Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 7

Kelly froze. For a second, she wondered if she’d misheard.

“…What?”

Theo repeated the question, his tone serious.

“Ms. Walt, are you a mistress?”

She hadn’t expected that—hadn’t even come close.

The word “mistress” was loaded, sharp, and deeply wounding–especially for a woman.

Her expression went stiff, and for a long moment, she couldn’t respond.

“Theo. Do you even know what you’re saying? Where did all your manners go?” Carter’s voice came low and cold, displeasure laced through every word.

Snapping back to herself, Kelly quickly tried to smooth things over

“Carter, don’t be angry. He’s just a child. He doesn’t know any better.”

She paused, a trace of sorrow in her voice.

I know… Sharon never liked me. But no matter how much she dislikes me, she shouldn’t say things like that to Theo. Adults should keep children out of these matters. He’s innocent. He’s still so young…”

The implication was clear–there was no way Theo could’ve come up with those words on his own unless someone had taught him.

Carter didn’t say a word, but the tight line of his lips and the sudden chill that swept through the air made his displeasure unmistakable.

Theo was a sharp kid. Even though his father hadn’t spoken, he could still sense that something was wrong. The mood had shifted.

He opened his mouth, instinctively trying to explain. “It wasn’t Mom who said that, it was…”

Before he could finish, Kelly cut him off. “Theo, I know. That didn’t come from Sharon. Must’ve been something some random person said on the street, right?”

Theo didn’t catch the underlying message in her words. He just thought Kelly was amazing–like she somehow knew everything. He nodded seriously.

“That’s right. I heard it at the restaurant earlier. Some people at another table were talking.”

Kelly smiled gently. “Theo, I believe you.”

as a smile started to spread across his face, something seemed to dawn on him. His expression turned serious again. He

going to become… a

Kelly held up a hand, stopping him. She gave

have at

address her so differently-“Ms. Walt“-a flicker of unease stirred

might only be five, but Theo wasn’t a child you could treat

Chapter 7

+25 BONUS

even know why he’d

so gentle–how could he have

besides, she didn’t have

how clever he was, he was still a child. He didn’t notice that from beginning to end, Kelly had never actually answered his

realizing it and murmured,

“It’s alright. Let’s not talk about that anymore. Think

Theo quickly let go of the awkward moment and happily launched into a

want

thinking, Kelly

your health isn’t great. The

in a while,” she said lightly, glancing back

book? You’ve got to indulge now and then–otherwise, where’s

anything fun, and suddenly felt like–yeah, Kelly really

just always told him what not to

morning, as Theo descended the stairs, rubbing his eyes with sleep still clouding his face, he found Carter sitting at the dining

furrowed his brows. “Theo, why haven’t

11

lowered his head. “No one

Marie, the housekeeper, appeared from the kitchen, holding

her, sharp with

hesitated. Her voice was awkward as she tried to

Madam

meals are prepared by Madam, and she wakes the child. So

voice was cold, the silence between

seen him this angry. His presence–long accustomed to command- filled

had done over the years, only to have it go unappreciated, Marie couldn’t

specially prepared meals. Some of the herbs for these meals take over two hours to stew, and

Specially prepared incals?

+25 BONUS