and went into the kitchen. Sabrina had already washed all the vegetables and was just waiting to cook. Ava went in to help.
Finn and Cleo sat on the cream-colored carpet. Cleo thoughtfully poured Joshua a glass of water. "Here, Daddy, have some water."
Joshua reached out to take it. "Thank you."
Cleo said "you're welcome" and sat back down to play with her dolls.
Joshua took a few sips of water and noticed a small notebook on the floor. He reached down to pick it up.
Finn caught sight of it and panicked, quickly getting up, but it was too late.
"Taking Ava to dinner, plus five points...
Bringing Buddy back, plus five points...
Forgetting Ava's birthday, minus fifty points!
Not believing Ava, minus fifty points!
Taking Ava home, plus five points..." Joshua's deep voice read out quietly.
He paused for a moment, looking up at the two anxious children, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "Why can you only add five points at a time, but deduct fifty points?"
Finn blinked and instead of answering, asked back, "Don't you think it's reasonable?"
"Is it reasonable?" Joshua asked again.
"Why don't you think it's reasonable?" Father and sons, with their strikingly similar faces, looked at each other seriously, as if in a standoff. "We think it's very reasonable. If you don't want to lose points, just treat Mommy well and try not to get points deducted. Then the unreasonableness you're talking about wouldn't exist, right?"
That made perfect sense.
"So I'm currently at negative eighty points?"
"Yes, out of a hundred points total. Not only are you failing, you're in the negative!" Finn was speechless too.
That was pretty bad.
"At this rate, Daddy, you're in trouble." Cleo kindly reminded Joshua.
Joshua laughed helplessly. "So taking her home today, can I also get five points?"
Finn and Cleo both nodded. Cleo took out a colored pen and added five points for Joshua.
Joshua watched as the child added five points for him.
Even though it was only five points, Joshua smiled as if he'd just closed a billion-dollar deal.
"If I get a perfect score, can I marry your mommy?"
"No." Finn said quite heartlessly. "It only means you're qualified in our eyes."
"Right, as for marrying Mommy, Daddy you're still far from it. Mommy isn't that easy to marry. You're dreaming." Cleo added.
The "dreaming" Joshua laughed helplessly. "Then at least when I get a perfect score, you should treat me better."
Finn and Cleo looked at each other and nodded. "That we can do."
"So what direction should I work toward?" After all, according to the kids' calculation method, if he made even a small mistake, he'd be back to square one.
"You figure it out yourself." They weren't going to tell him.
Just then Ava came over to call them for dinner. "What are you talking about? Time to eat."
Finn and Cleo glanced at Joshua, using their eyes to signal him. Joshua quietly put the notebook aside, and only then did the two children feel at ease. Clearly Ava didn't know about this notebook.
"Nothing, let's eat." Joshua stood up.
Ava didn't suspect anything and walked straight to the dining table.
Finn and Cleo flanked Joshua on either side, whispering, "You can't let Mommy find out about this. It's our little secret."
Joshua smiled helplessly and ruffled both children's heads. "Got it, go eat."
"Pinky promise!" Finn and Cleo held out their little fingers, looking at Joshua.
"Pinky promise?"
"Hurry up, or Mommy will come over again." Finn urged.
"..."
Joshua held out his pinky finger and cooperatively made the promise with them.
Joshua's face showed a gentle smile, and a warm feeling washed over his heart.
At the dining table, Ava had prepared food for everyone. Finn and Cleo sat next to each other, while Joshua sat with Ava.