Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 62

From the far end of the street, who else could it be but Theodore?

He strode quickly to Cecilia’s side, genuine worry etched across his face, paying no attention to anyone else.

“What happened?” he asked, voice low with concern.

Cecilia’s lips quivered, and she put on her most helpless expression, clinging to his arm. “Theo, these people are picking on us just because we’re not from around here! There’s an open appointment slot right now, but even when I offered to pay ten times the price, they still refused! They’re just being awful!”

Theodore patted her shoulder reassuringly. “It’s alright. Let me handle it.”

But Cecilia pouted and twisted away, refusing to be soothed. “No! I want to book every single appointment slot today! Let them see: we’re not so easy to bully! Theo, I already told you–give each of these people-”

She swept her finger along the queue. “Give each of them a thousand dollars! We’re buying out the whole place. Tell them to leave!”

Theodore couldn’t help but laugh, eyes full of indulgence.

Emma watched this whole scene, finding it utterly absurd.

How could he look at Cecilia’s unreasonable demands and see something adorable? What exactly did he find so endearing about this?

Yet Theodore was clearly charmed; he reached out to ruffle Cecilia’s hair, grinning. “People usually rent out restaurants for a private meal, not a doctor’s office for an appointment. That’s not exactly a lucky thing to do, is it?”

In less than a minute, Theodore had already laughed at Cecilia twice, both times. completely genuine.

So this is what love looks like, Emma thought–so obvious, so undeniable.

She watched the hand that brushed Cecilia’s hair, remembering how it had once stroked her own, how it used to rest on her shoulder, how it had even held her close. A wave of discomfort washed over her.

But no matter how much Theodore doted on her, Cecilia was still dissatisfied, stubbornly tugging at his sleeve, sulking.

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Chapter 62

“I’ll take care of it,” Theodore soothed. “We just need one appointment; after we’re done, we’ll go pick out a gift, alright?”

He’d always been patient–patient even with Emma, and even more so with Cecilia.

Cecilia’s mood shifted at the mention of a gift, though she still pouted. “Then I want something expensive.”

“Whatever you want, as long as you’re happy.” Theodore’s eyes were filled with endless affection as he turned to the nurse. “Hello, my fiancée was just anxious, and I apologize if she was out of line. Since there’s an open slot, could we please have it? We’re from out of town, and it’s not easy for us to see a doctor here.”

Fiancée…

Emma quietly stepped out from behind Sebastian.

Throughout Cecilia’s entire tantrum, Sebastian had kept Emma shielded at his side. Cecilia had only met him once, so she probably didn’t remember him, and as for Theodore, ever since he arrived, his gaze hadn’t left Cecilia for a second–he hadn’t noticed Sebastian at all.

The nurse gestured toward Sebastian. “That appointment isn’t available. He’s already here for it.”

Theodore followed her gesture–and there stood Emma and Sebastian. He froze, his whole body tense.

“What are you doing here?” After a brief, stunned pause, a spark of anger flared in Theodore’s eyes.

Every trace of tenderness from a moment ago vanished. Emma met his gaze, half–expecting him to march over and strangle her.

Five years of marriage, and Emma still hadn’t learned how to handle Theodore’s temper–mostly because, in all that time, he’d never directed it at her. Only since Cecilia’s return had Emma found herself brushing up against his last nerve.

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