Chapter 47: Grandfather
Ryan Grant: "At The Imperial Garden. They invited me to play."
As the little guy spoke, his eyes were full of hopeful expectation.
Ordinarily, his pleading look would have made Caroline Whitman give in instantly.
But hearing that he wanted to go to someone else’s house—that was too dangerous.
Granted, The Imperial Garden was one of the most affluent residential areas in Kingsport.
Outsiders couldn’t get into the community without a resident’s explicit permission.
Besides, The Imperial Garden was too close to her own family’s home. She could easily run into her mahjong-addicted mother or her party-loving father.
Without batting an eye, she refused. "No, sweetie. You can’t go to other people’s houses. It’s too dangerous. We don’t know what kind of family they are."
Ryan Grant: "We’re not going to their house. The Imperial Garden has a little playground, and it’s really fun."
Caroline Whitman was skeptical. "How do you know more about The Imperial Garden than I do?"
Ryan Grant: "May told me."
"Mommy, can I, please? I’ll be on my best behavior."
"I promise I won’t wander off."
"They’re my first real friends here."
Ryan Grant had deployed his ultimate weapon: pestering.
Caroline Whitman gave him a sideways glance and asked casually, "What are May and Luke’s parents’ names?"
"May and Luke are twins. Their dad’s name is Gordon Lawson, and their mom is Megan Carson."
"..."
Caroline Whitman mentally scanned her databanks. The names didn’t ring a bell.
At least, the couple wasn’t among the Whitman family’s acquaintances.
As for whether Adrian Grant knew them, she’d have to ask the man himself.
So, Caroline Whitman passed the buck to Adrian Grant. "You’ll have to ask your father. You can only go if he says yes."
The moment he heard that, Ryan Grant immediately called Adrian Grant and explained the whole situation.
Adrian Grant was in his hotel room, having just finished an international video conference. He switched the phone to his other ear. "Gordon Lawson and Megan Carson? Never heard of them. The Imperial Garden..."
He paused. The distance between The Imperial Garden and his own family estate flashed through his mind. It wasn’t far.
He owned a house in The Imperial Garden, but he had no idea if Ryan Grant knew that.
"Daddy, can I please go? You’re not home, and Mommy and I are so bored. They’re my first friends! Please let me go."
Over the phone, Ryan Grant once again deployed his pestering tactics.
Clearly, just like Caroline Whitman, he was a first-time parent who was ill-equipped to handle a child’s wheedling assault.
Especially since they had been together, the boy had never misbehaved. He was obedient and sweet; aside from being a little clingy at times, he showed no signs of being a spoiled brat.
Naturally, Adrian Grant’s heart softened.
But, remembering the risk of their cover being blown on the last two occasions, he said, "If your mom agrees, then I agree."
Ryan Grant puffed out his cheeks. "Mommy said she’ll agree if you agree. Are you two in cahoots, teaming up to fool me?"
Adrian Grant: "..."
In the end, after Adrian Grant did a background check and confirmed the family posed no threat, he and Caroline came to an agreement and granted Ryan Grant’s request.
Caroline Whitman had one condition, however: when they were out in public, he was only to call her "Godmother," not "Mommy."
Ryan Grant blinked in confusion and asked why.
Caroline Whitman, having learned a thing or two from Adrian Grant, used the same line he had: she said she had made too many enemies in the past and it was best not to draw attention to her identity.
They were both beginning to understand why Ryan Grant was such an obedient child.
Or perhaps a more fitting description was that he was a sensible child who didn’t throw unreasonable tantrums.
As long as they gave him a reasonable explanation for something, Ryan Grant would nod and accept it, never asking "why" a second time.
They agreed to meet at nine o’clock on Saturday.
Ryan Grant arrived right on time, and upon seeing his friends, he happily ran over to them.
May Lawson: "Ryan, you’re right on time!"
Luke Lawson: "I was worried you weren’t coming."
Ryan Grant smiled. "I promised I’d come, didn’t I? Of course I’m here!"
Caroline Whitman stood off to the side, quietly watching the children chat.
And what do you know, exchanging a word here and there, the three of them really got a conversation going.
Seeing this other side of Ryan Grant—happily chatting with kids his own age—Caroline Whitman suddenly felt that coming today had been worth it.
"You must be Ryan’s guardian," Megan Carson said with a smile, stepping up beside her.
"For the past few days, my children have been telling me all about the new student in their preschool class and all the fun things that have happened."
Caroline Whitman smiled back, murmured her agreement, and returned the compliment by praising Megan’s children.
After a few more pleasantries, Megan Carson left, leaving a nanny behind to watch the children.
Caroline figured the other woman had come over personally for her children’s safety, wanting to see what kind of guardian Ryan had.
Now alone watching the children, Caroline Whitman didn’t dare wander off or get distracted.
It was a nice neighborhood, to be sure.
But that little rascal Ryan Grant was full of mischievous ideas, and she was afraid he’d repeat his old tricks and run off by himself to find a grandparent or two.
That was why she absolutely hadn’t dared to let Miss King bring him today; she had to come herself.
However, Caroline Whitman didn’t just stand there idly. She pulled out her phone and started taking pictures and videos of Ryan Grant playing with the other kids.
Ever since stumbling into motherhood, she found herself unconsciously pulling out her phone to capture every cute or happy moment with Ryan Grant.
Ryan Grant was absorbed in his play, and Caroline Whitman was happily absorbed in her filming.
The children’s playdate wasn’t meant to last long. It started at nine and was scheduled to end around eleven.
Then everyone would go their separate ways, back to their own homes and their own mothers for lunch and afternoon naps.
Caroline Whitman saw that it was about time to leave, but before she could even remind Ryan, the nanny was already gathering her two charges, telling them to say their goodbyes because it was time to go home for lunch.
After the goodbyes were exchanged, Caroline Whitman took Ryan Grant to get the car.
"Mommy, on days when we don’t have preschool, can I go play with May and Luke?"
"Of course, but you have to arrange it with them ahead of time," Caroline Whitman said, taking out a small towel and tossing it to him so he could wipe away his sweat.
The little guy was covered in sweat from playing, his face still flushed red with heat. He said happily, "Thanks, Mommy."
"Caroline?"
Franklin Whitman’s voice suddenly rang out from behind her, making Caroline Whitman jump.
Caroline Whitman spun around. Staring at the familiar face, she blurted out in shock, "Dad?"
"What are you doing here?" Caroline Whitman asked, instinctively trying to hide the boy behind her.
But to her dismay, Ryan Grant poked his little head out from behind her. His eyes lit up when he saw Franklin Whitman’s face, and he bounced out, shouting, "Grandpa!"
Caroline Whitman: "..."
’Somebody, please, save me!’
’I could just die right here.’
Franklin Whitman: "..."
Franklin Whitman stared at the little boy. He didn’t understand what was happening, but he was utterly, completely, and profoundly shocked.
’What the hell?’
’Grandpa?’
"What did you just call me?"
Franklin Whitman had actually spotted Caroline Whitman much earlier. He had come to The Imperial Garden to drop something off, and as he was leaving, he saw her walking out of the children’s playground with a boy. At the time, he thought he must have been mistaken.
Seeing that she hadn’t noticed him, he had patiently followed them for a little while.