Chapter 42 He Isn’t Your
Daddy
Ryder’s voice was tinged with a subtle concern as he repeated, “Will you?”
Renee’s response came sharp and firm, a definitive edge to her tone. “Felix is my son, and mine alone. He doesn’t need anyone else in his life.”
Ryder’s smile was light but meaningful as he replied, “Got it. Wrap it up as soon as you can. I’ll be waiting for you and Felix. Stay careful, alright?”
Renee let out a soft chuckle, her eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and challenge. “Mr. Chadwick, hasn’t it always been the mission before anything else for you?”
“Yes, but you’re an exception,” Ryder countered smoothly, his voice lowering slightly.
Renee’s heart skipped, but she masked her surprise, feigning ignorance of his implications and swiftly ended the call.
Her trip back to Tofral was mission-bound. After slipping into more practical attire,
Renee noticed Felix contentedly finishing his meal alone. His face was smeared with food, yet seeing his independent spirit, she felt a swell of pride and quickly helped him
into fresh clothes.
Felix’s curiosity bubbled over as he looked up at Renee with wide, questioning eyes. “Mommy, isn’t Ms. Myers coming to play with me today?”
It had been their routine since their return to Tofral-Felix confined mostly to his room, rarely venturing out. Today was different, and the absence of Alissa Myers, the babysitter who usually kept him company, seemed odd to him.
As she gently applied sunscreen to his delicate skin, Renee’s voice was soothing yet
distracted. “No, she won’t be joining us today. Instead, I’m taking you to meet someone
very special—your great-grandfather.”
Felix’s brow furrowed in confusion. He tilted his head, a crease forming between his young eyebrows as he pondered, but the puzzle remained unsolved. With a tentative
voice, he turned to his mother and asked, “Mommy, what is a great-grandfather?”
“Your great-grandfather is mommy’s grandpa,” she explained, her voice warm with memories. “He was an extraordinary, kind-hearted man.”
“Really? Do you think he’ll like me?” Felix’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and a hint of
hope.
“Absolutely! There’s no way he wouldn’t,” she assured him with a gentle smile.
If Johnny were still alive today and had the chance to meet Felix, the joy would undoubtedly light up his old, wise face.
That day, Renee was behind the wheel of a car rented under a false name. As long as she kept a low profile, no one would know it was her.
Johnny’s final resting place was in the martyrs’ cemetery. The moment Renee stepped through its gates, a solemn heaviness settled over her. Johnny had always been the soul of any gathering in life; now, surrounded by his fallen comrades, she liked to think he wasn’t lonely.
As they walked along the grave-lined paths, Felix bombarded her with his usual flurry of questions. Lost in her own somber reflections, Renee hardly heard him. Suddenly, Felix’s small hand tugged at her sleeve, and his voice, clear and louder, cut through her reverie. “Mommy, look, it’s that handsome man I saw before!”
Renee glanced in the direction Felix pointed, her eyes searching, but all she saw was a sleek black car gliding away into the distance.
Felix persisted, his voice tinged with urgency. “He’s in that car! Mommy, please, look!”
“Alright, Felix, calm down,” Renee replied, trying to soothe his excitement.
As they conversed, the gravestone of Johnny came into view. A short distance away, Renee’s eyes caught the sight of fresh flowers adorning the grave-unusual, since it wasn’t Johnny’s death anniversary or any special occasion. Her brow furrowed in
confusion.
It seemed unlikely anyone from the Carter family would extend such a gesture. Noticing several discarded cigarette butts littering the ground near the tombstone, she surmised it must have been one of Johnny’s old comrades paying their respects.
“Felix, come here, let’s say hello to your great-grandfather,” she called out to his little boy gently.
Felix approached and peered at the photo of Johnny mounted on the stone. Curiosity brightened his face as he asked, “Mommy, was great-grandfather a soldier like daddy?”
Renee knelt beside him, her expression softening. “Your great-grandfather was a remarkable man, even more impressive than you can imagine. And Felix, remember, we’ve talked about this-don’t call him daddy. He’s not your daddy.”
But Felix shook his head, his belief unwavering. “Mommy, no matter what, he’ll always be my dad-even if you’re not together anymore.”
A sigh escaped Renee’s lips as she looked at her son’s stubborn face. It tore at her heart -Felix’s insistence on calling Ryder his father stemmed from a fabricated tale of divorce rather than the truth. At times, she wondered if sparing him the harsh reality was a kindness, allowing him to cling to a semblance of paternal affection. In her heart, she knew she owed her son that much comfort.
