Chapter 74: Christmas, drama and embarrassment

Christmas finally arrived, and Bella dedicated the day to helping her cook and prepare dinner, despite her protests that it wasn't necessary. Determined, Bella insisted. However, when it was time for the traditional gingerbread cookies, mother and son came together in a moment and considered just theirs. Bella had bought several cookie sheets of different shapes and when she arrived at a specific one, Among several fun shapes to mold the cookies, Théo complained when he saw one.

“Heart-shaped, mom? How cliché!”

“Nothing like that! It's to express my love for you,” Bella replied, sealing the sentence with a kiss on her son's cheek, eliciting a smile from him.

**At night...**

The apartment was silent, since all the employees and subordinates had been dismissed to enjoy the holiday with their families. While they were setting the table for Christmas dinner, Théo couldn't contain his curiosity and asked:

“Mom, who were you talking to last night at dawn? Was it my father?”

Catching her completely off guard, Bella was disconcerted, trying to decipher what he really wanted to know.

“No, Théo. It wasn’t your father.”

“Huh... so are you dating someone?”

“Why so many questions, Théo Hahn? And did you know it’s rude to hide and listen to other people’s conversations, especially your mother’s?”

“I had a nightmare and called you, but you didn’t hear me. So I went to your room, heard some things and felt embarrassed, so I went back to bed.”

Bella turned red as a tomato, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

“I’m trying to get to know someone better, Théo, but it’s not your father.”

“If after yesterday you still don’t know him well, I think you should give up,” he replied sarcastically.

“Théo! I don’t want to have this conversation with you.”

“I should be the one who’s traumatized! Next time, at least lock the door, please.”

Bella, still trying to maintain her composure, changed the subject and asked her son to get the bowl of rice that was in the kitchen. Grumbling, Theo obeyed.

With supper completely on the table, it was time to eat, it was just before midnight and the doorbell rang. Bella thought it was strange because no one had her address, Susan knew the password to get in straight away and the others wouldn't show up before the end. Of the holiday.

When she opened the door, 

“Dr. Carter? What a surprise!”

“Sorry to show up unannounced, but if I remember correctly, you invited me.”

“Yes, of course... But you said you couldn’t come because of the surgery and dinner with your family.”

"If I'm bothering you, I'll leave." Carter turned to go back to where he came from.

"No you Silly. Come in and sit with us, we'll start supper now."

Bella laughed and pulled him inside.

“Come, sit with us. We’re about to start.”

“Thank you, but I have already had dinner. Why do you think I'm here? At my parents’ house, we had dinner earlier.”

Theo, eager to eat, interrupted:

“Dr. Carter, can you sit down already? I’m starving!”

“Théo! Where are your manners and manners?” Bella scolded.

“Leave him alone, Bella. He’s just hungry.”

While they ate, Bella and Carter chatted casually, exchanging smiles and whispering in each other’s ears. Théo, attentive, observed everything. When he noticed the mood between the two, a line of concern frown appeared on his forehead.

“Is everything okay, Théo?” Carter asked, noticing the boy’s serious expression.

“Are you asking as a doctor or as my mother’s boyfriend?”

“Théo! How rude is that?” Bella scolded again, irritated.

Without answering, Théo remained silent, staring at Carter.

“Enough! Go to your room now, and don’t come back until I tell you to!” Bella ordered.

Théo shrugged, but before leaving, he said sarcastically:

“Merry Christmas and good night, Dr. Carter.”

“Merry Christmas, Theo,” Carter replied, not noticing the boy’s sarcasm. The only one who noticed is his mother, who sighed, already regretting having been so harsh.

“I know he was rude, but today is Christmas. It's not healthy for him to feel repressed. Let him stay with us. He’s already lost a lot this year,” Carter said, referring to the boy’s family losses.

Bella thought for a moment and called her son back.

“Théo, if you apologize, you can stay. And, as a bonus, you’ll get your present.”

The boy’s eyes lit up, and he smiled not because of Carter, but because of the gift he was dying to get.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Carter.”

“It’s okay,” Carter replied, passing his hand to the cheeky boy on the head.

Bella handed over the long-awaited present, and Théo cheered with joy as he opened the package.

“Mom, can I play now?”

“Of course!”

Before going to the games room, Théo approached his mother and the doctor.

“Just a warning: if you’re going to continue what you started yesterday, please lock the door and to do in quiet.”

The embarrassment took over, as Théo left smiling, leaving Bella and Carter exchanging embarrassed glances.

While Théo was having fun playing games on the new portable console in the games room, Bella and Carter were still trying to dispel their embarrassment.  Théo’s cell phone ringing. He picked up the device and smiled when he saw who it was.

“Dad!”

“Hi, champ! Merry Christmas! How are you? Everything okay?” — Dylan asked, his voice warm.

“Kind of boring and tedious, but other than that, everything’s fine,” Théo replied, with his usual sincerity.

Dylan let out a brief laugh.

“I bought you some amazing games. I’ll send them to you soon.”

“Thanks! But... when are you coming to see me? And mommy?” Théo was direct, as always.

Dylan hesitated for a moment, his tone becoming more serious:

“I don’t think your mommy wants me around, but I promise I’ll find a way to see you, son.”

Théo took advantage of the opportunity to ask an unexpected question:

“Dad, do you still like mommy?”

The question took Dylan by surprise. He took a deep breath before answering:

“I love her, son. Why do you ask?”

Theo, determined, released the information he had been keeping inside:

“I don’t think you’re going to like hearing this, but... Mommy is dating that doctor, Dr. Carter Kwon.”

Dylan was silent for a few moments, trying to hide the impact of the news. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but full of meaning:

“Really? Well, I hope he treats her better than I did.”

“Is that it? You’re not going to do anything?” insisted Theo, frustrated with his father’s apathetic reaction.

“Theo, some things are too complicated for a child to understand right now.

Although dissatisfied, the boy continued the conversation for a few more minutes before they said goodbye. When he returned to the living room, he looked around.

“Where’s the doctor?”

“He had to go. He was called for an emergency," Bella replied, without looking up.

"Ah..." Théo murmured, processing the whirlwind of information he had gathered.

Later, Bella took the opportunity to send her son to bed. When she finally snuggled into her comfortable bed, the silence was interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. Without checking the number, she answered:

"Hello?"

"Hi, Morena..." Dylan's voice sounded on the other end, full of emotion.

"Dylan?" Bella asked in surprise. "Why are you calling me at this hour?"

"Sorry for waking you up... I just needed to hear your voice."

"Are you okay? You had too much to drink, huh?" he tried to joke, but his voice betrayed a slight nervousness.

"Not really. But I just want to tell you one thing. Despite everything that happened between us and all the hurt... I still love you. Merry Christmas, Bella." Before she could respond, Dylan hung up. Bella was left holding the phone in her hand, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Why don’t you let me forget you, Dylan Kicher?” she whispered to herself, a tear rolling down her face.