Otis couldn't help but check the rearview mirror when he heard that.
Josephine shot him a look. "Get married? Did you forget our deal?"
"No." Roy said, "But besides your ex, there's Rex too, right? They're tough nuts to crack. I'm worried they'll catch on, so why not make this fake marriage real?"
Josephine shook her head. "Sorry, I can't do that. Asking for your help is already a lot. Marriage is serious. When you find someone you truly love..."
Roy cut her off, "Josephine, but I love you. I want to marry you!"
Josephine gave him a gentle smile. "Roy, you're still young."
"I'm not that young!" Roy snapped. "You always use that excuse, but you're only five years older than me!"
Before Josephine could respond, Otis chimed in from the front seat, "We have a saying, 'Forced things won't end well.' Roy, if you really like her, show her with your actions. Make her want to marry you. What you're doing now won't work."
Roy leaned forward, grabbing the front seat. "You sound like you know a lot."
Otis shrugged, "I don't have experience. I just don't want to see you end up like Stuart and Rex."
"You mean those old guys?" Roy scoffed, "I won't end up like them!"
'Old guys?' Josephine thought, 'Rex is nearly ten years older than me. But Stuart isn't much older. If Stuart's old, then what am I?'
Otis must've thought the same, as he said, "If you can't talk nicely, then zip it."
Roy felt hurt. "But they are old."
Just then, Otis got serious. "Someone's tailing us!"
Josephine's heart skipped a beat, thinking it might be Stuart or Rex.
'What do those two want?' she wondered.
Otis asked, "Should we lose them?"
Josephine nodded, "Yeah."
Otis, being a skilled driver and familiar with the area, easily lost the tail.
When they got home, Josephine went upstairs and called Laura.
"I was followed by a car today on my way back from the research institute," she said.
Laura was furious. "Who has that much time on their hands? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Josephine replied, "Can you find out if it was Rex's car?"
"Got it, I'll check right now!" Laura said.
Laura immediately called Steven.
Steven was surprised, saying, "Laura, you're calling me?"
Laura cut to the chase, "Cut the crap. Are you with Rex?"
Steven quickly replied, "No way! Laura, I'll come to you right now!"
"Just ask him if he was driving and following Josephine just now!" Laura was fuming. "What kind of behavior is that!"
Steven said, "Don't worry, I'll ask him."
Steven called back soon after. "I checked, Rex is still at the research institute. He didn't have a car follow Josephine."
Laura asked, "Really not him?"
Steven assured her, "He wouldn't lie to me."
Laura teased, "You two are pretty close, huh?"
Steven quickly denied, "No, we're just friends."
Laura brushed him off, "Alright, I'll let Josephine know."
Laura quickly called Josephine. "It wasn't Rex."
Josephine sighed. "Then it might be Stuart."
"That jerk!" Laura fumed. "He's still bothering you!"
"Laura," Josephine said, "Steven and Rex are close. Tell Steven there's no chance between me and Rex, and ask him to stop with the nonsense."
"I already told Steven," Laura sighed. "Okay, I'll hammer it home again. By the way, when are you heading to Celestia Springs? I'll pick up Jeffery!"
"Tomorrow afternoon," Josephine replied. "No need to pick him up; he's coming with me."
After hanging up, Josephine noticed Jeffery watching her.
As soon as she put down the phone, Jeffery rushed over. "Mommy, are you done? Can you play with me now?"
Josephine felt a pang of sadness. "Sure, what do you want to play?"
"I want to play a game!" Jeffery's eyes lit up. "Mommy will be the mommy, and I'll be the baby. Mommy has to hold me!"
"Okay." Josephine smiled and picked him up.
Jeffery directed, "Not like that, hold me horizontally and sing to me."
Josephine cradled him and hummed a song he loved when he was little.
Roy watched from the side, finding it odd.
Jeffery always acted so grown-up around him, with a serious face, tight lips, and no hint of a smile. He spoke and acted maturely.
But in front of Josephine, he was still a kid.
Roy suspected Josephine had no idea how cold and ruthless Jeffery was with others.
Only with her did he show his true self.
While Roy was silently grumbling, Josephine spoke up, "Roy, you should get some rest too."
Roy's eyes darted around. "Josephine, I don't like that hotel. Can I sleep with Jeffery tonight?"
"Mommy," Jeffery snuggled in her arms. "I want to sleep with you tonight."
Jeffery had been sleeping alone for a long time, mainly because Josephine was always busy. Even when they were abroad, she often worked late.
This time, Jeffery had just come back, and they hadn't seen each other in a while, so they slept together for one night.
Roy said, "You're too old to still be sleeping with Josephine!"
Jeffery muttered softly, "You're too old to be sleeping with me!"
Roy fell silent.
He had no comeback.
Josephine wasn't going to let him stay.
But Roy eagerly offered to cook dinner for Josephine.
Josephine couldn't refuse him, so she watched him head into the kitchen.
After a while, the doorbell rang.
She gently put the sleeping Jeffery down and went to open the door.
Standing outside was Stuart.
Seeing him, Josephine thought of the car that had followed her, and her face darkened. "Mr. Haustia, isn't what you're doing a bit inappropriate?"
Stuart was holding a food box. "I just wanted to bring you some food. Jeffery just got back, and I wanted him to try some local delicacies."
"Thanks, but it's really not necessary," Josephine said, exasperated. "I think I've made myself very clear. You don't need to..."
Before she could finish, Roy came out of the kitchen. "Josephine, where's the black pepper?"
Stuart saw Roy and his eyes turned cold. "You... live together?"
Roy also saw Stuart and walked over aggressively. "We are lovers. Of course, we live together! What are you doing here! You're not welcome here!"