Chapter 9
The sunlight hit the windshield, kind of blinding.
I hid in the car and cried for a bit, looking at the house in front of me. I wanted to see my daughter as soon as possible, but I was afraid she'd notice how fragile I was.
She's my own daughter - how could I not miss her?
Even if Levi hadn't asked me to come home, I'd still be thinking about Celestia.
I just didn't know if Levi and the others were back yet. I really didn't want to see Jessa at all.
"Mrs. Morgan, is that you?" Indigo was in the garden feeding Celestia's little pet. She must have seen my car.
How ironic - we had a family car, but I still had to drive myself to work. Except for business, Levi never let me ride with him.
My nose stung as I opened the car door and forced a smile.
"Yeah."
Indigo jogged over to me. "Mrs. Morgan, you're finally back. Celestia's been asking me these past two days when you wouldn't be so busy anymore."
Hearing that Celestia missed me made my eyes burn. I almost couldn't hold it in. I knew she cared about me.
"Oh, Mr. Aiden Morgan came by once."
"Grandpa came?"
I didn't expect Aiden to show up at the door when he couldn't reach me. I hadn't figured out what to say to him yet.
"Yeah, he looked kind of worried at first, but then he had fun playing with Celestia. He even took her back to the Morgan mansion for a day."
Maybe he was worried about Celestia getting too close to Jessa. Taking her to the Morgan mansion was probably his way of reducing their chances of meeting. Aiden really put thought into it.
"Mommy, you're finally home!"
Celestia ran over happily and hugged me tight. In that moment, my heart skipped a beat, and the warmth from the past surrounded me.
"Daddy never tells me when you're coming back."
I picked her up excitedly. "Celestia, have you been eating well lately?"
"Of course! Auntie Jessa gave me a really pretty set of dishes, and I've been using them to eat."
My heart instantly went cold. The warmth between Celestia and me faded quickly because of Jessa. Celestia's words were like a honey-coated knife, cutting deeper than anyone else's.
"Let's go inside." I held Celestia's hand, feeling heavy inside.
Celestia tugged at my arm. "Mommy, I want to eat your cooking tonight."
"No problem."
I looked at her lovingly. Forget one meal - I'd give her everything I could without holding back. As long as she was happy, I was content.
"Mommy, I have some questions I don't understand. Can you explain them to me? They're from that book..."
I pulled Celestia close and cupped her face. "Let's not do problems today, okay?"
"Why not?"
"Don't you find it boring?"
Celestia shook her head. "Great-grandpa said you used to work really hard, Mommy, so Celestia has to work hard too."
"You really think that? You don't find it tiring when Mommy makes you read and stuff?" I wanted to know what she thought. Jessa said she hated studying.
"Mommy, it is tiring, but I also learn a lot of things I didn't know." Celestia's eyes blinked like two little crescents.
My heart was comforted again. Though I was strict with her, I never forced her. I didn't think there was anything wrong with my way of teaching.
Besides, all these years, Levi never interfered with how I educated Celestia. He approved of it, too.
I almost let Jessa's manipulation mess me up.
Celestia and I spent the afternoon together. The pleasant time made me temporarily forget those annoying things. But then a phone call from Levi got me busy again.
He said there was an important party tomorrow night and told me to prepare an evening gown.
He gave me brief instructions and hung up before I could ask for details. The scene of him taking Jessa replayed in my mind. He asked me to prepare a gown - he couldn't be taking me, could he?
When Celestia came out of her room, she saw the red gown I'd brought back. Her eyes lit up.
"Mommy, is this your new dress?" She looked at it in wonder.
I wasn't sure, but it seemed like no one else here would fit it except me.
"It's so beautiful."
I smiled. Even if my taste wasn't top-notch, it wasn't tacky either. Celestia's approval said it all.
"Mommy, try it on quick, hurry!" Celestia urged me to try it on.
Actually, I'd already tried it. Levi hadn't given special instructions, so I just bought it in my size.
"Let's not try it now. Your dad will be home soon. We'll eat dinner in a bit. Go wash your hands." I put her off.
Celestia went to wash her hands reluctantly, muttering that I was no fun for not trying it on for her.
As soon as Levi walked in, Celestia pulled him over to complain.
"Daddy, you're home just in time. Make Mommy try it on. You're taking her to an event anyway." Celestia begged him.
Indigo chimed in too. "Mrs. Morgan, you'd look so good in it. This dress is practically made for you."
I felt a bit embarrassed by the compliments.
"It's not for her."
Levi's words were like cold water poured over me. I couldn't hide the bitterness in my heart and turned my face away.
Celestia frowned. "Daddy, then who's this pretty dress for?"
"Miss Greer."
"For Auntie Jessa?" Celestia jumped up happily. "Is Auntie Jessa taking me to her concert again?"
Levi said no. "Not that."
"Huh?" Celestia was confused.
Levi didn't say anything. Seeing this, Indigo quickly changed the subject.
"Everyone, let's have dinner. Today's dishes were all made by Mrs. Morgan herself. Celestia, they're all your favorites."
I collected myself and turned around.
Celestia pulled at Levi, but he didn't move.
"Daddy, come on. Mommy's cooking is the best. I'm so tired of pizza and burgers. Don't you want to eat Mommy's cooking?"
I was still waiting for Levi's reaction. After marrying him, I learned to cook, and now I knew exactly what he liked.
"I already ate. You go ahead."
Levi took off his jacket, draped it over his arm, and went upstairs.
Celestia called out, "Daddy, eat with me."
"You eat first. I'll play with you later." Levi refused Celestia's request.
I put my arm around Celestia's shoulder. "Come on, let's go eat."
Celestia pouted. "Mommy, Dad must have something good outside behind us."
"Behind us" made me shiver. It was just a child's literal phrase, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
"Since he already ate, he can't eat more."
We sat down, but the atmosphere was heavy.
After two bites, Celestia praised my cooking and even requested several more dishes for me to make tomorrow.
I wanted to have a nice meal with Celestia. Days like this might end at any moment.
"Mommy, when I grow up, I'll pick out a super pretty dress for you, and then I'll take you and Daddy out to play."
Maybe Celestia felt bad about what just happened. She wanted to see me in a pretty dress too.
"Okay, Mommy will wait for that."
I touched Celestia's head, feeling bitter inside. So Levi's date was her, not me...