When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 109

“Daddy!”

As soon as Carrie spotted Brody, her whole mood shifted. It was like just seeing him made her braver, and all the hurt she’d bottled up came spilling out.

Brody scooped her up and looked at Sheila. “What happened?”

Sheila hesitated, glancing off to the side before whispering, “She’s here too.”

Brody followed her gaze and saw Nelly. For a second, his eyes flashed with surprise, but his voice stayed steady. “Why is she here?” He knew Nelly wouldn’t just show up unless it was about Carrie, but she didn’t look like she was here to see her daughter. And it’s kind of weird she hadn’t started something with Sheila, considering her personality.

Sheila shook her head. “I’m not sure. It’s a parent-child event today, and she’s got another little girl with her, about Carrie’s age.”

Brody set Carrie down and looked over, trying to see clearly. There was definitely a little girl by Nelly’s side, though they were too far away for him to make out much.

Sheila lowered her voice. “Do you know who that kid is? Has Nelly ever mentioned her?” Her words were loaded with suspicion. Out of nowhere, a kid appears, and after Nelly filed for divorce, she’d started ignoring Carrie completely.

Brody’s face tightened, but he didn’t answer. He knew Nelly had always been loyal in their marriage. That much he never doubted. Was she really just here to make things hard for Carrie?

Carrie tugged on his sleeve, pouting. “Why is she bringing some other kid to a parent-child day? Daddy, you need to talk to her!”

Sheila blinked, then rushed to say, “Nelly and that girl are competing too. So many people are around, and if you go over now, it might just turn into a scene.”

Brody knew what she was hinting at. He kept quiet and didn’t move toward Nelly.

He gave Carrie a teasing smile, gently pinching her cheek. “You’re not with your mom either, so why can’t she be with another kid?”

He really wanted to see what Nelly was up to. There’s no way she’d just show up with a random child for no reason.

“That’s not the same!” Carrie shot back.

“How’s it different? You like Ms. Olson because you think she’s amazing. Maybe Nelly thinks that little girl is sweet,” he said, half-joking.

“Such creative ideas…”

The praise was louder and more excited than anything Carrie had gotten earlier. Sheila stared in disbelief. The painting, titled “Childhood,” had two halves. Nelly’s side showed a child, and the other half, painted by the child, was a sky full of stars. The starry sky was bursting with color and included different family scenes: moments with a mom, with a brother, and making wishes alone. Nelly’s colors were stunning, her composition flawless. The child’s innocent lines blended perfectly with Nelly’s mature style, creating something dreamlike and magical. It was like reality and imagination all mixed together.

Nelly and April explained their work together. April talked about how her older brother had been sick since she was little, so her mom was always busy. The painting was her childhood and her dreams.

Carrie’s face turned red with anger as she stared at the painting. “It’s not even that good… I don’t see what’s so special about it!” she grumbled, refusing to admit she was impressed. How could Nelly, who knew nothing about art, possibly paint better than Ms. Olson?

Back when Carrie started taking art classes, Nelly had wanted to teach her. But Tina said, right in front of Carrie, that Nelly didn’t know anything about art and that only a real teacher could help Carrie improve. After that, Carrie just assumed Nelly wasn’t any good. Every time Nelly tried to draw with her, Carrie turned her down.

Sheila felt uneasy too. She caught Brody staring at Nelly, his eyes never leaving her. As Nelly and April walked offstage, the setting sun lit Nelly up until she looked almost like a goddess wrapped in gold. Brody’s heart skipped a beat.

By the time he snapped out of it, the applause was even louder. Nelly’s score had crushed the competition. There was no doubt about it. First prize went to Nelly and April. Sheila and Carrie took second.

At the awards ceremony, Carrie couldn’t hold back anymore. She ran up to Nelly, her voice shaking with anger. “Why are you doing this?”