Chapter 176: It’s Strange In Every Way
Todd let out a sigh and nodded. Looking at how anxious Wendy was, he quickly reassured her, "You don’t have to worry. Leah’s condition is under control. It is also part of the reason why you shouldn’t bring Leah to Lake City. She isn’t ready for long-distance travel. On top of that, the hospital that Leah goes to for regular checkups is in Rheinsville. You’ll be worried that you wouldn’t be able to return to Rheinsville in time for treatment if anything happens. Of course, there aren’t any recurrences of her illness. The doctor also mentioned that Leah was unlikely to have another episode of her illness. The reason for regular check-ups was only for preventive measures."
Wendy let out a breath of relief when she heard Todd’s explanation.
Suddenly, a brief memory flashed past Wendy’s head.
A young child lying on a sickbed, looking as pale as a sheet.
The young girl looked like she was only about aged one.
She looked at her mother with her big round eyes, shouting ’it hurts’ repeatedly...
The memory was blurry. Wendy tried hard to recall it but she felt her head aching.
Todd looked at her grasping her head. He knew that she was most likely recalling a sad memory.
Looking at Wendy in agony, Todd quickly held the hand she was using to clutch her head. He said with concern, "Don’t try to recall the past for now. The doctor earlier mentioned that you have to take it slow. The harder you try to recall your memories, the more pain you put yourself through. Don’t worry. Leah will be fine. I am telling you this not because I want you to recall the past. Nor do I want you to be upset. But I have to tell you because you’ve lost your memory and don’t remember anything,
and I have to leave Lake City soon."
"Will Leah really be fine?" Wendy asked, expressing her concern.
"She will be fine. Her next check-up is in three months’ time. That’s still a long time to go. Leah is your daughter. I only want to ask if you’d like me to bring Leah back with me. If I don’t, you’d definitely be fully recovered in three months’ time and you can bring Leah back to Rheinsville for her check-up. You should be able to make it on time."
Wendy had lost eight years of her memory and she didn’t know if she should let Todd take Leah with him.
"What do you think?" Wendy couldn’t decide so she asked for Todd’s opinion.
Todd didn’t want to make a decision on her behalf or place his ideas in her mind just because she’d lost her memory. But Wendy looked confused then.
Todd thought for a while before he tried to be as reasonable as possible by saying, "The biggest problem if Leah stays back is that it’s only a matter of time before Michael realizes that she is his daughter. But I think Michael is nice to you and Leah. He was kind to Leah in the past few days too. It might not be a bad thing if he finds out. Of course, it is your choice if Leah stays or leaves."
Wendy was in deep thought.
Her mind was empty, having lost all her memory.
She couldn’t decide if it was better to let Leah stay or leave. It would be a pointless decision.
Wendy pursed her lips in deep thought. She finally spoke after a long pause, "Ask Leah if she wants to stay or leave. If she wants to head back to Rheinsville with you, please do take care of her."
"You have a mentor in Rheinsville. He is, of course, my mentor too. You recognize our mentor as your godfather, and also Leah’s god grandfather. When you are not in Rheinsville, he is the one who helps to take care of Leah. So, even if Leah heads back to Rheinsville, I wouldn’t be the one taking care of her," Todd said frankly.
Wendy nodded, saying, "Regardless, thank you."
Wendy naturally had no memory of the mentor.
However, Todd didn’t mention much about him to her.
Jill was still in Lake City. She would tell her about Rheinsville in the future.
Todd briefly told Wendy everything important.
As Wendy gave Leah the power to decide, Todd went out of the sick ward and called for Leah.
Wendy made this decision because she wanted to keep Leah with her.
Leah was so young and she had always wanted to stay by Wendy’s side.
She came to Lake City then because she wanted to see her mom and brother. She was given a choice then. Why would she choose another option?
Leah entered the sick ward and ran to Wendy. She held Wendy’s hand, calling sweetly, "Mommy..."
"Leah, mommy wants to ask you if you’d like to go back to Rheinsville with Uncle Todd," Wendy asked.
Leah blinked, asking in reply, "Is mommy going back?"
"Mommy is not going back for now. I am going to stay in Lake City to recuperate from my injury," Wendy answered, holding her daughter’s delicate hand. She recalled that Todd told her Leah had a congenital disease. She felt a great sadness, as painful as if a boulder was pressing on her chest.
She was so young yet she suffered so much more than the other children.
"Then, Leah is not going back too. Leah wants to stay with mommy. Leah will be wherever mommy is at," Leah replied.
Todd wasn’t surprised at Leah’s answer.
He stretched out his hand and stroked Leah’s head. He smiled, saying, "You keep mommy company then. Uncle Todd shall leave Lake City first."
"Goodbye, Uncle Todd," Leah immediately waved goodbye to Todd.
As long as Leah could stay with Wendy, she didn’t care if she needed to leave anyone else.
Todd felt helpless. He smiled, teasing her, "You are so heartless. You called me ’daddy’ for the past few days and you aren’t sad one bit to part with me."
"Then..." Leah beckoned to Todd, looking at him attentively.
Todd squatted down cooperatively.
Leah gave Todd a quick peck on his cheek, saying cheekily, "Uncle Todd, Leah will come back to Rheinsville with mommy and brother to visit you."
Todd shook his head, chuckling while pinching her cheek.
Todd stood up and told Wendy, "I shall make a move first. I need to see a client in the neighboring city. I will be late if I don’t leave anytime soon."
"Go ahead. Don’t be held up," Wendy said.
He took out a folder from his bag and put it in the drawer. Before he left, he exclaimed, "Leah’s ID is in here. I’ve put it in the drawer. I am leaving now. You must cooperate with the doctor and receive your treatment. Get well soon."
"Alright. Take care," Wendy said.
Todd looked at Wendy and his smile faded gradually.
He then took a deep breath before he turned to leave the ward.
Michael had been guarding outside the ward.
He nodded politely at Todd when he came out.
Todd nodded in reply, saying, "Mr. Lewis, I am making a move. We may work together if there’s an opportunity in the future."
Looking at Todd’s extended hand, Michael shook it, saying, "Sure."
Todd bid farewell to Jake and Mary before he left.
Michael looked at Todd’s back as he left and suddenly recalled something.
He left by himself.
Didn’t he bring Leah with him?
Michael rushed into the ward. As expected, he saw Leah staying by Wendy’s side... Todd did leave his daughter here. Why... does it feel so strange?
Even if Wendy and Leah were like mother and daughter, they weren’t really mother and daughter after all.
Todd was the biological father who brought his daughter to Lake City and didn’t bring her back with him when he left but let her remain with Wendy.
He found it strange no matter how he thought about it.
