One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 223

Audrey

“Easy does it… We’re almost there.”

With my arm wrapped around my mother’s waist, we slowly and deliberately made our way up the pebbled front path to her house. The early summer breeze was warm and inviting, the scent of roses from her garden carrying across the front

lawn.

As we finally reached the porch, Claudia paused to take in a deep breath. “Ah… It feels good to be home!” she exclaimed. “I’m so glad to be out of that stuffy hospital!”

I couldn’t help but smile in return. After weeks of physical therapy and recovery in the sterile hospital environment, I could only imagine how much coming home was a relief to her. And it was a relief to me, too, to see my mother on the mend.

“I bet it does,” I replied as I fished the house keys out of my pocket. “Let’s get you inside and comfortable.”

As we stepped into the cool interior of the house, I heard Edwin and Tina chattering behind us, carrying bags and supplies from the car, I helped my mother into a chair and went around opening curtains to let some light in.

Buttery golden shafts of sun seeped into the room, and it immediately became clear to me that the place hadn’t been cleaned much while my mother was in the hospital-if the layers of dust on everything were any indication.

“Hm.” My mother wiped her finger across the arm of the chair and winced when it came away covered in dust. “It seems my cleaning person took a bit of a vacation while I was gone.”

Edwin stopped in the doorway alongside Tina, setting down the bags that were in his hands. “It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” he mused as he rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, looking around. “We should tidy up, I think.”

Tina nodded. “I could cook something, too, if anyone is hungry,” she said and winked at my mother. “I’m sure you’re starving. Hospital food is the worst.”

my I turned to Claudia, suddenly remembering that she hadn’t properly been introduced to Tina yet. “Oh! Mom, this is friend, Tina. Tina, this is my mother, Claudia.”

Tina stepped forward her usual vibrant energy slightly subdued as she offered her hand to Claudia. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Klein. Audrey’s told me so much about you.”

To my surprise and delight, Claudia bypassed the handshake entirely and pulled Tina into a warm hug. “Please, call me Claudia. Any friend of Audrey’s is family to me.”

best

face lit up, her arms wrapping around Claudia in return. After all of the turmoil Tina went through with her own parents, it was nice to see her bonding so quickly with my mother-and I

in a flurry of activity. We divided up tasks-Edwin and I tackled the dusty living room and kitchen, while Tina helped

smells began to waft from the kitchen. Tina had taken charge

was ready, we all gathered around the table on the patio outside-my mother insisted that she needed sunlight, which none of us could argue with considering how

an enormous bite of a club sandwich that tasted like heaverf-pasta salad and

Sat, Oct 12

Chapter 223

¥97%會

her glass of lemonade. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Klein,” she teased. “I’m a woman

+5

aggressive game of badminton. My mother and I sat on the sidelines in a couple of lawn chairs with some more lemonade, watching as

his money,”

Tina lobbed the birdie so high into the air that Edwin could hardly see it against the blinding sun until it whacked him square

Edwin growled, rubbing his head as Tina, Claudia and I

the game continued, Claudia let out a soft sigh. I

Are you okay? Do you need to

sad smile playing on her lips. “No, no. I’m fine,

a pang in my chest at the mention of that name. “Oh,” I said softly,

lovely afternoon. It’s just that… Being out here, playing badminton and basking in the sun makes me miss her,” Claudia continued,

answer, my mother turned to me. There were unshed tears glimmering in her eyes. “Despite everything she’s done, she’s still my

my chest; even though Fiona had been the one to hurt her, had nearly killed her, my sweet mother still… Missed

of me wanted to say something cruel aimed at Fiona,

couldn’t. Not when I knew it would

my throat. “I can’t imagine how

A

just keep wondering where I went wrong. How did I not

This isn’t your fault. Fiona

had been a better

I said firmly. “You are an amazing mother. Look at how you’ve welcomed me into your life, how quickly you’ve made up for lost time. You even gave Fiona the benefit of the doubt when most people wouldn’t have, just because you love her

could tell that she wasn’t entirely convinced. “I just hope we can find her soon,” she said, and her voice was small.