Yet again, Michael and Todd’s conversation had ended on an unhappy note. But then again, Todd’s argunt was reasonable. And Michael had no right to stop him from paying a visit to Wendy’s mom.
If not for Leah, who had unwittingly told him about the planned trip, he would not have known about his wife taking another man ho to et her family. This new twist with Todd in the fra was adding more stress to his already strained relationship with Wendy!
Michael resolved to tread carefully from now on and not make any rash moves.
At the very least, he told himself that he must not engage in any open clashes with Todd because that would definitely incur Wendy’s wrath and put him in her bad books.
He had to plan his next move very carefully.
When they arrived at the hotel where Todd was staying, Michael said emotionlessly, "Here we are. This is where you get off."
Carrying Leah in his arms, Todd alighted from the car and said politely, "Thank you for your hospitality today. Let return the favor when you visit Rheinsville City."
"Yep," Michael replied curtly.
As he watched Todd walking away with Leah in his arms, Michael felt an increasing sense of trepidation.
Pulling out from the hotel driveway, he drove to Wendy’s place.
Mulling over his options, he wondered if he should ask Wendy for an explanation.
But how would he phrase his question?
Should he ask her straight out if the reason why she was taking Todd ho to et her family was because she had feelings for him? If she had rejected his offer of a reconciliation because of Todd?
After all, Todd was a good-looking guy and had a good reputation as a designer.
Both he and Wendy had studied under Timothy Woods.
Timothy Woods had only ever taught two students, Wendy and Todd.
What was more, they were of similar ages and each had a child in tow. From every aspect, they were a compatible match.
For the first ti ever, Michael felt like he was in a crisis. He was seriously worried that Wendy might fall for Todd and move to Rheinsville City with him. But yet, here he was, reluctant to get out of the car to confront her. He was not prepared to hear her say that she was taking Todd ho to et her family because she liked him.
What would he do if she confird what he feared most?
Michael pushed that question to the back of his head, not wanting to face it just yet.
Just when he was tearing himself apart trying to work out what was the best next step, he noticed Wendy’s car leaving her place.
Wait a minute. Didn’t she just get ho? Where was she heading to now?
Instinctively, he followed her.
When Wendy’s car ca to a stop at the entrance to Todd’s hotel, Michael’s breath caught in his throat and he felt suffocated.
Who else, but Todd, would she be eting at this hotel?
Fortunately, Michael noticed that she had Jake with her. Otherwise, he’d be thinking the worst and burning with rage.
Because his car plate number was instantly recognizable, Michael parked it in a secluded spot. He did not have the courage to go up to Wendy and ask her why she was here. So he just sat in the car, smoking. Despite not having smoked for a very long ti, he burnt through three cigarettes, one after the other. Even so, they did not soothe his frayed nerves.
When Wendy entered Todd’s room with Jake, Leah jumped up and dashed to her, hugging her around her leg. Bending over, Wendy picked Leah up and smothered her face with kisses, "Wanna co ho with Mummy?"
"Oh yes please!" Leah exclaid excitedly. Then, she blinked, eyes full of curiosity,
as she asked, "But why didn’t I just go directly ho with you earlier?"
"Well, that way, you can spend a little more ti with Uncle Todd. Because, otherwise, Uncle Todd will be very lonely being on his own in a hotel room," Wendy explained.
"Oh OK," Leah suddenly realized that her mom had a point.
"But why did I have to call Uncle Todd Daddy?" Leah asked again.
Stumped by the question, Wendy was at a loss for words.
After gathering her thoughts, she explained, "Because there are many bad people in this city and if they think that you are Uncle Todd’s daughter, they will not harm you. That is why, whenever there are strangers around, you must always rember to call Uncle Todd Daddy. Get it?"
Obedient as ever, Leah said yes.
"Right then, I will head out with Leah now. Since you are in Lake City for business, you should be up to your ears with work. I won’t take up any more of your ti," Wendy said to Todd before adding, "Don’t overwork and rember to get a good night’s sleep. Call if you need anything. I live in the vicinity."
Wendy had intentionally found a hotel nearby, about a few minutes away by car from her place.
"Will do," Todd replied. Then, as Wendy began to walk out with Leah in her arms, he added,
"Wendy..."
Hearing Todd call out to her, Wendy stopped and turned to him, "Yeah?"
"I’m coming with you on your visit to your mother’s tomorrow."
Wendy was a tad surprised when he said that.
Frowning, she uttered, "You probably have tons of work to do tomorrow. I can take the kids back on my own."
"It’s the weekend tomorrow. I want to rest up and relax a bit," Todd smiled, adding, "Besides, we’ve been friends for so many years and since I’m here, I figured that I should at least pay your mom a visit."
"But I don’t intend to co back to the city tomorrow," Wendy explained, adding, "My family lives in Linton, which is about a three-hour drive from here. I was planning to stay the night and co back the following day. If you co with , you’d be spending two days away from your work."
Seeing the look of embarrassnt on Todd’s face, Wendy hastened to explain, "Please don’t get wrong. It’s not that I don’t welco your company but I just don’t want to inconvenience you."
"It’s all right, no big deal. I can manage my ti," Todd smiled. He added, "I just don’t know when I will be coming back to Lake City again after this trip."
At this point, Wendy did not feel that it was appropriate for her to push back on his offer. If she insisted on declining, Todd would feel unwelco.
She nodded, "OK. I’ll pick you up at 9 tomorrow morning."
Having confird their arrangent for the next morning, Wendy took Jake and Leah ho.
Watching from his car, Michael was even more baffled when he noticed Wendy leaving the hotel, flanked by both the kids.
Why had she co to the hotel just to pick Leah up? Wendy seed to be very fond of this girl indeed! Despite having a child of her own, she was extrely fond of another person’s child as well.
That confounded Michael even more. Did this an that Wendy was reciprocating Todd’s feelings? Otherwise, why would she be so close to Leah and why would the girl call her Mummy so lovingly and naturally?
Michael feared that the pair might have developed feelings for each other while living overseas. But at least for now, he consoled himself, they did not seem to be a real couple.
He reasoned that, for as long as they were not together yet, he could still harbor a glimr of hope.
Bright and early on the following day, Michael drove to the carpark where Wendy had parked her car, and waited.
He was not going to sit back and leave Todd and Wendy to go on this trip on their own. Michael was determined to make sure that Wendy and Todd were never left on their own while the latter was still in town.
Wendy appeared with Jake and Leah in tow, all of them holding parcels of varying sizes which they deposited in the trunk of the car.
Leah had been carrying a big parcel in her short, chubby arms and had difficulty lifting it to put it in the trunk.
Suddenly, she felt the weight lifted from her arms and looking up, she saw Michael and smiled sweetly, "Hi, Uncle Michael."
Leah really liked this man who had bought her a nice plushie toy the day before.
"You’re way too young to be carrying a big parcel like this," Michael said, feeling a tad sorry for the kid, thinking to himself that any daughter of his would not be made to do sothing like this.
Grimacing, Wendy glared at him, "What are you doing here?"
In fact, both Jake and Leah had insisted on helping Wendy with the parcels.
The two kids were carrying gifts of herbs, lightweight stuff which had been packed in big boxes that only appeared to be heavy.
They were both Wendy’s children. No one loved them more than she did. But Michael’s comnt had implied that she was ill-treating the kids.
"Yesterday, Leah invited to co along on this trip today to visit her Grandma and I accepted. I didn’t want to go back on my word so here I am." Michael replied.
Wendy turned to Leah and asked, "Did you invite him, Leah?"
Nodding, Leah looked first at Wendy and then at Michael, asking, "Is that OK, Mummy?"
Although she was not as smart as Jake, Leah had figured out that sothing was amiss.
"Since you’ve got a five-seater, should I drive my own car or ride in yours?" Michael asked.
Oblivious to the fact that he was being thick-skinned, he continued, "Although we could all squeeze into one car, it might get a tad crowded. Maybe I should drive my car and go pick Mr. Lewis up from the hotel. That way, we could talk shop on the way there."
Wendy was at her wits’ end.
Last night, Todd had asked to go with her to visit her family and now, Michael was doing the sa too?
In the past, during their few years of marriage, Michael had not once suggested paying her mother a visit.
"Will you please stop acting up like this?" Wendy murmured, trying her best to remain composed.
"I’m not acting up at all," Michael replied. He reached for Leah and picked her up, "I guess I should drive my own car. That should give you so space in yours."
That said, he walked towards his car with Leah in his arms.
Interestingly, Leah did not kick up a fuss. Instead, she waved to Wendy and said, "Bye, Mummy. I will ride in Uncle Michael’s car."
Wendy rubbed her temple in exasperation, feeling unusually exhausted.
The little convoy comprising Wendy’s and Michael’s cars arrived at the hotel where Todd was waiting at the entrance.
Seeing Wendy’s car, he was about to walk towards her when he was waylaid by Michael, who had alighted from his car.
Smiling, Michael said to Todd, "Hello, why don’t you ride with today?"
Todd stopped in his tracks as he looked from Michael to Wendy, not knowing which car to take.
Michael said, "Leah’s in my car."
Wendy sighed and said, "Why don’t you ride with him?"
If she had known that Michael would be tagging along, she would have postponed the trip, Wendy thought to herself. But Michael had simply turned up at the carpark at her place that morning, waiting for them.
She had called Mary, her mother, the night before to inform her of their trip today.
She could tell from the tone of Mary’s voice that she was over the moon at the prospect of eting her grandchildren.
If Wendy cancelled on her now, Mary would be so disappointed.
Since she had not been ho these past few years, Wendy did not feel that it would be right for her to cancel the visit so suddenly.
She was left with no other option now but to let Michael tag along with them.
In fact, Todd had expected Michael to show up and make the trip with them. Because Leah had unwittingly spilled the beans the day before, Michael had beco aware of their planned trip to visit with Wendy’s family. Because of that, Todd had also suggested joining them on their visit. So, like history repeating itself, they set off again, five people in two cars, on another awkward journey.
At that mont, Christian was in his chair at the office, waiting for his call to be answered. Once the call was picked up, he said coolly, "This is our chance. Wendy and the others have just set out on a trip to Linton."
The person on the other end of the line was Yvonne.
When she had been released from the detention center, she had tried calling Michael. But he had been so heartless that he had imdiately hung up on her and ignored all further calls from her. Enraged, Yvonne decided that since he had behaved so callously, she would make him pay.
"OK, I’ve got it," Yvonne replied. Then, with an evil look in her eyes, she ordered,
"Get a car and a few n."
"It’s all arranged," Christian sneered nacingly. With his phone in one hand, he was twirling his pen in the other when it slipped and dropped to the floor. Bending to pick it up, he said in his crisp voice, "Good luck."
Unfortunately for Michael, he had been planning his defense against the wrong enemy.
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