Chapter 105 A test
Nodding, River took a small plate from the table and dished some rice for him, smiling as he placed it in front of him. "My mum makes the meanest curry. Have a taste," he urged, passing the plate of curry towards him. "But if you don't like that, you can have her egg sauce and stew. Uncle Brion prefers the mutton stew while Willow thinks the egg sauce is the best. Me? I love her curry the best!"
A small smile appeared on my lips as I watched my son act like the perfect host. The little boy of years ago, who clung to me in his sleep, seemed to have grown faster than I could keep up with. I didn't even recognize him at all.
"I guess I will have to taste it all." Winking, Dashiell took a helping of the curry first, making River nod his head, his smiles wider than ever.
Brion glared but didn't say a word. He kept quiet, keeping whatever he had to say to himself because of the kids, something I was grateful for. I just wasn't in the mood for another episode. "Wow. This is good!" Dashiell moaned, placing his right palm over his mouth as he looked down at my proud son.
You would have thought River made the dish just from his expression. He looked as if he had hit the jackpot as he smiled at Dashiell.
"I told you, didn't I? Here, have some more," he urged.
"Don't listen to him. The egg sauce is the best. Mum made it spicy just like I like," Willow interrupted with a frown, not a fan of River always complimenting the curry she didn't like. "Have a taste of the egg sauce, and you will realize you are missing!" She sent a pointed glare at River, who stuck his tongue out at her.
"Well..." Dashiell sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to think of the right way to salvage the situation without siding for any of them.
Brion smiled as he watched them. We both knew their reception of Dashiell would be based on this. Should he side with one and leave the other, he will make an enemy of the two.
Yeah, the two. Though they bicker back and forth every chance they get, the kids are as close to each other as ever. Siding with one and leaving the other would automatically make you their foe.
I didn't tell this to Dashiell though, opting to let him learn about that himself. After all, Brion did the same. It took him months, some coaxing and bribing to get the kids to speak to him after he sided with Willow on the matter of their favourite food, and that was because he lived with us.
"I guess I will try it, to know which I like best." Dashiell had a helping of the egg sauce while Willow watched, eager to know what he thought of her favourite meal. "Wow. This is so good!" He looked down at her with a smile. "I didn't realize egg sauce could taste this good. Your mum is such an excellent cook!" He gushed, eyes sparkling as he said those words.
"Yeah, I know." Willow grinned, sending a triumphant smile at a grumpy River before asking, "So, which do you think is the best? The sauce or the curry?"
Brion stopped eating at the question. He placed his spoon on his plate and watched them, waiting for the showdown. I also did the same, though I tried to be as discreet as I could, so they wouldn't know I was eager for some entertainment.
River folded his arms, pointedly staring at Dashiell, waiting for him to push himself into the abyss by himself. I could tell Brion wanted that. With the way, he rubbed his palms, eagerly waiting for Dashiell to slip without knowing it.
Dashiell didn't answer immediately. He took his time, almost like he was thinking. "Well, the curry is good. Your -"
"Yay!" River clapped, sticking his tongue out at a fuming Willow. "I told you, didn't I?"
"I'm not through m," Dashiell said before Willow could respond to her brother's taunting words. "The curry is good. I love the way the flavour seemed to burst on my tongue when I tasted it. Yet, I can't deny how wonderful the egg sauce is. The unique taste was so wonderful, I almost bit my tongue."
Frowning, we watched him, waiting to know where he was going with this. None of us wanted to hear him praise the meal, even though I was secretly pleased with those words. We needed to hear him call the verdict.
"So..." Willow sounded a little impatient. "Which of them do you like? The curry or the sauce?"
"Both of them," he replied, smiling. "I can't determine between them. I'm sorry. Each of them has such a unique taste, it wouldn't make sense to choose one over another." To prove his point, he took a helping of both the sauce and the curry. "I love them together."
"Really?!" they asked, their eyes sparkling as they looked up at him like he put the stars up in the sky.
Scowling, Brion resumed his meal, knowing Dashiell had passed the test. By not siding with one and leaving the other, he had proved he was good. It was the first time someone had done this. I always ignored them.
"Why don't you taste it?" He placed a small helping on their rice, grinning as he urged them to have a taste, which they did. As they ate, they conversed about their drawing. Obviously, Dashiell had seen River draw. It wasn't difficult to engage in a conversation with the boy. As for Willow, he tried to ask about her toys and books.
As lunch ended, Brion stood up, his expression neutral. "Time for us to go, kids. We don't want to overstay our welcome." He pointedly stared at Dashiell as he said those words.
"Why? I don't want to go!" Willow folded her arms, glaring at him. "I want to stay with Mum and Mr Dashiell. I don't want to go with you." She was stubborn.
"You can always visit your mum another time." Brion leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I have something to take care of at the office, so we need to leave early."
"Why don't you leave the kids here for today? I can bring them back to -"
"No," Brion growled. "They are coming with me...right? Nova?"
I glared at that. Yeah. Why would he try to involve me in the matter, so my kids would think I was such a heartless mum?
Puffing out a breath, I nodded, much to my babies' disappointment. "Don't worry, Mum will come over to check on you tomorrow," I promised, smiling at them.
"With Mr Dashiell?" River sounded hopeful.
"I'm afraid not." I got up from the chair. "Come on, darling. Let's not keep Uncle Brion waiting."
River and Willow looked reluctant but said goodbye to Dashiell, who looked like he wanted to drag them away from Brion. But he didn't. Instead, he hugged the kids tight before letting them go, promising to visit them when he had the chance. Translation; whenever I permitted him to visit them.
Leaning down, I hugged my babies, trying not to shed a tear.
"We love you, Mommy," Willow whispered.
"I love you both too," I replied, holding back tears.
As Brion ushered them out, I followed. Outside, after helping them into the car and buckling their seatbelt, he turned to me, his expression serious. "Be careful, okay? He's not good for you. I don't know what he's trying to achieve by being close to the kids, so you have to be vigilant. I don't trust him."
"I know. Don't worry, I will take care of myself."
As they drove away, I watched, feeling sad. If only I didn't agree to move in with Dashiell, I wouldn't have been separated from my kids. The only consolation I had was knowing this wasn't permanent.