Chapter 600
Chapter 472
On Friday night, Maggie received a call from Isabella, who said she wanted to come over later.
Maggie was having dinner with the Miller family at the time.
Before she could respond, Old Mrs. Miller answered for her with a warm, “Of course she can come.”
The next day, Maggie, Isabella, and the rest of the Miller family went out together and didn’t return home until evening.
Isabella was still full of energy even after a whole day out. On the drive back, she leaned toward Maggie, phone in hand, smiling brightly.
“Mom, I want to go back next time and play with the little turtles again!”
On her screen were photos of them catching baby turtles and giving them a “bath.”
Maggie glanced at the pictures. “Mm.”
Isabella wasn’t tired at all, but Maggie was.
The girl must have noticed, because she settled down obediently and said, “You can rest, Mom.” Then she went right back to her phone, texting with
someone.
Maggie didn’t think much of it and turned her gaze away.
Isabella had sent most of their photos from the day to Franklin.
At that moment, Franklin and Julia had just finished dinner.
When Isabella’s message came in, Franklin opened it and scrolled through the pictures.
Julia came out of the restroom and froze for a moment when she saw him looking at his phone.
The photos were mostly of Isabella and Maggie, but in every picture, Maggie looked radiant. She was smiling, relaxed, beautiful.
Franklin seemed to be focused on Isabella, but Julia could tell his gaze lingered too long on the parts of the photo where Maggie appeared.
When he noticed her return, he locked his phone and said lightly, “You’re back?”
“Mm. Let’s go.” Julia picked up her purse, tone even. “Those are from Isabella? She looks like she had fun today.”
“Yes. They went to a resort.”
As they walked out of the private dining room, Franklin replied to Isabella with a short voice message:
[The pictures look great. But no matter how much fun you had, you still need to go to class tomorrow.]
Isabella pouted when she heard it, but still typed back obediently:
“Okay, I know.”
Julia slipped her hand into Franklin’s as they walked. “Franklin,” she said softly, “I want to go somewhere tomorrow. Come with me?”
Franklin paused. “When?”
“Tomorrow morning.” She smiled faintly. “About Isabella… maybe she can stay where she is for the day?”
Chapter 472
Franklin didn’t ask where Julia wanted to go, nor did he question keeping Isabella waiting.
He simply said, “All right.”
A few minutes later, he sent Isabella another voice message:
[Something came up. I can’t go with you to class tomorrow.]
When Isabella received it, she turned to Maggie with a little frown.
“Mom, Dad says he’s busy tomorrow and can’t take me to class. Will you come with me?”
Maggie hesitated, brows drawing together, but before she could answer, Isabella climbed into her lap, pleading softly.
Old Mrs. Miller, watching from the side, took it as a good opportunity. “Maggie, since you don’t have anything planned tomorrow, why not go with her?”
“…All right,” Maggie said at last.
The next morning, Maggie got up early and accompanied Isabella to class.
When the lesson ended, Isabella had another group activity to attend, and Maggie stayed to watch her through that too.
That evening, they
returned to the Miller house for dinner.
Afterward, Isabella started getting ready to go back to Franklin’s place since her school was closer from there.
But when she called him, Franklin told her he was out of town and wouldn’t make it back that night;
He told her to stay at the Miller residence instead.