Chapter 294 Are We a Family
Jeffery dashed out, eyes bright with excitement. "Mom, are we going now?"
Josephine knelt down to his level. "Sweetie, I need to tell you something."
"What is it?" Jeffery asked, curious.
Josephine took a deep breath. "There's an uncle who wants to come shopping with us."
"Is it Stuart?" Jeffery guessed.
Josephine blinked in surprise. "How did you know?"
"He's the only one who makes you feel uneasy," Jeffery said. "I don't mind, as long as you're happy."
His little face was so serious and caring.
Josephine hugged him tight. "Thank you, Jeffery."
"No problem," Jeffery chirped, giving her a gentle pat on the back. "You've worked so hard raising me. Do whatever makes you happy. I've got your back!"
Jeffery's maturity made Josephine both proud and a little sad.
Most kids his age just think about snacks and playtime.
But Jeffery was unique, and it tugged at her heartstrings a little.
She wished he didn't have to grow up so fast, but it was what it was.
All she could do now was make sure he was happy and loved every single day.
"I brought you into this world, so it's my job to take care of you," Josephine said. "And it's not hard because I love you. You can ask for things, be stubborn, say no. I'll always respect your wishes."
"I don't have anything I don't want to do," Jeffery replied. "As long as I'm with you, I'm good with anything."
Josephine kissed his cheek. "Me too. As long as I'm with you, I'm happy."
They changed clothes and got ready to head out. Before leaving, Josephine sent a quick message to Stuart.
Stuart was feeling jittery, waiting anxiously. When his phone buzzed, he snatched it up, feeling a mix of nerves and hope.
He took a deep breath, opened the message, and smiled.
Josephine said yes!
Jeffery was cool with it too!
Awesome!
Stuart was ready. He grabbed his coat and left the office.
When he got to the meeting spot, Josephine wasn't there yet. He got out of the car and waited by the curb.
He was excited but also super nervous.
This was his first time hanging out with them as a family, and he had no clue how to make Jeffery happy.
He had zero experience with kids.
Right then, he felt a pang of regret.
Andrew had always hoped for Josephine and him to have a child, but he had spoken unkindly in the past.
In hindsight, he wished he could kick himself.
If they had a child, that little one would be five or six by now, likely so cute.
But now, he could only look at Jeffery, Josephine's kid with Roy, and feel a twinge of jealousy.
He admitted it—he was really green with envy.
At first, he didn't see what was so special about Jeffery.
But his love for Josephine was unshakeable, so he told himself to give Jeffery a chance.
Because Jeffery was Josephine's son.
Half of his blood was hers.
When the accident occurred, Stuart realized that even if he perished, he couldn't allow any harm to come to Jeffery.
Because if something happened to Jeffery, Josephine would be devastated.
Luckily, everything turned out okay.
But that incident showed him just how smart Jeffery was.
At such a young age, he stayed calm in a crisis. How many kids could do that?
Stuart admired him, but the fact that Jeffery was Josephine and Roy's son still made him sad.
"Josephine!" Stuart called out, spotting her car.
He hurried over as she rolled down the window. "Hang on a sec," she said.
Stuart watched her park, then rushed to open her door. "Where's Jeffery?" he asked.
"In the back," she replied.
Stuart opened the back door and bent down. "Hey, Jeffery."
Jeffery's face was blank as he nodded. "Hi, Stuart."
Stuart felt a bit uneasy looking into those bright purple eyes.
Josephine reached over to help Jeffery out, but Stuart stepped in. "Let me."
Last time, during the incident, he had carried Jeffery. His feelings were mixed then, and they were just as complicated now.
"I can walk by myself," Jeffery said.
Josephine agreed. "Let him walk."
Stuart reluctantly put him down.
Josephine held out her hand, and Jeffery took it naturally.
Stuart watched, feeling a pang of envy. He wanted to hold Josephine's hand too, but he just stood there.
Then he heard a small voice. "Do you want to hold my hand?"
Stuart looked down to see Jeffery's big purple eyes staring up at him.
Despite his mixed feelings, Stuart couldn't deny Jeffery's striking looks. He must have inherited the best features from his parents.
Before Stuart could respond, Josephine said, "Jeffery, Stuart might not be used to it."
But Stuart had already taken Jeffery's small, soft hand.
"You don't have to," Josephine said. "I can hold his hand."
"It's fine," Stuart replied. "It's safer if we both hold his hands. Look, families usually do that."
He pointed, and Josephine saw other parents holding their child's hands at the supermarket entrance.
They looked like a family too.
Josephine glanced but said nothing.
Stuart felt a bit happy inside.
But soon, his happiness faded.
They were an eye-catching trio—Stuart tall and handsome, Josephine attractive, and Jeffery adorable.
As they walked, Stuart overheard people talking.
"Are they a family? They all look so good!"
"Probably not. The kid has purple eyes!"
"Yeah, maybe they're not a family?"
"Definitely not! That kid looks mixed-race! But he's really cute!"
Such comments stung Stuart.
He wished Jeffery's eyes were brown, that Jeffery was his and Josephine's son.
But that was just a fantasy.
Josephine heard the comments too. She picked Jeffery up. "I'll carry him. Too many people."
She thought this way, no one would question if they were a family.
Stuart snapped out of it. "Let me carry him."
Jeffery was quite a load, and toting him around would be exhausting.
Josephine looked at Jeffery. "Do you want Stuart to carry you? Or should I?"
Jeffery nodded. "I want Stuart to carry me."
Stuart felt flattered. He quickly took Jeffery and whispered, "Thanks."
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