When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 107

Nancy couldn’t stop replaying Nelly’s words in her mind. Nelly knew exactly what they had done. If she could be that harsh with Rudy, there was no doubt she could turn on her too. Nancy had expected that any conversation with Nelly would be tense, maybe even explosive.

“Help me, help me call Britney…” Rudy’s voice was tight with anger. “I have to tell Michael…”

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He kept urging Nancy to hand him his phone. But Nancy just shook her head. “Let’s not worry about that right now. You need to get to the hospital. Your injuries come first.”

…

By early afternoon, Westhaven First Kindergarten was buzzing with parents coming and going. Today was the big parent-child painting contest. Most of the kids already had a parent with them, but April stood alone by the entrance. At first, she kept glancing around, hopeful. But as time passed, her excitement faded, replaced by disappointment.

She probably isn’t coming… After all, she’s not even my real mom…

Just as April was about to walk away, Nelly came hurrying up, out of breath and juggling several shopping bags. “Sorry, April! I stopped to pick up a few things and lost track of time. Am I too late?”

April’s face lit up instantly. She ran over and hugged Nelly around the waist, her voice trembling. “I thought you weren’t going to come…”

Nelly knelt down and smoothed April’s hair. “Hey, I promised you, didn’t I? When I make a promise, I keep it.”

She noticed April had dressed up for the contest. Her hair was tied up in two playful pigtails, and she wore a new blue floral dress that made her look like a little princess.

“You look so pretty today, April.”

April blushed and looked down, shy but delighted. She grabbed Nelly’s hand, and the two of them went to sign in and find their seats. There were sixty teams in total.

The rules were simple. Each team would draw a random topic, then split the painting in half—one part for the child, one for the adult. When the time was up, they’d present their work to a panel of judges and the audience. The winners would be chosen based on votes from both groups.

After the host finished explaining everything, Nelly and April got in line to draw their topic. Knowing they’d have to wait, Nelly had packed homemade drinks and fresh fruit for April. April had never been cared for like this before. She felt so grateful and happy that when Nelly fed her a slice of fruit, she insisted on feeding Nelly one right back. They kept trading bites, laughing together, looking more like a real mother and daughter than anyone else there.

A mom nearby couldn’t help but sigh, “Why isn’t my daughter as sweet as that?”

Then she saw the girl wrap her arms around Nelly, who picked her up. The girl even kissed Nelly on the cheek.

“Carrie.” Sheila’s voice broke through Carrie’s thoughts. She realized it was her turn to pick their topic.

She glanced over and saw Nelly and that girl already done. They were sitting close together, whispering, sharing a private joke. The girl was grinning from ear to ear. Carrie stomped her foot, wanting to run over and yell at Nelly, but with so many people around, she forced herself to hold it in.

Carrie drew her topic without even looking at it and rushed off. She chased after Nelly, but Nelly and the girl were already gone, lost in the crowd.

Sheila caught up to her, easily guessing what she was thinking. “Carrie, since your mom brought another kid, they’re already a team.”

“I know…” Carrie muttered, her face gloomy. “I just don’t get why she had to bring someone else.”

Sheila smiled. “You like me more, right? So we teamed up. Maybe your mom just feels the same, too.”