Chapter 127
But Emily kept hesitating, unsure whether what she was doing was right.
No matter who she asked to look after her mother and the two kids, they would still be outsiders. And since they were outsiders, Emily couldn't truly feel at ease--she was afraid something might go wrong.
On the way back, she kept thinking about how to solve this problem. Now that Rodolfo was here and had said the funeral home wasn't too busy, maybe she should just ask him to help her out one more time.
Emily told Rodolfo that she needed him to help look after her family. Rodolfo didn't hesitate and agreed right away.
But then he suddenly asked, "Emily, you have things to take care of, and I should help look after your family. But can you tell me what you're going to do?"
"I..."
Emily lowered her head slightly, wanting to speak but holding back.
"Looks like this is something big."
Rodolfo cared for Emily as if she were his own daughter.
Seeing her hesitant expression and troubled look, he knew it had to be something serious.
He nodded. "If it's not convenient for you to say, then don't. Go ahead and take care of it. I'll look after things at home for you."
"If there's an emergency, I'll let you know right away, and you can hurry back."
"Thank you."
Emily breathed a sigh of relief and pulled a stack of money out of her pocket. "Mr. McCoy, this is for you."
"What are you doing?"
Rodolfo was startled, his brow furrowing with displeasure as he quickly pushed the money back.
"I'm helping look after your family because you can't be in two places at once, not for any other reason. Are you trying to insult me by giving me money?"
"No, Mr. McCoy, I just think you're working too hard."
"I'm not working hard!"
Rodolfo's voice was cold and firm. "Alright, you don't need to say more."
"I'm already so old; being able to help out gives me something to do."
"Don't make such a fuss. I'm not helping you for money, so why make a fuss about it?"
No matter what Emily said, Rodolfo wouldn't take the money, so Emily had to give up.
But she felt really bad about it.
All along, she hadn't been able to help Rodolfo with anything, yet he kept helping her at every turn.
If Rodolfo hadn't taken her in, Emily still wouldn't know which corner she'd be begging in right now.
Back then, when she was at her wits' end with her children, she was lucky to run into Rodolfo. And everything that happened afterward made Emily even more grateful.
And what about herself? She couldn't help with anything, and because of James, she had even gotten Rodolfo bullied.
Thinking of this, Emily suddenly realized something.
She hadn't seen James in quite a while, and didn't know what he'd been up to lately.
Whatever--no matter what James was busy with, it had nothing to do with her. It would be better if he didn't come. Emily wished she could stay completely clear of him forever.
So it was settled that Rodolfo would help look after the family. Emily had solved one problem.
She quickly packed her things and left her mother some money for living expenses. Just as she was about to leave, Oscar came in.
"Oscar?"
Emily was a bit surprised to see him.
He'd been in the living room during their conversation earlier and had heard everything from start to finish.
Emily hadn't planned to go over it all again with the two kids, but he was clearly coming to her now because he had something to say.
"Oscar, did you need something?"
Emily stopped what she was doing and picked Oscar up.
Oscar pressed his lips together and said nothing.
"What's wrong?"
Emily thought he wasn't feeling well and reached up to feel his forehead.
No fever--so why did Oscar look so serious, like something really big had happened?
Emily was about to ask again when Oscar spoke up. "Mommy, are you leaving this time because of Mr. Brown?"
Emily's expression froze, her heart skipping a beat.
She'd never told anyone about this--even her mother didn't know about William being injured and hospitalized. How did Oscar know?
"Mommy, I guessed right, didn't I?"
Oscar looked straight into Emily's evasive eyes. "I knew Mommy must be in such a hurry because of Mr. Brown."
"Mommy, can you tell me what happened to Mr. Brown? Did something happen, and he needs Mommy's help?"
"Oscar, don't let your imagination run wild."
Emily quickly cut him off. "It has nothing to do with William. I need to handle something else. It'll be taken care of in two or three days at most."
"Be good at home and listen to your grandma, okay?"
"No, what Mommy needs to do definitely has something to do with Mr. Brown."
Oscar shook his head stubbornly. "Mommy, don't think I don't know. Before you left, I heard Mr. Brown's voice."
Emily's heart skipped another beat.
When did that happen? How did she not notice?
When she brought William home, Oscar and Nina were clearly in the second bedroom. They never came out, didn't even open the door. When did he become so observant?
"Mommy, what happened to Mr. Brown?"
Oscar jumped down from Emily. "Mommy, if you won't say, then I'll just figure it out on my own."
Emily was about to stop him when she saw Oscar hold up his index finger and thumb, placing them on his chin like a detective, his brow tightly furrowed.
"I heard Mr. Brown's voice sounded really pained, so maybe Mr. Brown got hurt. If that's true, then Mr. Brown would definitely go to the hospital."
"But Mr. Brown is all alone. He's come to our house so many times, and I've never seen anyone come with him. That means if Mr. Brown is in the hospital, there's probably no one to take care of him."
"Mommy, now you're leaving too, so you're going to the hospital to take care of Mr. Brown, right?"
Emily was shocked.
Did Oscar figure all this out on his own? This was too...
Emily didn't know what to say.
"Mommy, I guessed right, didn't I?"
Oscar raised his eyebrows. "I knew it, that's exactly what it is."
"Mommy, what really happened to Mr. Brown? Is he really hurt? Who hurt him?"
"Are you going this time to get revenge for Mr. Brown..."
Emily quickly covered Oscar's mouth, a thin layer of cold sweat breaking out on her back.
Oscar's ability to reason was really growing. He'd said so much in one breath, and it all made sense--she couldn't let him keep going.
Although Emily had been very secretive about William being seriously injured and sent to the hospital, she didn't know if anyone had been following her in secret.
Maybe someone was watching from outside right now. If they heard what Oscar was saying, things would get really bad.
Emily calmed herself down and smiled easily at Oscar. "Oscar, you're overthinking this. It's not what you think."
"William is fine. He's not here either--he went to take care of other things. Don't think so much about it."
"I'm going out this time to handle my own business. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Just wait patiently at home, and I'll be back very soon."