Filed to story: Leaving the Country After Divorce Novel (Lucian & Roxanne)
After dinner, Roxanne and Colby went separate ways, returning to their own homes.
When Roxanne arrived home, Lysa had fetched the two kids back.
They were playing with Legos on the carpet.
Archive and Benny immediately surrounded Roxanne when they saw her enter.
Roxanne patted their heads and asked concernedly, “Have you two taken your meals?”
They nodded obediently and blinked their eyes at her.
“Mommy, Ms.Ward said she’s bringing us to plant trees this weekend.” Roxanne was slightly taken aback at the mention of that matter.
She gazed downward and beamed at her children.
“Yes.
I know that.” With that, she pretended to be nonchalant and entered the living room.
Archie and Benny trailed behind their mother and followed her to the side of the
carpet.
She crouched down and fiddled with the partially-built Lego pieces as a conflicted look spread across her face.
She pondered the whole journey on her way back.
In the end, she was left with the same conclusion.
She might run into Lucian or Aubree if she participated in the activity.
That was such a coincidence.
All the while, she had been racking her brains, thinking of ways to avoid Lucian and Aubree.
Yet, the kindergarten decided to host an activity at that time.
“Mommy, will you go with us?” The two kids gazed at Roxanne in anticipation.
That was their first time joining such a group activity.
The idea sounded very interesting to Archie and Benny.
Catching sight of their hopeful, gleaming eyes, Roxanne hesitated and could not bring herself to refuse them directly.
She merely said, “I’ll ask Aunt Madilyn to accompany you two.
Will that be all right?” That was the only way she could think of.
Hearing their mother’s words, Archie and Benny were obviously a little disappointed.
“Do you not want to go with us, Mommy?” Roxanne’s heart softened slightly.
“No, it’s not that.
It’s just…
I have to work overtime during the weekend.
I’m afraid I do not have the time to accompany you
two.”
Archie and Benny stared at her for some time.
Roxanne did not know if they figured out she was lying.
-Meeting their eyes, she felt guilty and sorry.
That was the first time the kids participated in a group activity involving the
students’ parents since they started school, so the event was supposed to be memorable and significant.
Undoubtedly, Archie and Benny wished Roxanne could go with them.
However, she could not tell them she was avoiding Lucian and Aubree.
After all, that was a matter between the adults.
“Okay.” A few moments later, Archie and Benny nodded in disappointment.
Roxanne let out a sigh of relief inwardly before taking out her phone to call Madilyn.
The latter picked up only after a long while.
“Roxanne, what’s the matter? Is there a problem?” Madilyn sounded exhausted.
Roxanne frowned.
She asked in concern, “Are you still busy?” Madilyn heaved a long sigh and uttered weakly, “I don’t want to talk about that.
A severely ill patient was just admitted here, and the patient requires close monitoring around the clock.
I doubt I’ll have any time to spare this weekend.” Upon hearing that, Roxanne swallowed her unspoken words to request Madilyn’s help.
“In that case, I’ll stop bothering you.
You should prioritize the patient.
Everything is fine on my end.
It’s just that the kids are missing you.” Madilyn smiled.
“Okay.
Tell them I’ll go over and play with them another day.”
They did not chat for long and hung up the call soon after.
Roxanne looked up at Archie ‘and Benny beside her and sighed softly.
“Aunt Madilyn
is busy.
I’ll accompany you two this weekend.” She could not forbid the kids to join the activity simply because Lucian and Aubree might be there.
Archie and Benny exchanged glances.
Overjoyed, they hugged Roxanne’s arms and cheered affectionately, “You’re the best, Mommy!”
Roxanne smiled without saying a word.
She felt heavy-hearted at the thought of the inevitable meeting on the weekend.
At the Farwell residence, Lucian frowned when he saw the message in the WhatsApp group after fetching Estella back home.
On the way back earlier, Estella had regarded him with a look as if she had something to say.
Lucian reckoned that had something to do with the tree-planting activity.
During mealtime, Lucian took the initiative and asked, “Is the kindergarten organizational a tree-planting activity?”
Estella nodded excitedly upon hearing her father mentioning that matter.
She had wanted to raise that topic to her father when they were inside that car just now.
However, when Estella was reminded of Lucian’s usual reluctance to take part in such events hosted by the school, she did not know how she should propose that idea to her father so that he would agree to join.
D Lucian grimaced at the sight of Estella’s hopeful demeanor.
He could roughly figure out the reason behind her sudden change in behavior.
That was not the first time the kindergarten had organized such a parent-child bonding event.
In the past, due to Lucian’s heavy workload, Estella’s autism spectrum and unwillingness to interact with other children, Lucian had always chosen to avoid participating in those activities whenever possible.
However, this time, perhaps because of Archie and Benny’s influence, Estella had,
for the first time, gained interest in those activities.
Amidst his wistful rumination on Archie and Benny’s significant effect on Estella, a childish voice sounded beside Lucian’s ears.
“I want to go.” Estella gazed at her father in anticipation with her large eyes.
She had not seen Roxanne in a long time.
Estella was certain Roxanne would attend the event with Archie and Benny, so she would be able to meet with Roxanne then.
An astonished look flashed across Lucian’s face when he heard Estella’s voice.
Ever since Roxanne started avoiding him, Estella had been adamant about keeping quiet in front of Lucian.
To his surprise, Estella had made an exception because of this activity.
“Do you really want to join that badly?” Lucian furrowed his brows at her.
She nodded firmly.
At that sight, Lucian hesitated briefly.
After recalling his pending work that weekend, he said in a hoarse voice, “Let’s go together next time, okay? I have to work this weekend, so I cannot accompany you.” The lights in Estella’s eyes dimmed.
She shook her head in refusal as she could not wait any longer to see Roxanne.
Lucian knitted how brows and coaxed further, “Archie and Benny aren’t going anywhere.
They will still participate in the next activity.
You can play with them then.” “No!” Estella declined and pouted.
Lucian’s head hurt upon taking in Estella’s stubbornness.
Previously, Estella had often stayed away from those activities, and Lucian thought those recreations were a waste of time too.
They had always shared a mutual perception on that matter.
Unexpectedly, she was so determined this time.
She clenched her tiny fists and stared intently at him, hoping he would change his mind.
Still, Lucian remained silent.
Tears gradually brimmed in her eyes.