Chapter 10
“Sir, I’ve tried messaging Mrs. Lawson but she hasn’t replied. I called her phone–she’s getting the calls, but no one’s picking up. She’s been missing for 24 hours now. Should I call the police?”
Mabel’s voice trembled with concern.
She still hadn’t come home…!
“Mr. Lawson, the meeting’s about to start,” Secretary Allen reminded him quietly from the side.\
Timothy barely looked up as he replied into the phone, “She’s only been gone a day. No need to make a fuss.““}
“Sir, I’m not overreacting. It’s just that Mrs. Lawson has never been away from home for this long before.“>
Standing, Timothy gathered his meeting files with one hand, his tone casual. “Henry is home. Where else could she possibly go? She’ll be back soon enough.” With that, Timothy hung up the phone.
“Sir-”
The call ended abruptly, leaving Mabel staring helplessly at her phone, the dial tone echoing her worry.”
At noon, Sheila had lunch delivered from The Silverthread Eatery, making a special trip to drop it off at Henry’s school.Z
The security guard informed Henry’s teacher, saying his mother was here to bring him lunch.
Hearing that his mom had come, Henry’s spirits instantly lifted.
He missed her cooking and sprinted out of the classroom, eager for a taste.}
But as he neared the school gates, a thought struck him–if the guard saw his mother and realized she couldn’t speak, word would spread, and he’d be the target of his classmates‘ teasing.
Just like that, his excitement for his mom’s homemade lunch vanished.
If only his mom had a voice as gentle as Miss Sheila’s–how wonderful that would be.
He turned, ready to head back to class.
But just then, the guard spotted him and opened the gate, letting Sheila inside.
After all, she was Mrs. Lawson; the staff wouldn’t dare be careless.
Sheila walked through the gates and spotted Henry right away.
“Henry!”
She greeted him with a bright, warm smile, approaching with a lightness in her step.
Hearing her familiar voice, Henry looked up. He was about to call out “Miss Sheila, but hesitated–he didn’t want anyone to overhear. So many people already assumed Sheila was his mother.
Still, he couldn’t help but run to her side, whispering, “Miss Sheila, why are you bringing me lunch today?”
“I didn’t have time to cook this morning. I felt bad, so I ordered lunch for you from The Silverthread Eatery.“! Sheila ruffled his hair affectionately.
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Taking the lunchbox, Henry asked tentatively, “Miss Sheila, will you bring me lunch again?”
“I can tomorrow and the day after,” she replied with a gentle smile, “but not after that.”
“Why not?“Z
W
Sheila chuckled softly. “Because the day after tomorrow, I’ll be leaving for Oakwood–I’m attending a comic convention there, and after that, I’ll be heading back
softly. home. I only came back early this time to see you and I your dad before the convention.”
Sheila couldn’t linger at the school, so after chatting a bit more, she said goodbye and left.
Thinking about her departure, Henry was overwhelmed with sadness. He pulled out his phone watch and called Timothy.
“Dad, did you know Miss Sheilalis leaving in three days?”
Timothy’s eyes darkened for a moment. “Yes, I know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I don’t/want her to go…”
Timothy paused, then asked, “Do you really like her?”
“Of course! I wish I could spend more time with her. But she said after the comic con in Oakwood, she’s going abroad. I might never get to see her again.”
Suddenly, Timothy changed the subject. “Would you like to go to the comic convention in Oakwood?”
Henry had loved animated shows since he was little, and if he went to the convention, he could spend more time with Miss Sheila.
Without hesitation, he blurted, “I’d love to!“M
“I’ll book the tickets soon. We’ll take a vacation in Oakwood for the holiday.”
Henry’s face lit up with excitement. “Dad, you’re the best!“*
