Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 372

Russel was over the moon when I agreed to let him accompany me on a stroll.

Mom had a real knack for buying houses. That entire area boasted sea views and was surrounded by tourist attractions, attracting visitors often.

It was mid-afternoon, and the sun was warm. It was a lot warmer than the winter in Rosemont. Some people even made it their winter getaway spot.

The beach was bustling with people playing in the sand. Kids were running around, giggling; it was a lively scene.

I sat on a bench, soaking in the sights, feeling pretty good.

"There's a stall selling yogurt ice cream. I'll go grab some!" I spotted a yogurt ice cream stall and hopped up, ready to get some.

But Russel stopped me, "Hold up, let me do it. The line's long; it could take a while."

He had a point. With my babies bump, standing for a long time would have been uncomfortable. It would have been even worse if someone accidentally bumped into me. I had no choice but to agree, "Alright, I'll hit the loo first."

While Russel stood in line for the ice cream, I made a beeline for the public restroom. Thanks to my pregnancy, I had to pee frequently, and squatting was a struggle. So, a toilet was my only option.

The public restroom didn't have any toilets, so I had to make do.

Just as I finished up and was about to leave, I heard a familiar voice outside, "Hiram, go outside and find your dad. This is the ladies' restroom. Boys can't come in!"

"Why do you say he's my dad, but he doesn't want me to call him dad?" Hiram asked in fluent English, his tone filled with confusion.

I froze. “Holy cow! I moved here and now I run into Karina and Hiram?” I thought to myself.

I didn't dare to step out of the stall, hiding away, because I couldn't let Karina find out I was pregnant.

"Hiram, because he hasn't been with you all these years, you two haven't built a close relationship. Plus, I left him without saying goodbye back in the day. Now that I have suddenly brought you back, he might feel a bit strange. But as long as you behave well, he will definitely accept us!" Karina's voice was gentle, yet it sounded somewhat cold.

Hiram didn't quite understand, "Really? I feel like Ryan Whitmore and Faith Whitmore like me better, but they don't like you. Why is that?"

Hiram was smart; he knew how to read people.

I propped up my belly with one hand, feeling tired from standing for so long. Walking around seemed more comfortable.

Karina patiently explained to Hiram, "It's because I left without saying goodbye. They were upset. If you want Ryan and Faith to like me too, Hiram, you'll have to behave well."

"What does behaving well mean?" Hiram asked again.

"Be polite and intelligent. Make Ryan and Faith happy. Would you like me with you when they're happy?" Karina guided Hiram gently.

"I wish. I want you to live with me. I like Ryan and Faith too, but I'd feel sad without you by my side." Hiram responded a little sadly.

That was exactly what Karina wanted to hear. She chuckled, "Then, Hiram, you'll need to bring up this topic more often with them. Maybe one day they will like me because they like you."