Love Unspoken

Alexander set Brandy down and pulled Quinn into a hug. "Hey, don't be mad. Have you eaten yet?" he asked.

Quinn shook her head. "Not yet. I was with Sprout."

Alexander glanced at Sprout, who was still trying to feed himself but not having much luck. "You go eat. I'll watch him," he offered. "Have you eaten?" Quinn asked.

Alexander nodded. "Yeah, I ate on the plane. Go ahead," he reassured her.

Feeling relieved, Quinn headed to the dining room. Good thing Alexander had eaten; Briar had only prepared one serving, which wouldn't have been enough for both of them. After eating, Quinn came back to the sofa and saw that Sprout had almost finished his meal, with Alexander wiping his mouth.

Sprout didn't seem to miss Alexander much after the long separation, unlike Brandy who clung to him. He squirmed in Alexander's arms, clearly not wanting to be held. Seeing Sprout struggle, Alexander put him down.

Sprout stood up, wobbling as he walked towards Quinn.

Alexander watched him, a bit dazed, feeling like he'd been away forever.

Quinn sat down beside him and sighed, "When you left, Sprout couldn't walk. It's only been two months, and now he's walking on his own."

"Yeah, time flies," Alexander replied.

Quinn felt it too-days seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Before she knew it, Sprout was already over a year old.

They sat on the sofa, staring at each other in silence.

Quinn suddenly asked, "Why'd you come back so suddenly? No heads-up?"

Alexander smiled. "Wanted to surprise you."

Quinn looked at him skeptically. "Did you bring a gift?"

Alexander was caught off guard, then smiled. "I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

Quinn rolled her eyes.

Alexander had left in such a hurry that he didn't have time to get a gift, nor did he think about it.

"So, what's the real reason?" Quinn pressed.

"Nothing, I just missed you and wanted to come back and see you," Alexander insisted.

Quinn didn't want to argue. He never seemed to tell the truth. It was obvious he came back on a whim, yet he insisted it was because he missed her. "Forget it. You must be tired. Go wash up and get some rest," Quinn said.

Alexander nodded and went upstairs.

Quinn watched him go, sighed, and then noticed Sprout heading towards the stairs.

Sprout couldn't climb stairs yet, but he was trying. Quinn quickly ran over to pick him up.

If she didn't keep an eye on him, he'd get into everything.

Sprout babbled in her arms, and Quinn said, "Alright, let's go find Daddy. Didn't you just not want him to hold you? Now you want to find him." Sprout seemed to understand a bit and grinned.

Quinn called Brandy upstairs.

Alexander was in the shower. Quinn took off Sprout's outer clothes and wiped his face with a wet wipe.

Then she found a new set of clothes and helped him change.

By the time she was done, Alexander had come out of the bathroom in a champagne-colored robe. He glanced at Sprout. "Does he need a bath?" "No, he had one yesterday. Go help Brandy wash up," Quinn replied.

Alexander nodded, called Brandy over, and took her to the bathroom to help her wash up.

Quinn watched Alexander gently help Brandy in the bathroom. It felt surreal; his return was so sudden.

She held Sprout and took out her phone to call Calvin.

She knew Alexander had gone to see Calvin. Now that he was back, did it mean things were resolved?

But after waiting for a while, the call didn't go through. Quinn frowned and dialed again.

The phone was still off.

She put down Sprout and went to the bathroom door. "How's Calvin?"

Alexander was wiping Brandy's hands. He paused for a moment, then said casually, "Don't worry, he's fine."

"I just called him, but his phone is off," Quinn said.

"Maybe his phone died. Don't worry," Alexander reassured her.

Quinn studied his face but didn't see anything suspicious. She pondered for a moment and didn't ask further.novelbin

After a while, she tried calling Calvin again, but still no luck.

She gave up and decided to try again tomorrow.

Alexander came back to the bed with Brandy and sat next to her. Looking at the two kids, he asked, "They're getting big. Shouldn't they sleep in the next room?" Quinn was taken aback and turned to look at him.

Alexander's eyes were sincere, as if he genuinely thought the kids were old enough to sleep separately.

However, Quinn wasn't fooled and suspiciously asked, "How are they big enough?"

"Aren't they?" Alexander replied.

"Then ask them if they want to. I have no objections," Quinn said.

So, Alexander turned to the kids. Brandy could understand. She knelt beside Alexander, hugging his arm, looking very reluctant.

Sprout didn't understand and was playing with his feet on the bed.

Alexander said to Brandy, "Brandy, go sleep in the next room with Sprout, okay?"

Although Brandy was reluctant, she nodded sensibly.

Alexander patted her head and smiled. "Good girl."

Hearing Alexander's praise, Brandy smiled.

After a while, Alexander called Briar in and asked her to take the two kids to the next room to sleep.

Sprout was unhappy and struggled in Briar's arms, making protesting sounds.

Alexander frowned. "Sprout has quite a temper."

Quinn couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, he changes every month. He's quite something now."

Alexander said, "Take him out."

Briar hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and took Sprout out. As soon as they were outside, he started wailing.

Quinn felt uneasy and was about to say something when Alexander, as if reading her mind, said, "Don't spoil him." Quinn had to give up.

Brandy also went out, and once the door was closed, the crying became much quieter, though still faintly audible.

Quinn glanced at Alexander and worriedly said, "Will Sprout be okay?"

"What could happen? He'll stop crying on his own. The more you indulge him, the more he'll push his limits," Alexander explained. Quinn pursed her lips, wanting to argue but not knowing how.