When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 68

He never remembered telling her what he liked.

So how did she know him so well?

“Daddy, when is Mommy coming home?”

Carrie’s small voice broke the quiet in the room.

Brody glanced over at her. She was just pushing food around on her plate, barely eating.

Nelly usually fed her personally, reminding her to skip the junk and have something healthier.

But tonight, the table was covered with all her favorites—desserts, fried chicken, burgers, fries, and the sodas she loved most.

Still, after a few bites, Carrie found herself missing the happiness she used to feel at mealtimes.

She’d spent the last few days with Sheila, having eating cake whenever she wanted, picking whatever she liked for every meal.

But now, she realized she actually craved the simple home-cooked dishes she used to complain about. She even missed Nelly’s cooking.

“Do you miss your mom?”

Brody’s tone didn’t give anything away.

“No, I don’t…” Carrie mumbled, looking awkward.

Nelly hadn’t called her even once over the past few days. Even when she was sick, it was always Ms. Olson by her side.

If her own mom didn’t miss her, why should she bother missing her mom?

Brody saw through her act. “If you want to talk to her, just do it. She’s your mom. She won’t ignore you.”

“I don’t need her attention anyway.”

Carrie’s voice was stubborn. “It’s better she’s not here. I get to spend more time with Ms. Olson now.”

Brody couldn’t help but smile at her defiant little face. “You know, it sounds like you mean the opposite of what you’re saying.”

“I do not.”

Carrie pouted, then shot him a look. “Mommy’s gone, so now you and Ms. Olson can hang out all the time. Do you even miss Mommy, Daddy?”

Ms. Olson had told her that the people who stayed by your side were the important ones. The people you cared about were the ones that mattered.

So she definitely wasn’t going to miss her mom.

Brody didn’t know how to answer.

Did he miss Nelly? Of course not.

But lately, she kept popping into his mind.

Was habit really that hard to shake?

“Your mom has things to take care of. Like you wanted, she won’t be home for quite a while.”

He spoke quietly after a long pause.

Carrie didn’t say anything else.

Brody didn’t want to talk about Nelly anymore either.

They were getting divorced, after all. If Carrie ever wanted Sheila to be her mom, he’d make that happen for her.

Later that night, Brody finished his work and passed by Nelly’s bedroom.

Even her gentle face had become sharper, more guarded.

She really was a different person now.

“Oh, your anniversary’s coming up in a couple days.”

Marian glanced at the date on the certificate, then realized how awkward that sounded.

They were getting divorced. She probably shouldn’t have said anything.

But when Brody didn’t reply, she couldn’t help herself.

“Mrs. Garland really cares about her family. Carrie’s still so little, she needs her mom. I think Mrs. Garland’s just upset. She loves you so much. If you just said something nice, I bet she’d come right back home…”

“Did she tell you to say that to me?”

Brody’s voice was suddenly cold, cutting her off.

Marian shook her head quickly. “No, no, of course not. I shouldn’t have said that…”

Brody was always quiet, but his presence was so strong, he could be intimidating without even trying.

He lifted his hand, about to toss the marriage certificate in the trash. Marian tried to catch it with the bin, but Brody stopped and pulled it back at the last second.

Late that night, Nelly was sound asleep when her phone buzzed.

“…Hello?”

She answered, still half asleep.

There was only silence on the other end.