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Chapter 22: Let Stella Come to My House
Chapter 22: Let Stella Come to My House
All the conditions had pointed out that Noah was diagnosed with autism.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ask it.” Hayden apologized sincerely. “How about this, in order to show my apology, why don’t I treat you the meal today?” Joseph’s mind was pulled back from his thoughts and seeing her anxious look, he realized his attitude just now was slightly rude. Having remembered her saving Noah back then, he softened his voice and explained, “Noah can speak, it’s just that he doesn’t like to.” Hayden nodded and did not ask anymore.
Meanwhile, Noah was sitting amidst a sea of colorful balls. Having lost track of Stella’s whereabouts, he frowned and looked apprehensive. Suddenly, something exploded before him and the balls all scattered everywhere. Stella shot up from beneath the balls and stared at him while laughing. “I’m right here!” Noah was obviously shocked. He was stupefied as if it was the first time someone had ever played with him like that.
Feeling slightly startled, Stella asked, “What’s wrong, Noah?” Noah shook his head and suddenly held her hand. He pointed at the dining table’s direction, signifying that he wanted to return. Although Stella did not have enough fun yet, seeing Noah’s frightened look, Stella nodded understandingly. “Are you hungry? Let’s go back.”
Noah insisted to sit beside Stella during their meal no matter how Joseph warned him. Luckily Stella was carefree enough that she straight away went to the place beside Joseph and said with a childish voice, “Since Noah likes my mommy that much, I’ll let him sit beside mommy. I can sit here.” Seeing Hayden did not show any dislike, Joseph then let him be.
Examining the adorable little girl beside him, he inexplicably thought her looks to be appealing. “His name’s Noah Beckham,” Joseph introduced. Stella nodded obediently and a question popped out into her mind. She then asked, “Oh yes, how old is Noah? What if he’s younger than me?”NôvelDrama.Org content.
“He’s five. His birthday falls just one day before the Moonlight Festival.” Having heard that, Hayden’s look froze. Just before Moonlight Festival? What a coincidence that he actually had the same birthday as Stella. “What about you?” Seeing Joseph asking her back, Stella scratched her head and looked towards Hayden for help. She could not remember her birthday as she was just a five years-old kid after all. Not knowing why, Hayden deliberately lied that Stella’s birthday was one month before her actual birthday. “Stella’s birthday falls on 14 September.” Joseph no longer asked anything about that as if he just asked it without any purpose.
During their meal, Stella and Noah both had same preference for taste : both of them liked sweet foods. When the last desert was served, Stella ate hers in great delight while Noah ate his silently. But from his clean desert plate after finished eating, he seemed to enjoy it very much. Children always had immense energy and spirit. Both of them ran to play at the children corner again after finishing their meal. Hayden and Joseph waited for them for some time while keeping each other company. Hayden was composed at first, but as their waiting time got longer and longer, she started to look at the time frequently.
She then reminded Stella for the umpteenth time, “Stella, it’s time to go home.” Stella looked up from the sea of balls and glimpsed at her. “No, I still want to play with Noah for a while.”
“Stella Downey.” Whenever Hayden called Stella’s full name, it usually meant she was on the verge of explosion. That worked well during normal days, but not knowing when had Stella gone bold today, she dared ignoring her and continued to play battling games with Noah in the sea of balls. Hayden finally went down and dragged her out. “Do you know what the time is now? You should go home with me now, Stella.” One of Stella’s arms was grabbed and she immediately used her other arm to snatch Joseph’s trouser leg. “Help me mister.”
Joseph had already planned to keep his son company in the first place as he played and he did not care how long he played, not to mention he found that the little girl to be especially appealing. He then scooped her up and carried her in his arms, saying blandly, “Kids like to play, why not just let them play
a little longer?” Stella put her arms around his neck and made a face at Hayden. “Mommy, since you have nothing to do back home, why don’t you chat more with mister to improve your relationship!”
Hayden almost coughed blood hearing her words. “What nonsense are you talking about, Stella Downey? Get down here…I’m sorry Mr. Beckham, I’m not hitting you…” Stella clung onto Joseph like an ape and refused to get down. Hayden used to pat her butt to threaten her but her trick did not work now that she had Joseph’s huge support. After causing a commotion due to their quarrels in the restaurant, Hayden then gave up and stood there angrily, looking aggrieved. “Mr. Beckham, I think it’s better you put her down. I’ve been lack in disciplining, and I’ll lecture her when we return.”
“It’s okay.” Joseph let out a rare smile. “Stella is actually quite adorable, she’s just active. And it’s rare that she could play so well with Noah.” Stella was sensitive enough to hear his words; she then immediately crawled into the pool via the ladder. “Then could mommy bring me to Noah’s house next time?” With a livid look, Hayden gritted her teeth and spoke, “Stella, Downey!” How could an intern worker like her visit Joseph’s house that casually? “Mommy, I’ll go home with you if you agree.”
As Hayden was going to use the hard way to bring Stella home, Noah who was at the side quickly took out a stack of sticky notes from his bag and raised it up after writing something on it. He let Joseph saw what he had written and it turned out it was: Let Stella come to my house.
Joseph was startled as Noah had rarely requested anything from him, not to mention anything regarding making friends. Having remembered the psychiatrist mentioning the necessity for an autistic child to form more connections with people, he became indecisive. After a moment of considerations, he then said with a serious look, “Why don’t I send someone to pick you up next Saturday? You can come over to my house with Stella.”
Hayden’s eyes bulged and she exclaimed, thinking she had heard something wrong. Yet Stella had already started to cheer up and was as happy as a lark. She landed on the ground after escaping from
Joseph’s arms and seized Noah’s hand, forcibly giving him a high five. “Hurray…I can go to your house now Noah.” Since Joseph had given his invitation, it was inappropriate for Hayden to reject the offer and she then acquiesced. The only thing to be glad was the kids finally agreed to leave the Japanese restaurant. Hayden had a feeling that every restaurant staff would soon know her if she stayed there any longer.
After getting out of the shopping mall, Joseph’s chauffeur drove the car over and it was unusual for Joseph to be such a gentleman. He rumbled, “I’ll send you back.” Without waiting for Hayden to reject, Stella strode forward and scrambled onto the back seat of the car, sitting inside the car and waved at Hayden. “Mommy, come in! It’s comfortable in here!” Hayden put her hand on her forehead feeling speechless. Her instinct told her that after today, Joseph would think she was an irresponsible parent that was greatly inept in educating her child!