Chapter 972 Coexistence Through Cooperation

Chapter 972 Coexistence Through Cooperation

Early morning, Cherry Villa.

Patrick stood in the living room holding his bundled-up son, waiting for his little wife who kept dashing up and down, back and forth. Teddy wore his yellow cap, turning his head to watch his busy mom — though nobody could quite tell what she was so busy with.

"Diapers, thermos, wet wipes, vaccination records..." Vera went through her bag item by item on the couch, terrified of leaving anything behind.

So that's what she was up to. Teddy went back to gnawing on his little hand, waiting patiently.

Once Vera finished her check, she stood up, handed the crossbody bag to her husband, and picked up Teddy. "Got everything. Let's go."

At the hospital, Molly and Sebastian had already started the checkup.

Molly was always worried Sebastian might get an urgent call and have to leave at any moment, so she made sure to come early and get it done quickly. Even with her husband accompanying her to the prenatal appointment, Molly hadn't slept in that morning — she was actually the one who woke him up.

Her anxiety had pushed everything forward.

At the hospital, Vera set her son down on the ground and let him take a few steps on his own.

Teddy grabbed onto his mom's leg and cried, demanding to be carried.

Patrick ended up scooping his son up with one arm and taking him to see the doctor for his one-year checkup.

When it came time for the vaccinations, Theodore had his whole family gathered around him.

Susan had wanted to come too, but she had to get home and attend class, so she could only watch the video with longing eyes.

Teddy's cries echoed through the vaccination room. He lay against his dad's chest, aggrieved and red-faced with outrage. He was already wailing his heart out when the second shot came — and that one hurt even more.

Vera stood to the side, laughing her head off.

Patrick carried his son around for a bit, then set him down on the floor. Teddy pulled his legs up, his little tear-streaked face staring accusingly at his father — not only did Dad skip the comforting after the shot, he wasn't even holding him.

Patrick quickly scooped up his little drama king again.

From the video came Sebastian's voice: "He's exactly like his aunt. Molly used to need a hug just to take medicine when she was little."

Being talked about again, Molly pushed back: "Did I ever ask you to hold me?"

Sebastian grinned and called her out: "Every single time. And when I didn't, you'd grab my arm and pull it around yourself."

Molly stood firm: "That never happened. You're remembering it wrong."

Patrick looked at his sister. "When you were three, you had to have us blow on your cold medicine to cool it down before you'd drink it." Back then, Randall and Molly had both caught a cold at the same time. Randall drank his medicine like it was water — just grabbed the cup, drank it, and put it down. Molly, on the other hand, would hold up her little spoon, start crying, and say, "Daddy, Mommy, big brother, boo-hoo, blow on it for Molly."

For once, Molly couldn't argue her way out: "...You're all just making things up because you know I don't remember any of it."

Vera hadn't even opened her mouth yet when Molly immediately pointed at her and warned: "Don't you dare! Have you forgotten what happened last time?"

Vera pressed her lips together — fair point. She knew plenty of her best friend's secrets, but her best friend knew just as much about her.

Vera extended a friendly hand: "Alliance."

Molly shook it: "Mutual survival."

Patrick and Sebastian exchanged a glance, their smiles slowly fading — those two were already plotting against them again.

That morning, Randall bought a lot of gifts. Whether you care or not shows in how you act.

Back when things were still good between him and his uncle, whenever he visited the Morales family, he would bring gifts he'd picked out himself on top of whatever the Olteran family had already prepared — a gesture of sincerity.

Even after leaving the Olteran family, he still showed up to the Morales house with armfuls of gifts every time. The more effort he put in, the more it showed how much his girlfriend meant to him.

That was part of why Ulysses had been willing to let his daughter be with him.

Randall finished his shopping, drove to the building, and opened his phone to find the video of the little chubby guy getting his shots.

Every time Sebastian's phone rang, Molly's smile would freeze instantly. She'd stare at her husband, terrified he was about to be called away again.

Sebastian glanced at the screen and smiled: "It's Mom."

Ellie was calling to check on how the appointment went.

Sebastian answered and filled her in.

Not long after, Shawn called too — everyone checking in on that Molly who was hard to like but impossible not to love.

Teddy's monthly ordeal was finally over.

Patrick carried his wife and son out first.

On the way, Vera held her chubby little boy in her arms — her little drama prince needed his mom. "Honey, where are we going?"

Teddy had heard Mom call out "honey" so many times that he immediately turned to look at his father — he'd started to think that was actually Dad's name.

Patrick turned it back on her: "Where do you want to go? I've got the whole day for you two."

Vera held Theodore upright against her chest, his little feet planted on her legs, arms wrapped around her neck. "Let's go to the mall. Your son's snacks are all gone."

Patrick drove the family of three to the mall they always went to.

At the mall, Teddy rested his soft little face on his dad's shoulder, looking around with wide curious eyes.

Mom followed close behind.

Teddy spotted her and broke into a goofy grin without a word.

A baby's smile is contagious — you can't help but smile back.

On the escalator, Vera covered her son's eyes with her hand and then suddenly pulled it away. Teddy burst into a stream of giggly little laughs. One round of laughter hadn't even finished before the next one started, no room to breathe in between.

"Should Mommy bop you?"

"Mm!" Teddy balled up his tiny fist.

They kept teasing Teddy all the way, watching his adorable chubby face and listening to his happy little baby sounds, until the family of three reached the baby store Vera always visited.

Inside, a sales associate picked up a shopping basket and followed behind Vera, introducing toddler snacks and the trace elements they contained.

Teddy sat in his dad's arms, reaching out to grab at everything he saw — and grabbing nothing.

After going around the store, when they got to the register, Mr. Olteran picked up several more packs of the snacks Vera had just chosen and dropped them into the basket.

"Honey, what are you doing?" Vera looked at him, puzzled, standing at the checkout counter.

Mr. Olteran smiled and gently ran his finger across his wife's lips: "Stocking up. That little mouth of yours needs feeding too."

Warm and speechless.

Teddy turned his head and looked at his mom curiously. The cashier and the sales associate standing nearby both pressed their lips together, trying not to laugh.

After paying, as they walked out, you could still hear Mrs. Olteran's little indignant wail: "Honey! That's so embarrassing! Now everyone knows I've been sneaking my son's snacks!"

Patrick laughed quietly. Vera was flustered and annoyed, refusing to talk to her husband.

Teddy munched on his freshly opened snack, watching his parents bicker, and for once he got to sit back, eat, and enjoy the show.

Molly's checkup wrapped up and she went to the office that afternoon. Sebastian headed back to the team.

Susan had packed her bags that morning before school. While Randall was driving her, she slipped her luggage into his trunk — mostly summer clothes and shoes.