Chapter 144

Teresa pulled a scarf from a paper bag and handed it to Michael. “I got you a scarf.”

Michael tilted his head. “Mommy, it took you two days to get me this scarf.”

“Uh, yeah, well, at least I brought it back for you,” Teresa replied. Feeling a bit guilty, she walked into the room with Michael following. As she took off her coat, Michael noticed her neck and quickly said, “Mommy, your neck is hurt!”

Teresa paused, suddenly realizing something. She grabbed a silk scarf from the bedside table and hurriedly tied it around her neck. “I’m fine. I just accidentally scratched myself while sleeping last night.”

“Mommy,” Michael narrowed his eyes, which were identical to his father’s, and said, “You’re acting odd.”

Teresa was flustered. “W-What? What do you mean? Don’t look at me like that.”

Michael sniffed in Teresa’s direction, then put his hands on his hips. “You smell like Mr. Lime. You were with him last night, weren’t you?”

Teresa broke out in a cold sweat, wondering who her son took after with such a sharp nose and acute sense of smell. She protested, “I–I wasn’t hanging out with him. I hardly know the guy!”

“Then why do you smell like Mr. Lime?” Michael probed.

“He’s a guy, not a butterfly. How could he have any scent?” Teresa voiced.

Michael said, “I caught this scent when Mr. Lime carried me. Now you have it on you, too.”

Teresa stammered, “T–That’s because… you left your scarf at the movie theater and he took it. I just went to get it from him, that’s it. We met briefly!”

“Oh,” Michael stroked his chin. “Did you meet him briefly? But you didn’t come back all night.”

Teresa did not know what to say.

“Mommy, Mommy!” Michael tugged at Teresa’s sleeve, eyes shining brightly. “Do you like Mr. Lime? Is that why you went to be with him yesterday?”

“I–I don’t like him, not even a bit,” Teresa denied. “All right. I’m going to change now. Go out and close the door behind you.”

“Okay,” Michael replied.

Once he left, Teresa took off her clothes. There was no trace of Jonathan’s scent. She wondered how Michael managed to catch it.

When Teresa came out of the room, Michael approached her again. “Mommy, there’s…”