Two Times the Charm (Clara and Emmett) novel Chapter 21

The kindergarten was just in sight, the rain outside had lightened up, and the road conditions had improved a lot. Emmett gradually slowed down his car.

Emmett asked, "Where's the kid's father?"

"Huh?"

The question caught Clara by surprise, she was at a loss for words.

"I mean, why is the kid with you? Why can't his father pick him up?"

Emmett glanced at her, noticing her rigid expression, and decided to rephrase his question in a gentler way.

"He...." Clara was a bit evasive, her voice slightly heavy, "He...he's passed away...."

Clara made up an excuse. She couldn't tell Emmett that she had no idea who the child's father was. She didn't want to arouse suspicion about herself or Alex. She could bear everything, but the child was innocent.

Emmett responded, "Did he really pass away, or are you hiding something?"

Clara said, ".... Really, really... he's gone!"

"I apologize for bringing up your pain."

Emmett apologized softly, and Clara answered awkwardly, "It’s okay...."

It was okay. After all, she was making it up! The child's father, to her, was as good as dead anyway!

The car stopped at the kindergarten gate. Emmett got out of the car with her.

"I do, seeing the cloudy weather this morning, I brought an umbrella for my son. It's enough for both of us. Mr. Melendez, you should go back to your family."

Seeing that Emmett had moved forward a few steps, Clara quickly stepped in front of him with a smile. Emmett stared at her, didn't say anything but felt suspicious about what she had just said and did.

Ding ding——

He was about to say something else, but his phone suddenly rang in his pocket. He checked the message and put the phone back in his pocket, saying, "I have some things to deal with, you go ahead. Take this umbrella."

Emmett handed his umbrella to Clara, then turned around and got back in the car. Clearly, he didn't completely believe Clara's claim that she "had an umbrella".

Clara watched Emmett's retreating figure, her facial expression still a bit stiff.

So, was her lie just found out? Was her lie really that awful?