Chapter 254

“It is actually quite disconcerting,” Melanie said as she looked at the woman who could have easily passed for her twin.
“I’d say creepy,” Adam muttered under his breath as he shifted uncomfortably in the back of the classroom. “I mean, she looks too much like you. It’s not just a resemblance—it’s like someone copied and pasted your face.”
“You just think this is creepy because you’re sitting in a school again,” Melanie replied, her voice laced with amusement. “That’s all this is—a coincidence. A strange one, yes, but still a coincidence.”
Adam shook his head slightly. “I don’t like coincidences. Never have. Are you absolutely sure you don’t have a long-lost twin lurking around somewhere?”
Melanie scoffed. “Of course I’m sure. I think I would’ve noticed someone walking around with this face,” she said, gesturing vaguely at herself. Then, checking the paper in her hand, she added, “Alright, next up is us. Come on. Let’s act like everything is normal.”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s pretend that I’m not staring at my wife’s doppelganger, who—just to make things even more bizarre—is also going to be our future son’s… mother…” He trailed off with a grimace as Melanie shot him a pointed look. He quickly corrected himself, “… teacher . I mean, seriously—who even comes up with terms like ’mother-teacher’?”
Melanie gave him another warning glance, this one sharper than the last. Without another word, they both stood and stepped forward toward the teacher’s desk.
The woman looked up and smiled at them warmly—as though the uncanny resemblance didn’t even register to her. But before they could introduce themselves or say anything at all, she spoke first.
“I thought that once I saw you in person, I’d be able to spot some obvious differences between us. But… this is honestly unsettling.” She gave a short, nervous laugh before continuing. “When Adir first told me I looked like his would-be mother, I assumed it was some kind of corny pickup line—something a kid might say if he’d been raised by eccentric single parents. You know, the kind who teach their kids weird little icebreakers?”
She paused just long enough to make eye contact with Melanie before finishing with a shrug. “But then he showed me your picture. And it really was disconcerting—still is, to be honest. It’s like looking into a mirror I didn’t know existed.”
She gestured to the chairs in front of her. “Please, have a seat, Mr. and Mrs. Collins.”
While both the women kept their composures, Adam and Adir were not so composed. Adir was grinning at the two people in front of him while Adam had already narrowed his eyes, somehow not too comfortable with this new development. He really did not like his Melon’s face on anyone else.
“I’m Melody,” the teacher said, offering a friendly smile. “Melody Thomas. I know this has already been… strange. Believe me, I didn’t expect it to feel quite this surreal in person.”
“Well, you’re not alone,” Melanie replied, offering a polite smile of her own. “I’m Melanie. And this is Adam.”
Adam gave a brief nod of acknowledgement and nothing more.
Melody let out a small sigh, then looked down at the folder in front of her. “So, Adir Collins. He’s adjusting well, actually. Its usually too soon for us to say since it has only been a couple of weeks. But he is a smart kid. A bit quiet, but observant—and very polite. He seems curious about everything.”
Adir grinned at that and Melody shot him a smile and said,” Adir, why don’t you go there and catch up with your friends. They are observing the new frogs we’ve added to the pond.”
Adir’s eyes lit up at that and he turned towards Adam and Melanie looking for permission and then hurriedly raced away as soon as he had it. As soon as the child was out of ear shot, she explained,” I am sorry I had to send him away. I understand that his father is about to pass away and you are going to be his adoptive parents?”
Melanie nodded at that, carefully. They had already explained everything when they’d admitted the kid into this school. “Is something wrong?”
“Not wrong per se. It seems while Adir has whole heartedly accepted you as his mother, he has some sort of a reluctance to see Mr Collins as his father. Were you aware of this?”
Adam nodded at that,” Of course. Adir has grown up without a mother so for him to put Melanie in his mother’s place is not so difficult. But Patrick Collins…he was my adoptive father so I know that he is a great father. So, I can understand that he is a bit reluctant to replace him. Especially when he is still alive and sick.”
“I see. And I understand that you do not wish to pressurise him. But as part of our parent- student councillor, we feel that it is essential that he form a deeper bond with you. For which, we would like you to be at school for special activities on every Friday after the official timings. An hour each week at most. Please. I hope you understand.”
Adam frowned. Actually he was not too sure about this plan. Somehow, it felt like forcing Adir. The kid would acknowledge him as a father- if and when required. Why the need to force this. As for spending time together, they were already doing that with Adir spending more and more time together with them…
But before he could protest or say anything, the teacher went on to explain how this would be beneficial to Adir and how it would help them adjust to this better. That they had also made other parents part of this program to improve relationships between the parents and kids.
And that is how, Adam had no idea how he ended up signing up for the weekly activities with Adir despite having reservations about it. As he stood up and walked out of the class behind Melanie, he didn’t know why but he had a bad feeling…
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