Ellinor slung her phone aside after hanging up. She handed a napkin to Baber, whose face was smudged with food, and wiped his mouth before scooping him into her arms.
“Are you full now?”
Baber wrapped his arms around Ellinor’s neck and nodded. “Yep, I’m stuffed!”
Ellinor gently instructed him, “From now on, you’ve gotta learn to eat with a spoon on your own, kiddo. That way, you won’t go hungry even when there are no adults around.”
Baber looked up at Ellinor with a hint of insecurity. “You won’t always be with me?”
Ellinor smiled softly, avoiding a direct answer. “Your dad will always be there for you, but he’s so busy with work, he can’t be with you every day. So, you’ve gotta learn to stand on your own two feet, alright?"
Baber obediently nodded. "Okay! I'll try to be more independent and make Dad and you feel relieved."
Ellinor often conversed with him, and he started talking more. Though his words were sometimes unclear, Ellinor could understand him.
In reality, Baber was a smart kid. He was just held back by Xenia and her daughter, Patricia.
Suddenly, Baber mumbled into Ellinor's shoulder, "Can I call you mom?"
Ellinor was taken aback by the kid's words. "Uh… why do you suddenly want to call me mom?"
Baber said, "Dad said you're gonna be my mom and that I should listen to you and protect you when I grow up. He also said that there's my little sister in your belly."
Ellinor felt a bit uneasy. "When did he tell you this?"
"When we were on the mountain. You were asleep, and Dad told me when he wasn't sleeping."
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