As the evening came to an end, Michael carried Carmen up to the attic, where they could see the night sky through the sky window. Carmen leaned beside Michael and gazed upon the stars above.
“Daddy, I wonder which star is mommy today.”
Michael raised his hand and pointed at the brightest one among them and said, “That one. Look, she’s winking back at you!”
Carmen fixed her eyes on that star and chuckled before a tinge of sadness took over. She asked, “Daddy, why did mommy turn into a star?”
Carmen made her wish carefully as she focused on the shining star. “I wish that mommy would bless my relationship this time. May it go smoothly…”
Michael’s lips twitched. “Are you in a relationship again? Or are you referring to Nicholas?”
It had been a long while since Michael found out that his three-years-old daughter had started being in relationships, so he was not surprised this time.
Carmen answered solemnly, “Daddy, Nicholas is my ex-boyfriend; both he and I are history. I’m now going out with brother.”
Michael asked, “Which brother?”
The last time she told him Nicholas was her boyfriend, he got so mad that he locked Nicholas up and hid him. He then lied to her that her boyfriend went back to his hometown to get married, and that took her a while to finally move on. He wondered who would resign to the same fate this time.
Carmen replied coyly, “Take a guess, daddy!”
After a moment of speechlessness, Michael asked, “Is it Bubbles?”
Covering her mouth as she giggled, Carmen answered, “Bubble’s a girl. My boyfriend’s Judgey!”
Michael’s chest tensed up as he had a solemn expression on his face. He was determined to dash her hopes by revealing a dark past Judge had. “Judge ate sh*t before!”
Carmen paused for a long while and rested her head onto Michael’s arm.
Michael fell silent for a while before asking, “Why are you quiet?”
“Daddy, I’ve had my heart broken again.”
Relieved, Michael consoled, “It’s okay. I’m here for you still.”
He stroked her hair as he lifted his head to observe the stars. You’re one that shines the brightest. Our girl has grown up so much—can you see it?
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“I want to pee.”
…
At the same time in Villa No.2, another pair of father and daughter were also stargazing.
Sophia leaned beside Cooper as she rested her sight upon the skyscape above Bayside City. Cooper never uttered a single word, for he was still annoyed about having picked a gay man for his daughter’s matchmaking session earlier that day.
Never judge a book by its cover! Stanley Fletcher, you a*shole!
“Dad, how did mommy pass away?” asked Sophia abruptly.
Cooper’s heart felt a brief sting before he replied, “Accidents happen…”
He did not have the heart to tell her that Annabel died from giving birth to her.
Sophia raised her head and peeked at the brightest star in the sky.
Damn it! Take your own child back! I’m not entertaining her anymore!
Could this be Judge’s little owner?!
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Dreamy Old Husband