After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Chapter 37

“Mom,” Alex chirped, breaking Arnold’s train of thought. “Can you cook dinner for me tonight? Like you used 107”

Nora opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the shrill ring of Arnold’s phone cut through the moment,

All eyes turned to him as he pulled the device from his pocket. He glanced at the screen, his face tightening ever so slightly.

The name “Linda” flashed on the caller ID.

Nora’s expression didn’t change, but the silence that followed was telling.

Alex’s excitement dimmed as he noticed the shift in the atmosphere.

Arnold hesitated before answering.

“Excuse me,” he muttered, pushing his chair back and stepping out of the room.

Arnold’s voice, though muffled, carried from the hallway.

Nora couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was unmistakable–soft, attentive.

It didn’t bother her the way it might have before. Instead, it was as if a wall separated her from the emotions she used to feel about Arnold

Alex rugged on her sleeve.

“You’ll still cook, at night, right?”

Nora smiled down at him, pushing her own thoughts aside.

“Of course. We’ll make something delicious together.”

and Nuca couldn’t help but feel a small

if the rest of the house felt like a storm

up the phone and answered with a soft, almost tender

his voice a stark contrast to the silence that had blanketed the room

mud reach for her glass of water.

ache in her chest

slightly away, his expression unreadable but unmistakably

his

yet here she was feeling like a spectator in

it

the repeated the mantra, the hurt was always there, lurking beneath

the call, shipping the phone into his pocket without a word to

meet her

to go,” he said leakly, histone reverting to its

though a knot was tightening in her

said, her voce calm, almost too ralm.

constructed exterior.

Chapter 37

Arnold turned to leave, Alex’s small voice broke the silence. Tad, was that Aunt Linda

stopped in his tracks, glancing back

“Yes,” he admitted

asked, his bright eyes flickering with

hesitated briefly before nodding

need to discuss some things with her.”

exited the room, leaving an awkward tension hanging in the air.

mother, his young face etched with

can I go with Dad to see

a smile. though her heart sank at the question.

him, sweetheart,”