Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?



"Really?" Francis paused, then hurriedly followed, "You know? So who was Ms. White calling?"

"I'm not telling you!" James lifted his little head proudly, "You didn't even offer to walk her home!"

"My bad."

Francis quickly admitted his mistake, "Next time, I'll definitely be more 'assertive', okay?"

"..." James pondered for a moment, "Alright then, I'll tell you... Ms. White, she..."

What? Francis held his breath. Could it be she has a new boyfriend? Or, did she get back together with Eddy?

James' eyes curved into a smile, "She went over to Jenna's place."

Oh.

Francis realized, Sherilyn had been away from Sunhaven lately, and he knew about it probably because Gilbert had told him.

Even though the two brothers were not living together anymore, their bond hadn't diminished at all.

So, Rebecca White went over to Sunset Ridge Community to keep Jenna company because Sherilyn wasn't around?

Francis breathed a sigh of relief, that was good to hear.

"Dad!"

James grabbed his hand, shaking it, his chubby palm spread open in front of him.

"Lemme use your phone for a bit."

"For what?" Francis raised an eyebrow, not agreeing immediately.

James asked, "You got Ms. White's number, right?"

"Yeah, I do."

"See, it's raining cats and dogs, and since you didn't walk her home, don't you think you should check if she got home safe?" Despite James being a little guy, his logic and understanding of social cues were on point.

And he even added, somewhat complainingly.novelbin

"I don't have a phone, so I can only borrow Dad's."

"You're quite the caring one." Francis thought for a moment, "Later, when you need it, I'll give it to you."

"Stingy!"

James turned and walked off.

Francis shook his head with a chuckle. His son was still young, and he tried to limit his solo exposure to electronic devices.

After dinner and a bath.

James, in his little froggy pajamas, came looking for his dad.

"Dad, the phone!"

"Here."

Francis unlocked the phone, opened up the messaging app to Rebecca White's chat, and handed it over. "Thanks, Dad."

James held the phone, he couldn't type, so he sent a voice message.

"Ms. White, did you get home okay?"

Soon enough, Rebecca White replied. To match James, she also sent a voice message.

"Got home, thanks, James. Shouldn't you be heading to bed?"

"Yeah, gonna sleep soon. You should go to bed early too, Ms. White, goodnight, mua!"

He even added a little kiss at the end.

Francis, listening in, couldn't help but twitch his mouth.

"Is that really appropriate? Wouldn't Ms. White find you forward?"

Thinking his son might not understand 'forward', he tried a different word.

"Like, frivolous."

James shook his head, "Nah!"

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Rebecca White replied.

"Goodnight, mua!"

"See?"

James looked triumphantly at his dad, "Ms. White didn't think I was frivolous at all. She likes me."

"Clearly." Francis laughed, "I underestimated your rapport."

He bent down to scoop James up, "Time for bed, off you go."

"Mhm!"

Leaning against his dad's shoulder, being carried back to his room and placed on the bed, listening to his dad read a story, James quickly fell asleep.

Francis tucked his son in, turned off the light, and left the room.

Back in his own room, he picked up his phone.

Almost without thinking, he

unlocked it and pulled up the chatet

with Rebecca White, playing her last voice message.

"Goodnight, mua!"

He listened, then played it again.

"Goodnight, mua!"

Over and over, several times.

Holding the phone, Francis laid back on the

sed, the phone pressed to his Voitening to Rebecca White's

ear,

swno

voice.

His other hand lifted, gently touching his lips.

That was where, earlier that night on the couch, Rebecca White had 'kissed' him... Listening to her repeated 'mua', it felt as if she was kissing him, again and again.