Chapter 328
Jonathan couldn’t help but reflect on why he was always so suspicious. Michael was just outgoing, Snapping out of his thoughts, Jonathan turned to Teresa and said, “Next time, show off a bit. I want to try your cooking.”
Teresa laughed, “Oh, I wouldn’t dare. My skills can’t compare to yours, Chef Lynn.”
“That’s right, I can vouch for that,” Michael chimed in. “Mr. Lime’s food is the best. Mr. Lime, when are you going to cook for us again?”
Jonathan’s gaze landed on Teresa. “Ask this lovely lady. It’s up to her when I get to cook again.”
“I still need to grab some soy sauce and olive oil,” Teresa said, already walking ahead on her own.
Before long, they’d piled the cart high with groceries. Most of them were picked out by Michael.
Usually, when he went shopping with Teresa, Michael hardly ever took so much. Partly because he didn’t want Teresa to spend too much, and partly because he knew she couldn’t carry it all by herself.
But today, with Jonathan there, Michael went all out, like he’d just scored a buffet pass. He wanted this, and that, and everything in between.
“Mr. Lime rules!” Michael cheered, both arms raised high, loaded with goodies.
As Teresa unloaded the cart at the checkout, the cashier scanned each item and smiled. “You three look like such a happy family.”
Teresa’s hand froze mid–motion as she picked up the items, her head lowered to hide the swirl of emotions on her face–something Jonathan didn’t
catch.
Jonathan pulled out his phone to pay, but the cashier smiled, “Hey handsome, want to sign up for a membership card? You’ll earn points for future purchases. You can redeem them for gifts, and some items are even discounted for members.”
Jonathan didn’t want to give out his personal number, so he glanced at Teresa. “Just use my wife’s number.”
Teresa understood why Jonathan didn’t want to share his number, so she gave hers. “I’ll pay for this.”
“No need,” Jonathan said, turning to the cashier. “How much is it?”
“It’s 2267 dollars. Would you like a shopping bag? They’re fifty cents each,” the cashier replied.
Jonathan nodded. “I’ll pay.”
But Teresa had already pulled up her payment code, beating him to it. “Let me pay.”
The sound of a toy hammer echoed as Michael banged away with his new toy, then declared with a final whack, “I’ve decided. Mr. Lime will pay. He and I are best buddies.”
Teresa was speechless.
The cashier couldn’t help but laugh. “You two really split things down to the last detail. Isn’t it all the same who pays in a family?”
As more people started lining up behind them, Teresa zoned out for just a few seconds, and Jonathan had already paid.
“All you need to do is hold Mike’s hand,” Jonathan said, grabbing both big shopping bags and the two smaller ones himself.
“Let me take a couple of the smaller ones,” Teresa said, worried he might get tired carrying everything.
Jonathan shook his head. “No need.” He loaded everything into his car first. “I’ll drop these off at your place. Is Mike staying with you?”
“Yeah, my friend hasn’t come back from Jarisburg yet, so he’s with me for now,” Teresa replied.
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Chapter 328
Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Does she not have any other friends besides you?” He couldn’t help but wonder why Teresa always ended up looking sân
Michael
Teresa stared at his face, hesitated as if she wanted to say something, then lowered her head and stayed quiet. She turned around, ready in call Micha
over to the cat.
Michael, being quite proactive, climbed right into Jonathan’s car. “I want to ride in Mr. Lime’s carl”
Teresa was speechless.
Once Michael was in the car, he refused to get out. Jonathan told Teresa not to argue with him and started the engine. Since Teresa had driven herself, she ended up driving home alone.
By the time they got back, Michael was already fast asleep in the car. Teresa carried him inside.
Jonathan opened the trunk and started unloading the bags. First came the fruit he’d bought for Teresa, and then all kinds of meat.
After putting Michael in his room, Teresa came back out to find the living room piled high with bags of all sizes, like it was New Year’s.
“I’ll wash the ribs and get them stewing for you. That way, when you wake up tomorrow, you just need to turn on the stove and heat it up. It’ll be ready to
eat.”
Jonathan was a pro at making soup. Teresa knew that. As much as she craved his cooking, she held back. “No need, I can do it myself. Isn’t it just adding some water? I can handle that.”
Jonathan chuckled. “Just add water, huh? And here I thought you were some kind of chef. So, making rib soup is just about dumping in water?”
“Isn’t it?” she replied, a little sheepish. She’d never made rib soup before. Usually she just cooked porridge or simple things like stir–fried tomatoes.
“If cooking were that easy, even a three–year–old could do it.” Jonathan had already walked into the kitchen, shrugged off his jacket, and opened the fridge. Inside were just some tomatoes, eggs, and potatoes–basic stuff.
Now Jonathan got what Teresa meant by “knowing how to cook.” Even making a simple sautéed vegetable was a stretch for her. “What’s this?” he asked, pulling out a small pack of baby pasta from the fridge.
Teresa’s eyes flickered and she licked her lips. “Michael likes pasta, so I learned how to make it for him.”
Jonathan put the pasta back. “So you learned to cook for Mike?”
Teresa didn’t argue, just braced herself and said, “I’m fine with takeout or eating out, but he’s just a kid. I can’t let him eat restaurant food every day.”
Jonathan went quiet, closed the fridge, and said softly, “If we ever have a kid, I think you’d make a great mom.” With that, he turned around and started stewing the ribs.
Teresa’s shoulders gave a little tremble at Jonathan’s words. By the time she realized it, the hair clip holding her hair had slipped and fallen to the floor. She bent down to pick it up,
But Jonathan reached out and grabbed it before she could.
“Thanks,” Teresa said, taking the clip back from his hand.
Jonathan pressed his lips together, his eyes fixed on her hair. His throat tightened. “Let me do it.” He opened the clip, gently gathered her hair, and pinned it back. In that moment, it was as if she was quietly nestled in his arms.
He thought back to the last couple of nights. It seemed like sweet words only slipped out when they were both completely lost in each othe refusing to let the moment pass, Jonathan wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her.
Sat, 24 May
Chapter 329
