Chapter 48
“What gift would Leo give me?” Lauren wondered. She guessed it might be a doll or Lego—things Leo also liked. The box was wrapped in pink, so she assumed it was a small toy. However, she was surprised when she opened it.
Inside was a delicate, pure piece of white jade carved in the shape of a cat's claw. It was a lovely gift. Rubbing and pinching it with her fingertips, Lauren felt as if she were touching a real cat's claw.
She also found a bead inscribed with a name: KITTY. This surprised her immensely. “How coincidental!” she thought. She’d had a cat named Kitty when she was seven or eight.
Leo, a sensitive and careful child, had been watching her nervously since she opened the box. Seeing her frown and remain silent, he feared she disliked his gift. He grew sad, his hands clenched, on the verge of tears.
“What’s wrong?” Lauren noticed his distress, turning to him and touching his head comfortingly. At her words, Leo suddenly collapsed, his chest heaving violently as tears streamed down his face. “Don’t you like this gift?” he sobbed.
Unsure how to respond to his tears, Lauren quickly hugged him and wiped his eyes. “I like it so much! As long as it’s from you,” she reassured him.
Leo, his head buried in her arms, lifted his face and said seriously, “This gift isn’t good. I’ll give you a better one next time.”
“It’s great, and I love it,” Lauren hugged him tighter. “This is the best gift.”
Leo stubbornly insisted, “No, this gift isn’t good.” He’d promised his father not to tell Lauren that Charlie had chosen the gift.
To stop Leo’s crying, Lauren repeatedly assured him she loved the gift and would carry it everywhere. Finally, he smiled.
His eyes were red and swollen from crying, so Lauren took him upstairs to wash his face and change his clothes. Daphne hurried over, offering to help, but Leo clung tightly to Lauren.
Lauren smiled at Daphne. “I’ll wash his face,” she said.
“Thank you, Miss Bennett,” Daphne replied.
In Leo’s room, Lauren helped him remove his coat and led him to the bathroom to wash his face and hands.