Chapter 148 017
HAZEL was fast enough to catch the flying boy mid-air, her arms wrapping around him instinctively. The impact made her stagger back a step, but she laughed anyway, a wide smile breaking across her stressed yet undeniably beautiful face.
“Hey, little monk,” she said fondly as she steadied herself and lowered him back onto his feet. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Gaddiel replied quickly, then pointed behind him with urgency. “Gabriel had a cut on his left hand. See?”
Without waiting, he grabbed Hazel’s hand and began dragging her toward Gabriel’s bed.
“Alright, alright, I’m coming,” Hazel said, amused but alert now.
Gabriel sat upright as they approached, his injured hand resting carefully on his lap. Hazel’s expression softened immediately when she saw the bandage.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she said, moving closer. “What happened?”
“I fell,” Gabriel replied quietly.
Hazel sat on the edge of the bed, gently taking his bandaged hand in both of hers.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
“Not much anymore,” Gabriel said. “It hurt before.”
Hazel nodded slowly, examining the bandage without touching it too hard.
“You were very brave,” she said. “I know that kind of thing can be scary.”
Gaddiel climbed onto the bed too, sitting cross-legged.
“He was crying,” he said. “But not too long.”
Hazel glanced at him.
“And were you there for him?”
“Yes,” Gaddiel said proudly, then frowned. “But not fast enough.”
Hazel reached out and ruffled his hair.
“You did your best. That is what matters.”
She turned back to Gabriel.
“Did the teachers take care of you?”
Gabriel nodded.
“They cleaned it and wrapped it.”
“And did you tell them it hurt?” Hazel asked gently.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Good,” Hazel said firmly. “You must always say something when you are in pain. Don’t keep it inside, okay?”
Gabriel nodded again.
Hazel leaned back slightly, looking between the two boys.
“So,” she said, forcing a lighter tone, “how was school today before all this?”
Gaddiel shrugged.
“Math was boring.”
Hazel laughed softly.
“Math is always boring.”
“But drawing was fun,” Gabriel added. “I drew a house.”
“A big one?” Hazel asked.
“With two trees,” he said.
Hazel smiled.
“That sounds beautiful.”
She shifted closer and pulled both boys gently toward her so they were all seated properly on Gabriel’s bed.
“I’m sorry this happened to you,” she said, her voice quieter now as she looked at Gabriel. “I wish I was there.”
“It’s okay,” Gabriel said.
Hazel shook her head slightly.
“Still… I’m sorry.” She lifted his hand carefully and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles, just below the bandage. “You are going to be just fine, okay? Cuts heal. And you are very strong.”
Gabriel’s lips curved into a small smile.
“You will see,” Hazel added. “In no time, you won’t even remember it hurt.”
Gaddiel leaned against her side.
“Will he have a scar?”
“Maybe a tiny one,” Hazel said. “Battle scars are cool.”
Gaddiel grinned.
“I want one too.”
“No, you don’t,” Hazel said quickly. “No more falling.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Gabriel spoke again, his voice soft, almost hesitant.
“For once,” he said slowly, eyes dropping to his lap, “I thought Uncle Charles was going to come pick me.”
His face fell.
Hazel frowned instantly, her brows pulling together as she looked at Gabriel.
“I told you he wasn’t coming to pick you guys up today, didn’t I?” she said gently but firmly.
Gabriel lowered his eyes, fingers fidgeting against the blanket.
Gaddiel, however, straightened immediately.
“Yes, but this was an emergency,” he said, his voice rising with the seriousness only a child could summon. “He was supposed to come. Dad isn’t around, so he was supposed to come, wasn’t he?” He asked it rhetorically, like the answer was obvious and undeniable.
Hazel inhaled slowly. She glanced between both boys, choosing her words with care.
“I know why you would think that,” she said softly. “And it makes sense that you would expect someone to come when something bad happens.”
“Then why didn’t he?” Gabriel asked quietly.
Hazel shifted closer, sitting fully on the bed now.
“Sometimes,” she began, “people mean well… but that doesn’t mean they can always do what we expect of them.”
Gaddiel frowned.
“But Uncle Charles is always around.”
“Around,” Hazel echoed. “Yes. And that is nice. But being around doesn’t always mean being responsible for everything.”
Gabriel looked up at her.
“Isn’t he family?”
Hazel nodded.
“He is someone who cares about your mom. And about you. But he isn’t your father.”
The words were gentle, but clear.
Gaddiel’s lips pressed together.
“Dad is far,” he muttered.
“Yes,” Hazel agreed. “Your dad is far right now. But that doesn’t mean someone else automatically takes his place.”
Gabriel absorbed that silently.
“You shouldn’t expect Uncle Charles to act like your father,” Hazel continued carefully. “Not because he is bad, but because it’s not fair to you. Or to him.”
“But he said he would help Mommy,” Gaddiel said stubbornly.
“And helping Mommy doesn’t always mean picking you up from school,” Hazel replied calmly. “Some things… some roles… belong only to your parents.”
Gabriel nodded slowly, though his eyes still looked sad.
“I just thought,” he murmured, “that today he would come.”
Hazel reached out and brushed his hair back.
“I know. And I’m sorry you felt disappointed.”
There was a short silence.
Then Gaddiel suddenly brightened, as if remembering something important.
“Oh!” he said, sitting up straighter. “We should do our home-fun now.”
Hazel blinked.
“No,” she said gently.
Gaddiel frowned. “Why not?”
“There won’t be any need for that,” Hazel replied. “I’m not sure you will be going to school tomorrow.”
Gaddiel’s mouth fell open.
“Huh? Why?”
Hazel pointed lightly toward Gabriel’s hand.
“Can’t you see the situation of things?”
“But I wasn’t the one who got injured,” Gaddiel protested immediately. “I can go to school. I’m fine.”
Hazel didn’t hesitate. “No.”
Gaddiel stared at her. “But—”
“You two will be home tomorrow,” Hazel said firmly. “No school.”
“That’s not fair,” Gaddiel argued.
“Fair or not,” Hazel said calmly, “you are staying home.”
Gabriel looked relieved but worried at the same time.
“I don’t mind staying,” he said softly.
Hazel smiled at him.
“Good.”
Gaddiel huffed but slumped back onto the bed.
“I don’t like staying home when I’m not sick.”
“You are not sick,” Hazel said. “But your brother needs rest. And you are part of that.”
Gaddiel glanced at Gabriel, then sighed.
“Okay.”
They sat together quietly for a few moments.
“You will both be fine,” Hazel said, standing. She leaned down and kissed Gabriel’s forehead first, then Gaddiel’s. “Get some rest.”
“Good night,” Gabriel said.
“Good night,” Gaddiel echoed.
Hazel turned and walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
She stepped into the living room and stopped.
Amelia was seated on the couch, phone in hand, scrolling impatiently, refreshing the screen over and over like she was waiting for a call that refused to come. Her foot tapped against the floor. Her shoulders were tense. Frenzied.
Hazel let out a humorless laugh at the sight.
“Still expecting his call, Mommy?” she asked.
Amelia snapped her head up at her.