"They have their birthdays on the same day? A coincident?" thought Avery. 1 Avery took her son's hand and walked toward the door.
A towering figure appeared before her.
Elliot was dressed in a black trench coat that made him look cold and distant. She was not sure if it was her eyes playing tricks on her, or if he really did look thinner.
After two seconds of hesitation, Avery decided to wish him a happy birthday. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Shea throwing herself at Elliot, and with her arms around him, she said, "Big Brother, here's your cake." Avery was standing right next to Elliot and heard every word Shea said.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Big Brother?!" she thought, "Did Shea just call Elliot big brother?" Avery scowled as she studied Shea.
Shea could sense Avery's glare, and she met Avery's eyes. Perhaps it was because of the stern expression on Avery's face, but Shea felt slightly nervous.
She wanted to invite Avery to share the cake, but she ended up choking on her words.
"You called him Big Brother?" Avery asked sharply. She had not intended to scare Shea, but she could not help how sharp her words sounded.
Startled, Shea hid behind Elliot, and he grabbed onto her hand tightly. "Don't be afraid, Shea. Let's go get some cake.” The two walked past Avery and stepped into the classroom.
When Hayden saw the dazed state his mother was in, he tugged at her and said, "Mom, let's go home." Avery looked away, readjusted herself, and left with her son.
When they were inside the car, Hayden noticed the frown on Avery's face and said, "Shea calls me big brother as well." Avery turned to look at Hayden as realization dawned upon her.
How could she forget that Shea was mentally disabled? Just because she called Elliot ‘Big Brother’, did not mean that he really was her brother. She had addressed Hayden in the same manner because to her, Hayden was older than she was. Perhaps she referred to Elliot as such for the same reason.
"Elliot's record does not mention that he has a sister,” Hayden continued.
Avery instantly snapped out of it.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"What am | fantasizing about?! It's impossible between Elliot and I!" she thought.
As she drove, she asked, "I thought that you don't like Shea. Why were you celebrating her birthday?" Naturally, Hayden was not going to tell his mother that he had done so because he had struck a deal with Elliot, so he remained quiet.
"I know that you are a kind-hearted kid. Shea is a poor woman, so I'm not mad that you celebrated her birthday with her." Hayden did not want to respond to anything related to Shea.
"Elliot's birthday is today as well." Hayden did not remember Elliot's birthday, and he had only realized it was today when he saw that there were two cakes in Shea's classroom. One cake had ‘Elliot’ written on it and the other had 'Shea’ on it.
"How do you know? Do you care about him that much? " Avery cast her son a sidelong glance. "Do you, by any chance, want to acknowledge him as your father?” "I don't need a father.” Avery felt slightly upset. "If only things aren't as complicated, | believe that you and Layla would be happier with a father." "I don't need one!" Hayden insisted stubbornly.
Elliot's image had taken root in Hayden's mind, and Hayden would never forgive him for it.
Elliot had brought Shea back home when he saw Rosalie and the family of her eldest son.
When Elliot saw them, displeasure filled his eyes.