Trapped with a Lawyer

The official state holiday came on the day Ella's cycle began. So she placed her arms around Samuel's neck and said, "No, don't. I'm on my period. Think about it. It's only going to be bad news if you do." Samuel sneered, "You never learn, Ella. Still remember how I treated you a moment ago? We can do it again."

He was such a bully. Ella rubbed her red cheeks and stared at him, "I'm your wife. That in itself should satisfy you."

She knew Samuel's desire was ardent. It would be better to say something nice to placate him.

"No, it doesn't, because you're reluctant. I'm not happy about it."

"That's because you treat Jerry badly. I'm not happy about it either. Don't you care about my feelings?" As she said this, she curled her lips in, ready to break down in tears.

Samuel gave in when he saw her looks and said gently, "Oh, Ella. How couldn't I care? Jerry is our son. I love him. You're thinking too much about this. It's okay, don't cry." Samuel counted on Jerry to be a protecting figure for his mother, and to his imagined sister. But he would need to say something nice to him if he was ever going to adopt this discipline. "Well, that's a relief." said Ella. Maybe in the future, if Samuel treated Jerry well, and all was merry, Ella would reveal the truth to Samuel - that Jane was his daughter.

Samuel still hung over her, making her almost out of breath, so she shoved him off.

He sidled onto the bed with much reluctance, trying to hug onto her heartily.

Then he looked at the time. It was past 2:30 am. Tucking her into the quilt, he kissed her forehead. "Good night, my daring."

"Good night." Ella yawned and closed her eyes.

A week before the Spring Festival, Ella finished her work ahead of time. Samuel joined her at the old house with Jerry and Jane.

Jane sat in the back seat of the car with Jerry. She wore a floral hat and said nothing, pulling faces at Jerry.

Samuel was driving. Ella looked at him and said in a jocose manner, "Hey, what will happen if we bring Jane to the old house too, heh-heh?"

He looked at Jane through the rear-view; she lowered her face in order to become invisible. He had seen Jane quite a few times, but every time he saw her, she played a different part, was wearing a false mask, or lowering her head.

He was always double-taking her when he saw her because he was never sure what she looked like exactly. He offered to bring her to the old house because he felt it was bad to leave a little girl at the villa alone.

"I'll explain it when we see the parents."

Ella asked curiously, "How?"

Jane was, in Samuel's mind, the child born of another man. Such things did not bode well in conversation. How could he just explain it away?

Samuel thought for a moment, and replied, blasé, "I'll say...that Jane is our daughter, of course."

The complications being as they were frightened Ella to an immeasurable degree. To hear Samuel speak of it all so calmly satisfied the gnawing anxiety around the issue. She relapsed into silence with this reply.

She smiled wide, and Samuel saw it, and became buoyantly happy too. In Samuel's eyes, Jane was a lovely girl, but a little quiet. He blamed it on the complicated family relationship. But he would know soon enough.

Then Ella came up with an important question, "What should she call you?"

A realistic question. He clenched the wheel for a moment, and thought, 'Never mind. As long as Ella is happy about it.' So he said, "It's all up to you and Jerry.

Any term is acceptable, as long as you both agree."

"Dad, could Jane call you dad the same as me?" asked Jerry with excitement, sensing it was the right time.

All of them were looking straight at Samuel, waiting for his reply. Jane was the most eager, having expected this moment for a long time.

Ella made her mind up. If Samuel agreed with Jerry, she would give him a big surprise.

Jane, still lowering her head, noticed the prolonged silence, and the obvious aversion Samuel had. She rolled her eyes and looked at Jerry askance. "Jerry, don't ask your dad to do that. It's gonna cause trouble."

Jane's thoughtfulness softened Samuel's heart. "That's okay, Jane. You can call me dad as Jerry does."

The three of them smiled with excitement when they heard Samuel's words.

Ella socked him with a wet kiss on the cheek. Jerry, complacently, slapped Samuel's back and acted all grown-up. "Well done, Samuel!"

Samuel had the same intoxicating effect on them, and being so exulted by his family made him ecstatically happy.

"Jane, call him dad," encouraged Jerry. Jane nervously fidgeted with her fingers.

"Is that okay, brother?" Could she

really call hindad? She was thrilled that she could finally call Samuel dad, without bringing shame on herself, Though there was still some misunderstanding, it was good catt him dad. She would be closer to him by it.

"Yes, Jane You can call me dad. I'm eager to have a lovely daughter just like you Jerry felt a little wrench of his heart when he heard this. Sure enough, she was his daughter in another life.

Samuel liked her a lot. It was in his nature to want a daughter so much.

Jane nodded her head, climbed forward in her seat, and called in a low voice, "Dad."

Samuel smiled. He couldn't explain the true joyfulness he experienced when Jane used the word. The little girl had nothing to do with him...and yet...he wondered. "Good girl," he replied.

So it came to pass that he would regard Jane as his real daughter, and treat her and Jerry equally.

The car was enveloped in an atmosphere of happiness as they drove up to the old house.

Vincent and Viola were making dumplings. Melody looked at them and remembered Samuel and Ella's visiting. She smiled happily.

"Mum, why are you so happy?" said Vincent once he'd finished one dumpling.

Melody cleared her throat, preparing to announce the news.

"Vincent and Viola, I have something important to tell you." She watched their happy expressions expectantly.

Rolling the dough with a wooden stick, Viola turned curious at their mother's silence. "Don't keep us guessing mom! Tell us!"

"Let me show you a photo first." She presented a photo to them from her phone.

The pair huddled together and looked carefully at the girl in the photo. She wore a hat and a bright smile. They couldn't help their good-natured laughter. "Whose child is this? She is so cute and happy." Viola felt like she was familiar after looking at her a lot.

But who did she remind her of? The name eluded her for a moment.

"Oh, she looks like Samuel when he was young." Vincent had a fairly good memory. She had a faint resemblance to the man when he was a child. Vincent's words reminded Viola. She remembered as well, "Yes. They look alike, it's true. It's as if they were cast from the same mould..."