CHAPTER 69

DAHAN-DAHANG humakbang si Crandall palapit sa may ibaba ng hagdan habang pababa naman kami ni Link. Ang ngiti sa mga labi niya ay parang nag-aalinlangan habang nakatingin siya sa anak namin.

He let out a deep breath when there was only one step between the three of us.

“H-Hi!”

Mahina ang boses niya nang batiin niya ako, at pagkatapos ay tiningnan niya rin si Link.

“Hi, buddy!”

Link didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he grabbed my hand that was holding his shoulder and looked up at me.

“Mama!”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Wasn’t he the one who got mad at you when we were at the mall?” tanong ng anak ko.

Muli akong napatingin kay Crandall. Pagkatapos ay umupo ako sa baitang para magpantay kaming dalawa.

“Sweetheart, ’yong nangyari sa mall no’ng nakaraan... It was just a misunderstanding,” sabi ko. “But...” Tumingala ako ulit kay Crandall habang mataman lamang siyang nakatingin sa aming mag-ina. When I turned to look at Link again, I smiled and gently squeezed his chin. “He’s your Papa. A