A Life Debt Repaid

Chapter 29
There was no reply this time.
Cordy pursed her lips and turned toward Richard.
“Your daddy is working overtime tonight. Would you like to come home with me?”
“Okay!” Richard actually appeared excited. “I would like to visit your home, Mommy
Cordy smiled and patted his little head adoringly.
Arriving home, she put on a cartoon for him while wondering what to cook for dinner
Although she had lived abroad for years, she was too busy trying to earn
a living to cook for herself. It was beef jerky when she did not have money, and takeout when she did.
And after thinking about it, she decided on takeout–
she would not have to worry about the food either when it was from an expensive restaurant
She sat beside Richard, making her orders solemnly
“Can I change the channel, Mommy?” Richard asked just then.
“Sure,” she said, and pointed at the remote lying just ahead.
Richard picked it up and started switching the channels, while Cordy continued to swipe through takeout
menus
It took a while before she finally put away her phone and saw that Richard had tuned in to a science channel, which was broadca
sting a program on astronautics.
“Do you understand that, Dicky?” she could not resist asking.
“Sure,” Richard replied, as if it was only natural.
And that was that.

They had dinner together at 7 PM.
Richard had certainly been taught well at home, being well–
behaved throughout the meal and even helping Cordy clean up the table afterwards. He then asked Cordy to watch TV with him,
picking a variety show channel this time.
It was a homely picture as they nestled on the couch together
“That is Zoe York!” Richard suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the star actress making an appearance on the show
Cordy smiled and asked offhandedly. “Do you like her?”
“Yes!”
“You have a good eye,” Cordy said–Zoe was certainly beautiful, and one of the few natural beauties in showbiz
“Daddy likes her too,” Richard suddenly added.
Is that so?”
“Yeah.” Richard nodded confidently.
With that, they kept watching TV until nine.
As Richard started to yawn, Cordy could not help texting John
[When are you getting off work?]
[He usually sleeps before 9.30 PM. Help him take a bath, and I’ll be there soon to take him home.]
[Okay.]
As Cordy put down her phone, she had this feeling as if she had been ordered around by John without any qualms.
Still, as she took Richard to the bathroom, she noticed his little flushed cheeks and teased, “Are you being shy?”
“I’ve never bathed with girls around,” he said.
Such a simple line, but it left Cordy feeling hurt.

The child had never seen his mother
“You don’t have to be shy, kiddo. Also, you won’t have girls bathing you when you’re older
“Yeah, Richard was still blushing, just as she remembered something. “Mommy, am I going to get bigger everywhere?”
“What?”
“Here.” Richard pointed at himself, between his legs.
Cordy could not help chuckling, “Of course.”
“Can’t I stay like this?”
“Of course not,” Cordy said, at once stern and amused.
“Then am I going to become as big as daddy?” Richard asked, even using his tiny hands to gesture his daddy’s size.
Cordy was speechless.
Was she supposed to put that into words?!