Chapter 3

Kevin slowly released the hem of Celeste's clothes.

"You promised Kevin you'd teach him how to make a kite during the open class," I reminded her.

"There'll be plenty of opportunities in the future," she responded flatly. "Iris was just ridiculed by her classmates over the way she addressed me. If I don't show up, it'll only make things worse for her."

"So, you're sacrificing your son's dignity to protect hers?"

Celeste scanned our surroundings. "Don't argue with me at school. It's embarrassing enough already!"

"Kai, I can ask Celeste not to go, but Iris' therapist said she can't be abandoned again," Jonah explained with red-rimmed eyes.

I looked him in the eye. "My son had three nightmares last night."

"Kevin has you by his side," he said. The moment the words left his mouth, he seemed to realize how inappropriate they sounded.

His expression stiffened, and he hurriedly added, "I mean, he's luckier than Iris."

Kevin suddenly looked up. "I can let Iris borrow Mommy for a day, Mr. Bellamy. However, she's already borrowed her for so many days."

He counted on his fingers. "My birthday, sports day, doctor's appointments, family day, and now… the open class, too. When will she give her back to me?"

No one answered.

…

After returning home, Kevin pulled a kite out of the cabinet. It was one he had made together with Celeste. The swallow's wings were crooked, and all three of our names were written on it.

He carried the kite into the living room. "Mommy, can you help me test it just once tonight? I can make one by myself tomorrow."

Celeste was busy assembling a model for Iris to use in the open class. Without looking up, she responded, "I'm busy. Go ask your father."

"But my teacher said Mommy has to teach me."

"Must you take every single thing your teacher says so literally?" Losing her patience, she reached for the glue and accidentally knocked his kite onto the floor.

Iris stepped on it with her shoes, snapping the bamboo frame in an instant.

Kevin let out a scream and shoved her.

Iris fell to the floor and burst into tears.

Jonah immediately rushed over and gathered his daughter into his arms. "Iris, are you okay?"

Celeste seized Kevin's arm. "Who taught you to push others?"

Kevin pointed at his kite, weeping. "She broke it!"

"Is an object more important than a person?"

"Mommy, you and I made this together."

"We can just make another one."

"You won't make another with me," he responded softly.

Celeste was visibly taken aback.

I picked Kevin up. "He shouldn't have pushed her. I'll teach him that. However, she stepped on his kite and broke it, so she owes him an apology, too."

After checking on his daughter, Jonah lowered his voice. "Iris didn't do it on purpose. Kevin was the one who got physical first. Why can't he apologize first?"

Celeste nodded. "Did you hear that?"

Kevin leaned against my shoulder and remained silent.

So, she reached out and forcibly took him from me. "Apologize to her right now. Don't make me repeat myself."

Kevin stiffened. Drop by drop, his tears fell onto her clothes. "I'm sorry."

Iris wiped away her tears and hid in Jonah's arms. "I won't forgive you unless you give me the kite."

Celeste picked up the broken kite. "Here, take it. It's already broken anyway."

Kevin thrashed wildly. "No! That's mine!"

Celeste was afraid he might fall, so she had no choice but to set him down.

He lunged at her to snatch his kite back, but a broken bamboo strip slashed a line of blood across his palm. I immediately took his hand in mine.

Celeste instinctively reached out, too, but Iris suddenly clutched her stomach and wailed. Jonah panicked and called out to her, "Hurry up and take a look at Iris, Celeste!"

Celeste's hand froze in midair. In the end, she turned toward Iris.

After applying a Band-Aid to Kevin's palm, I pulled out my phone and forwarded her the digital copy of the divorce agreement Mr. Preston had sent me. "Take a look at it when you have time, Celeste."

Celeste glanced at the title and immediately turned off the screen. "Are you threatening me with divorce?" Her tone was full of certainty. "I know you'd never want Kevin to grow up without a mother, and you wouldn't give up on this family either. So, go ahead and throw your little tantrum for a couple of days, but don't take it too far and teach our son the wrong lessons."

Having said her piece, she picked up a pair of scissors and, right in front of Kevin, cut off the corner of the kite with his name on it.