Janet was thrilled with Caspar's words. She asked, "Really? The twins are beginning to look like me?"
"No!" Before Caspar could answer, Daniel coldly cut in and shattered her excitement.
The atmosphere around them became awkward.
Fortunately, Jerry came in and greeted Caspar, clearing out the tense air.
Holding Michelle in her arms, Janet sat back next to Daniel. When she saw Jerry, she thought about his sermon just now, so she complained to Samuel, "Dad! I need to tell on Jerry!"
Samuel raised his brows and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Jerry Shao had become a 'long-winded man'. He gave me a long sermon earlier!" Janet deliberately glared at her brother, who just sat back on his seat.
Jerry rolled his eyes at her and went to hug his son.
...
He ignored Janet's stare.
"Dad! Look at him! See how bad his manners are? Am I really his sister?" protested Janet. Janet was not actually angry. She was just joking around, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.
Sitting in Ella's arms, Melissa curiously looked at her protesting mother and asked, "Mommy, what is a 'long-winded' man?"
"A person who says a lot," said Janet.
"But Mommy, you're a long-winded person, too! Everyday, you say 'Melissa, don't do this... don't do that..', right?" asked Melissa.
Everyone burst out laughing.
Melissa imitated Janet's tone, and gestured like a parent, which made everyone laugh out louder.
Janet's face darkened, and with her palm on her forehead, she told everyone, "I must teach Melissa Shao a lesson tonight when we get back home!"
"It's Melissa Si!" Daniel corrected her. He had arranged for someone to change Melissa's name on the household registration.
But there seemed to be some technical delays, so that it wasn't changed yet.
"Janet, when will the twins go to kindergarten?" asked Caspar. He sat next to Jerry. There were two people between him and Janet.
Janet was about to answer him, but she instantly received a warning glance from Jerry.
...
Janet really wanted to cry. Daniel had seemed to have gotten into Jerry's head. Instead of Janet, Daniel answered, "Mr. Caspar, my daughters will go to kindergarten one month later!"
Caspar returned a smile and tried to keep calm, saying, "Have you chosen a good kindergarten yet?"
Janet opened her mouth, but Daniel spoke before she did, "The kindergarten, which my daughters are going to, had just finished construction. It will open in a month, exactly when my daughters would go."
... Daniel kept stressing the words 'my daughters'. Caspar, of course, had noticed it and understood his possessiveness.
Hearing his words, Janet was shocked and looked at Daniel. Janet wondered if he meant that he had built a new kindergarten for his daughters.
Coincidentally, Sally asked out her doubt, "Brother, is the twins' kindergarten done yet?"
... Janet looked at Daniel with a puzzled look in her eyes. Daniel also moved his eyes away from the table to Janet. Their gazes met.
He said, "Yes, it's done!"
"When did you build a kindergarten? Why don't I know about it?" asked Janet. She now felt that Daniel had done a lot of things behind her.
Daniel grinned, and said smugly, "I wanted to surprise you."
...
He was meaning to show off his love in front of Caspar!
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Cosset You Forever