“Tim, come here!” Arissa called her son in a soft voice.

“Why you didn't tell us that you were going to the mall, Mommy? Do you shop in secret?”

Jasper's feet swung irritably as he voiced his displeasure.

Arissa laughed. “I just went running a quick errand of getting some clothes. We'd take all day if I were to bring you kids with me.”

Oliver grinned. “We're not slowing you down, are we? We just wanted to come with you, that's all!”

Arissa knocked Oliver on the head playfully as she beckoned Tim to come over.

“Come try these on, Tim. Let's see if they fit.”

“You should have brought Tim to shop for his clothes, Mommy.” Zachary pulled Tim forward as he spoke. “That way, you wouldn't have to worry about whether or not they fit. What a hassle it would be if you had to return to the shop to get them changed if they didn't fit Tim!”

“It was a last-minute plan, all right?”

Arissa smiled helplessly at his indignance as she pulled Tim over and pulled a shirt over his head.

“Is it a good fit?” she asked, gazing at her son with a twinkle in her eye as she smoothed the front of his shirt.

Tim chanced a sheepish glance at Arissa before hurrying away.

Stunned by his sudden movement, Arissa's eyes followed Tim.

The child ran to the coffee table to procure something she could not see before jogging back again.

When he returned, she saw a hot egg, freshly boiled, in his little hand as he handed it to her.


“Here, Ms. York!”

Arissa was deeply moved as she hurriedly took it from him. Putting the egg down, she held both the boy's hands in hers and blew into them. “Did you burn yourself?”

“Not at all. My skin is extraordinarily thick! Put it over your eye, Ms. York. The heat will help!”

Arissa wrinkled her nose. “I will. Thank you, Sweetheart!”

Overwhelmed with emotion, she hugged Tim and kissed him on the cheek. “Help yourself to your new clothes while I dab my eyes, will you?”

Tim nodded.

Gavin and the other four smiled fondly at the scene.

“Sit over here, Mommy. I'll massage your eyes!”

Jasper made sure she was comfortable, leading her into a seat near him before he ran the warm egg over her closed eyelids.

“I'll help you, Tim!”

Gavin came over and took out the new clothes.

Zachary, too, stepped forward to help.

Tim took off his shirt and tried on the pants again.

Oliver took out his shoes from the shopping bag in the meantime. Jesse stood to the side and happily watched her brother try on some new clothes.

“You look so handsome, Tim!”

Tim blushed. “Thank you!”

“Try on those shoes, Tim,” suggested Oliver as he crouched down to loosen the shoelaces.

“Coming!”

Tim sat on the ground and took his time putting them on.

Even Mary beamed at the sight before her.

Benjamin entered and smiled ever so slightly at the sight of the children flocked around Tim before announcing his arrival.

“Tim, have you tried on all the new clothes?”

Tim leaped obediently to his feet. “Yes. I've tried on everything Ms. York bought.”

Benjamin tousled the boy's head. “Do they fit?”

Tim nodded. “They do!”

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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