Chapter 126
Maya's POV:
I blinked frantically at Adam, signaling him to play along.
Adam let out a resigned sigh. He sat up slowly, turning his face toward the door. He kept one eye tightly closed.
"I have sand in my eye," he grumbled. "I can't open it yet. Do you need something, Amy? If not, go back to your room. Your mother needs to help me blow it out."
Amy stood in the doorway, clutching a hardcover picture book. Her eyes darted between us. She looked suspicious. I held my breath, wondering if she believed our clumsy lie.
She didn't answer. Instead, she ran across the room, her bare feet thumping on the floor. She kicked off her slippers and climbed onto the bed. She squeezed herself right between Adam and me. Then, she turned her back to Adam, presenting her rear to him.
"Mommy," she demanded, shoving the book at me. "Read to me."
I couldn't refuse her. I took the book. "Okay."
I read the story to her. It wasn't long, and I finished it quickly. I closed the book and handed it back. "Okay, storytime is over. Go to sleep now."
Amy didn't move. She turned her head to look at Adam. He was scrolling through his phone with his "injured" eye fully open.
"Daddy's eye is fixed," she observed. "Why isn't he leaving?"
Adam didn't look up. His face remained calm. "Your mother and I still have a problem to discuss. You go to sleep first."
"What problem?"
"Adult business," Adam said.
Amy tossed the book aside. She lay down and pulled the duvet up to her chin. "I'm sleeping with Mommy tonight. You can discuss your problem with her tomorrow."
"Absolutely not. Go back to your room. You're four years old. Aren't you too old to be clinging to your mother?"
"I'm not leaving," Amy said, wiggling deeper into the bed. "I'm just a baby."
"She hasn't slept with me in a long time. Just let her stay."
"Fine," Adam said. "Then I'm sleeping here too!"
And so, the three of us squeezed into one bed.
It was Amy's first time sleeping with both her parents. She found it novel and exciting. She couldn't settle down. Her small body twisted and wiggled between us.
Adam swatted her lightly on her bottom. "Stop moving. You're disturbing your mother."
Amy froze. She looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "Daddy, I bet my real father is someone else. There's no way you're my daddy."
Adam gave her another light tap on the diaper. "Don't be ridiculous."
"You're always so mean to me," she complained, wiggling dramatically. "You've hogged Mommy for days. And now you're back, you're trying to steal her from me."
"She is my wife," Adam stated flatly.
"Mommy isn't married to you," Amy countered instantly. "So she's not your wife. But she is definitely my mommy."
Adam turned his back to her. Amy mimicked him and turned her back to him as well. They slept back-to-back.
I lay in the dark, listening to their breathing. I slept soundly that night. No dreams, just peace.
Days without work were wonderful. After Adam left for the company, I took Amy straight to the amusement park.
Amy was fearless. We skipped the gentle rides and went for the thrilling ones.
She had endless energy. By evening, I had to physically drag her toward the exit.
We went to a nice bistro in the Prudential Center for dinner. As we were walking out, we ran into a familiar face.
Katherine.
She was walking with another woman. Her expression darkened the moment she saw me. Then she noticed the little girl holding my hand. She walked over, blocking our path.
Katherine looked down at Amy. "How old are you?"
Amy didn't answer.
"I asked you a question," Katherine snapped. "Are you a mute?"
I pulled Amy behind me. My voice turned cold. "My daughter isn't a mute. She just doesn't like talking to rude people."
Katherine scoffed. She looked me up and down. "Low birth, big temper. Is this how you educate your child? She has no manners at all."
The woman beside Katherine leaned in. "Who are they?"
"The woman pestering my son," Katherine said loudly.
"Oh," the woman said, realization dawning on her face. "I remember the news. The single mother trying to trap Adam Sterling? That's her?"
I ignored the friend. I locked eyes with Katherine.
"I don't need you to lecture me on manners," I said sharply. "And how I raise my daughter is none of your business."
I stepped closer. "Facing an unreasonable old woman like you, I think my daughter's silence is correct. I fully support her."
Katherine’s face twisted in anger. Her friend gasped. "My God! So arrogant! Katherine, you must make Adam break up with her. You can't have a woman like this."
"You are Adam's mother," the friend added. "She doesn't even respect you. It's anarchy."
Katherine glared at me, her chest heaving.
Amy stepped out from behind my leg. Her small face was serious. She looked up at Katherine.
"Are you the person who gave birth to my daddy?" Amy asked.
Katherine blinked. "You should call me Grandmother."
"I haven't seen you at our house," Amy said calmly. "Did you divorce Grandpa?"
Katherine froze. "I..."
"Why did you divorce Grandpa?" Amy pressed, her voice innocent but loud. "Did you do something bad?"
Katherine turned pale. She grabbed her friend's arm and hurried away.
Adam had a business dinner that night. He came home late.
Amy was already asleep. I was sitting in the living room, watching TV.
Adam sat down next to me. He pulled me into his arms immediately. "Watching this show every day. Is it good?"
"Super good," I said.
He kissed my cheek. "I think you're better to look at."
I turned to him. I realized something was missing. "Wait. Didn't you have a dinner party? You didn't drink?"
There was no smell of alcohol on him.
"I quit drinking," he said.
I nodded approvingly. "Quitting is good. Alcohol hurts your body. When you get old, it causes high blood pressure, high blood sugar... you could get a stroke and end up paralyzed..."
Adam groaned. He ground his teeth. "I quit drinking because of you!"
I paused. "For me?"
"Yes," he said, sounding annoyed. "You are allergic to alcohol."
I stared at him for two seconds. "What does my allergy have to do with you drinking? I'm not the one drinking it."
Then, realization hit me. My face flushed hot.
"Adam," I whispered. "Are you doing this for me? Or for yourself?"
He rubbed his nose, looking away. "Of course... it's also for you. If I drink and accidentally kiss you, you'll have an allergic reaction."
I rolled my eyes hard.
Adam picked up the remote and turned off the TV. The room went dark. He stood up and scooped me into his arms.
"Hey!" I slapped his shoulder. "Put me down."
"Walking up the stairs is tiring," he said, carrying me toward the bedroom. "I'm saving your energy. We have serious business to do."