Chapter 91

Miriam and Sherry’s words finally calmed Teresa down. Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Jonathan wiped a set of cutlery clean and handed them to Michael. “I used to come here often with someone I liked. The food’s pretty good. I hope you will like it, too.”

Michael swung his legs back and forth. “The person you like is lucky. Mommy never takes me out to eat; she just orders delivery at home because she can’t cook. She orders gumbo, which I hate because it stinks. So, she makes me plain gruel.”

Jonathan listened quietly, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. Perhaps all women loved gumbo. “I don’t like spicy or smelly food either. Looks like we’re pretty similar.”

“I guess we’re destined to meet!” Michael exclaimed.

Jonathan was amused. He seemed to be on the same wavelength as his secretary’s son.

When the bread was served, Michael pulled it apart, poured out the stuffing, ate the bread, and then ate the stuffing.

Jonathan asked, “Who taught you to eat it like this?”

“Mommy did,” Michael said with a wink. “Mr. Lime, why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like the bread?”

“I’m not hungry. You can have it,” said Jonathan. He usually ate very little at night. As he watched Michael devour his food, Jonathan had a few bites. Glancing at his watch, he thought, ‘It’s only half-past six. There’s nothing to do at home, anyway.’

His phone kept vibrating. Irene sent him a list of new potential blind dates—several women for him to choose from.

Michael noticed the frown on his face. “Mr. Lime, are you unhappy?”

“A little,” Jonathan replied, typing a message back to Irene. He informed her that he had to leave on a business trip the next day and would depart that night. At the moment, he was dining at Fores Restaurant.

Irene replied: [Fores Restaurant, right? I’ll check.]

Jonathan gestured for Michael to come over and whispered in his ear, “Can you help me with something?”

Before long, a curvy woman, wearing a white coat and black boots and carrying a Louis Vuitton bag, walked in. Jonathan nodded at her. She smiled as she approached.

“Mr. Lynn, it’s so hard to meet with you.” The woman sat across from Jonathan and noticed two sets of cutlery. “Mr. Lynn, did you specifically get these for me?”

Before Jonathan could answer, Michael came running out of the restroom, shouting, “Daddy! Daddy!” He hugged Jonathan’s leg, looking up with a pitiful expression. “Don’t you want me and Mommy anymore? You’re a bad guy!”

The woman abruptly stood up, staring at Michael, who looked very similar to Jonathan. “Mr. Lynn, is this your son?”

“That’s right,” he replied.

“Why go on blind dates if you already have a kid? Are you kidding me?” The woman grabbed her purse and stormed off.

Jonathan patted Michael’s head. “Thanks.”

Puzzled, Michael asked, “If you don’t like her, why did you even meet with her?”

Jonathan replied, “If I don’t meet with them, someone will keep nagging. This way, they know I have a kid, they’ll say I’m unreliable, and no one will dare to set me up on a date anymore.”

“Grown-up things are so difficult,” Michael tilted his head, not fully understanding. “Anyway, if you need anything, just tell me! I’m happy to help.”

Jonathan packed three baskets of bread for Michael to take home to thank him for his help. “I’ll take you home now. Enjoy the bread at home. Share them with your mommy and her roommate. Don’t tell her I bought them, okay?”

However, through the rearview mirror, he saw that Michael was already asleep in the backseat.

When they arrived at Rosary Estates, Jonathan exited the car with Michael wrapped in his coat. From a distance, he saw a woman walking toward them.

Miriam said, “What a coincidence! I’m here to see Teresa. Whose child are you holding?”

Jonathan glanced at the stairs. “A friend’s.”

“Who? Is it Benny’s?” Miriam laughed.

“No way.” Jonathan started to carry Michael upstairs. “The kid’s mom is Teresa’s coworker.”

Chapter 92