Chapter 20 Dad Is Back
Chapter 20 Dad Is Back
Chapter 20 Dad Is Back
It was seven in the evening in Pasoland City where the rain relented. At the gate of a hotel in the city center, Emily was still waiting there, somewhat tired. It was already dark outside. No matter how many times Jayna had tried to persuade her to go back, she just insisted on waiting there, staring at the rain in the darkness in a daze and expecting her father to show up any moment...
"Emily, it's already seven. Let's go eat something..." Jayna sighed deeply in her mind. She knew how much Emily had been looking forward to seeing her father and felt extremely sorry for her at the thought of the eagerness in Emily's eyes.
Since Emily turned three, she had been more and more thoughtful. Sometimes when she stayed in the restaurant Jayna worked in and saw other kids who had their father's company, she just watched them silently with envy and eagerness. But it was sweet of her never to complain to Jayna about it since Jayna had told her that her father was working very hard in a faraway place and needed to be left in peace.
"Mom, you go first. I'll wait longer. I feel like my dad is coming back, so I'm waiting to have dinner with him..." Emily shook her head, turned to smile at Jayna, and then stared at the outside again. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
"Emily, don't you remember that uncle has told you that your father isn't coming back today? He can't make it here before the day after tomorrow at the earliest. Just go eat something with me, okay?" Jayna continued to persuade Emily.
Emily shook her head again and said stubbornly, "No way. I've got a feeling that my dad will be back today. I'm sure about it. I'll wait for him to be back and eat cooked noodles with him. That's my favorite food. If he's back tonight, I'll give him the poached egg in my noodles. As long as he's full, he won't leave us anymore. Am I right, mom?"
Jayna's body quivered as her eyes turned red. She bit her lips, trembling, and hurriedly turned around to avoid Emily seeing her shed tears.
She said to herself, 'Iwan, have you heard that? Your daughter's dearest wish is to have your company. She's such a thoughtful girl who has been hiding her longing for you from me until you showed up last night. So please come back safe and sound!'
Now Jayna was already at a loss what to do with Emily since whatever she said didn't work. Emily had made up her mind to wait at the gate lest Iwan couldn't find her when he was back. At this moment, Emily had been overwhelmed by her insistence on waiting for Iwan to be back.
But Jayna was afraid that Emily would catch a cold given her poor condition and the heavy rain outside if she went on like this in little clothing. What was worse was that it would take a kid at her age many days to recover from the cold.
Despite her reluctance, Jayna still tried to pretend to lose her temper with Emily. "Emily, haven't I made it clear enough? Just as I've told you, your dad won't be back today! What's the point of waiting outside any longer? Why do have to try to make yourself sick? Are you going back or not?"
Emily quivered and looked up at her mother in anger surprisedly, with fear in her eyes and tears rolling down her face. But still, she shook her head stubbornly, saying in a choked voice, "My dad will be back. He will..."
Jayna also shed tears, trembling. But what she didn't know was that there seemed to be some bond between people somehow. Emily had gotten the right feeling since John's waging the war against Iwan at noon ahead of schedule led to Iwan's early arrival. This might be the result of some magical and indescribable bond. Somehow, Emily was very certain of the feeling that Iwan would be back today. Perhaps it was just a matter of blood relation.
But Jayna didn't get the same feeling as Emily and couldn't see the point of her stubborn resistance to go at the moment. So she tried to fight down her guilt, grabbed Emily by the arm, and pulled her into the hotel.
"Mom, let go of me. I need to stay here to wait for my dad. He's bound to be back today. Mom, please, let me stay here, okay? Please, I'll wait here for him..." Emily still tried to struggle free as she was dragged inside by Jayna.
"I've told you! Your dad won't be back! He won't!" Jayna was indeed angry and couldn't help but snarl at Emily.
Emily was instantly startled and failed to gulp back her tears. She burst into crying out of fear and worry over Jayna's anger. So she said to Jayna while crying, "I'm sorry, mom. But please don't snarl at me. I'm so scared..." She shed tears, trembling.
For a moment, Jayna was stunned by the scene and regretted what she had done. Then she suddenly squatted down, held Emily in her arms, and burst into tears.
"I'm sorry, Emily. It's my fault for shouting at you. I shouldn't have done so. I'm so sorry, Emily..." Jayna cried as she apologized to Emily.
Much later on, Jayna calmed down, let go of Emily, and looked at her, saying, "Emily, your dad won't be back today. So you need to be good and go eat something and then have a rest. Let's wait for your dad tomorrow, okay?"
Emily lowered her head, fiddling with the skirts of her faded dress. She was too young to know how to make her instinct clear to Jayna. But she knew Jayna was mad and sad, so she had to listen to her.
But just as she was about to look up and promised to go back with Jayna, Iwan's figure emerged in the rain outside and he was striding over.
Upon seeing him out of the corner of her eye, Emily immediately struggled free out of Jayna's arms excitedly and ran toward Iwan coming the other way. She shouted happily while running, "Dad, dad..."
"Emily, you... What? How can it be possible?" Jayna was about to stop Emily as she ran outside. Suddenly, she heard Emily's excited voice.
Then she saw Iwan striding over followed by Emily's throwing herself into his arms in extreme shock...
It was Iwan and he finally came back! She found it so impossible and even suspected her eyes deceived her.