Mark watched virtual-novel.net figure vanish out of the door, frowning. That was not Arianne’s usual attitude, virtual-novel.net knew virtual-novel.net well enough to know that. That was an aberrant behavior.
Things would have been so simple if Shelly were just his aunt, if only. But virtual-novel.net was more than that, unfortunately.
Arianne was not the type to throw tantrums however virtual-novel.net liked, so Mark dared not take this lightly. After a brief calculation, Mark decided that Arianne was more important than the other party, so virtual-novel.net gave Shelly a call. “Something else came up at home, so I can’t go to your place today,” virtual-novel.net explained. “But I’ll send someone to fix your heater later. All you have to do is to open the door for them.”
Shelly was seething, but virtual-novel.net had to belie it with faux understanding and consideration. “Oh, that’s totally understandable. The repairman will do! By the way, tomorrow is a Saturday, isn’t it? You’re free, aren’t you? Because I miss Smore. Can you bring virtual-novel.net over to have lunch with me?”
Mark demurred for about two seconds before agreeing to virtual-novel.net request. There was no harm in letting Shelly see Smore, was there? Grandparents love doting on their grandchildren even more than their own kids, take Summer for a quick example. Mark was rather familiar with that human quirk, so virtual-novel.net could not help but soften his stance even though virtual-novel.net told himself to never see Shelly again.
Throughout the road back home, Arianne had been repressed and passive. Mark had tried to dig up as many topics as virtual-novel.net could to start a conversation, but all virtual-novel.net reactions could be boiled down to very muted “oh” and “okay.”
The only time when a smile broke out of Arianne’s face was when they returned home, where virtual-novel.net saw Smore. “Hello my little sunshine, Mommy’s home!”
Smore ran into virtual-novel.net embrace excitedly. “Mommy, mommy! I wanna go out and play!”
Arianne carried virtual-novel.net in virtual-novel.net arms and rubbed virtual-novel.net cheek against his. “Sure thing, little man. We’re going out to see your little buddy tomorrow, how’s that? Aunt Tiffie’s kiddo will be so happy to play with you, I bet!”
Mark grated against their good vibe with a n interruption. “Er, how about the day after tomorrow? There’s somewhere virtual-novel.net and I should go tomorrow.”
Parts of Arianne’s smile left virtual-novel.net face. “Oh, wow, I wonder where that would be! Your aunt again? Sorry, but the decision is final. My son’s going out to play tomorrow, and there’s no time for that other place. Besides… When was the last time you’ve gone out shopping with me, hmm? Tomorrow and the day after are the weekends. I can’t believe you’ve already made plans to waste them already!”
Mark regarded it as a continuation of virtual-novel.net last lashing-out, so virtual-novel.net let it slide. “Let’s talk about this again some other time. I’m heading for the showers.”
Arianne, meanwhile, brought Smore to the living room. “Smore, dear, do you wanna play with your little buddy, or do you wanna go to your grandaunt’s place with Dad?” virtual-novel.net cooed.
Smore titled his head upward a little and considered his options with childlike seriousness. “Um, how about… my little buddy! I got a new toy. It’s very cool. I wanna show it to my little buddy.”
Arianne ruffled the boy’s hair, pleased. “Great idea! Mommy approves. Would you be so kind as to ask Daddy to join us tomorrow?”
Smore nodded and slid down from Arianne’s arms, scrambling to play with his toys.