Chapter 462 Missing Uncle Stuart
In the dining room, Charles noticed his sister Chicago looking a bit spaced out and lost in thought. "Sis, you need to focus on eating," he said helplessly, motioning to Wendy to get Chicago a fresh cup of hot milk.
Chicago turned to Charles. "Brother, Mommy said she doesn't dislike him anymore, so why did she kick him?"
Charles was at a loss for words. He was better with academic matters; adult emotions often puzzled him, too. "Mommy said she did it by accident because of a nightmare," he patiently explained.
Chicago continued to ponder this as they ate.
Charles decided just to let it be and leisurely finished his breakfast.
He was heading to Solomon today.
Uncle Burl and the bigwigs from that side of the town had a meeting arranged.
But it was already eight, and Uncle Burl hadn't woken up.
Charles pondered for a moment.
He got up slowly, planning to rouse Uncle Burl from his slumber.
Passing through the living room, Charles got snagged by Thalassa.
"Charles, all done with breakfast?" Thalassa asked.
Charles turned, faced the living room, and answered at a snail's pace, "Done, I'm about to go wake up Uncle Burl."
Thalassa glanced at the clock.
"At this hour? Doesn't Uncle Burl usually sleep in till afternoon?"
"He's working at Darwin's company now." Fiona chimed in for Charles, "By the way, Charles, you're visiting your dad's firm today, right?"
Charles nodded, then corrected, "Meeting some seniors, more like seeking guidance."
Thalassa chuckled, "Listen to you, Charles! Such resolve!"
Fiona thought for a brief moment.
She hadn't been to Solomon in a long time either.
"Charles, how about Mommy goes with you?" Fiona offered.
Charles paused, then nodded affirmatively, "Yeah, sure! That'd be great!"
"OK, you go get Uncle Burl, and I'll make sure your sister eats her breakfast." Mother and son quickly split the tasks.
Charles headed toward the elevator.
"Our Charles is as sluggish as a sloth. Who would guess he's a tech genius?" Thalassa's eyes lingered on the slowly moving Charles, admiringly musing.
Fiona gave her a playful smack on the head. "Be serious for a second. Are you seeing Justin today?"
The smile vanished from Thalassa's face.
"Not anymore," she answered.
"Really?" Fiona was worried Thalassa might sneak off and get hurt again.
"If I hadn't stayed strong from the start, it would have led to bigger demands later. It used to be just about me, but now I'm married to Kenny. My trouble is his trouble."
Fiona paused, surprised.
She had assumed Thalassa had changed her plans for her own sake.
She hadn't expected that...
"You and your love-struck brain! That's one unconventional way to steer clear of trouble," Fiona remarked, patting her knees and rising. "Aren't you heading to the office, too? It's about time."
"I might as well head out with you guys," Thalassa flopped back onto the sofa.
Fiona laughed helplessly.
Off to the dining room, she went to sit with Chicago as she ate her breakfast.
Of course, regarding why Mommy had to kick that guy, Fiona found herself explaining the situation yet again, her face adorned with a smile.
But inside, she was thinking that this morning's kick was perhaps too gentle.
What was Darwin thinking?
He was content with her sleeping in his arms, but in the middle of the night, he transferred both Charles and Chicago to the toddler bed.
When Chicago heard they were heading to the Solomon Building, her eyes suddenly sparkled, and she gobbled up her breakfast.
Then she hurried back to her room to change her clothes.
"Do you really want to see Daddy that much?" Fiona leaned against the doorway of the closet, arms crossed, a warm smile on her face as she asked Chicago.
Chicago hummed twice in response, "Nope, Mommy got it wrong. I want to see the ladies in his office. They're so nice, and they give me candies."
"Is that so?"
Fiona paused for a moment.
The only place in Darwin's office that might have 'ladies' was the executive suite.
Before her time at Solomon, Darwin's executive suite was a sea of men.
About a month after she started, all the men, except assistant Clarke, were reassigned.
Darwin didn't bring in new people, letting her choose and arrange as she saw fit.
Of course, she picked the pretty ladies.
After that, Solomon's top floor was awash with color.
Except when Darwin was around, the place was rarely dull.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice that Chicago had already changed.
Chicago was growing up, and her interest in dresses had waned.
Today, she donned a pair of overalls.
In front of the mirror, she carelessly tied her hair into a braid.
Then, suddenly sighing heavily, her head drooped, and her shoulders slumped.
"What's wrong?" Fiona inquired.
"Why hasn't Uncle Stuart come back? Braiding hair is so hard," Chicago muttered, a frown on her face.
Fiona's eyes flickered for a moment.
Then she approached Chicago, "Mommy will help; how about a simple ponytail instead?"
Chicago nodded.
What else could be done besides a ponytail?
Mommy couldn't braid hair either.
"Mommy, when is Uncle Stuart coming back? Is he still on a special mission? I send him videos, and he never picks up," Chicago lamented from her stool, "Does he know that I miss him?"
Fiona's eyes lowered, hiding the sorrow.
If Chicago knew she'd never see Uncle Stuart again, it was unimaginable how much she'd cry.
"Uncle Stuart surely knows. He loves you very much, and he's well aware of that," Fiona managed to keep her tone upbeat.
Chicago nodded. Though she received no replies from Uncle Stuart, she still sent him voice messages every day.
That's what she believed.
Uncle Stuart made sure that, even on duty, he wouldn't miss a single day of her life.
Fiona meticulously tied Chicago's hair into a ponytail, securing it with a clip that matched her overalls perfectly. She couldn't help but feel her skills were a far cry from Stuart's deft touch.
"Beautiful!" Chicago, ever the enthusiast for Mom's creations, heaped endless praise.
"Mommy is amazing. Those are such skillful hands! If only I could have Mommy do my hair every day!
"Mommy has the best taste in hair clips; I love this one the most!"
Bathed in compliments, Fiona made her way downstairs.
Burl had hastily groomed himself and was slumped on the couch, dozing off. When Charles noticed Fiona descending, he woke Burl up, and soon, the family headed out the door.
The destination Thalassa needed to reach was in the opposite direction from Fiona's, so she hopped into his car.
"Drive safe," Fiona cautioned from outside the vehicle. "If you're getting harassed and are too shy to call Kenny, call me."
"Will do." Thalassa nodded, grinning at Charles and Chicago as she waved goodbye. "Babes, have fun!"
Chicago called back with a loud yet sweet voice, "Godmother, you have fun all day too!"
Thalassa laughed heartily in response, then drove away.
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