Martha appeared just in time as Evelyn and Oliver walked through the little garden behind the café.
She was wiping her hands on her apron when her gaze landed on Evelyn, worried at first. Still, the moment it shifted to Oliver, her whole expression melted.
"Oh, my darling boy!" Martha said, tossing her apron onto a garden bench without a second thought. She hurried forward and bent low, her arms already outstretched.
Oliver’s eyes widened with delight. "Granny!" he threw his little arms around her neck as she scooped him up.
"Careful, careful," Martha murmured, holding him tight but gently, mindful of his wound. "Oh, how I’ve missed you so much."
Oliver pressed his cheek against hers and giggled. "I missed you so, so much too! Like..." He stretched his arms out as wide as they would go. "...this much!"
Evelyn stifled a laugh, looking at how close they were. She follows them as they walk toward the house.
Martha laughed happily as she swayed him in her arms.
"Oh, sweetheart, that’s a lot of missing. Grandma’s heart was so empty without you." She pulled back to check his feet, worry clouding her eyes as she looked at his injured feet. "How’s that little leg of yours?"
Oliver puffed up proudly, his small chest rising. "Uncle Doctor said I heal super fast ’cause I eat all my carrots and broccoli!" He pointed at his leg as if it were proof of his strength. "Mommy says carrots make me strong like a superhero."
Evelyn bit back a laugh, her lips curving as she answered, "Yes, darling. Very strong. You’ll be running on the beach again before you know it."
"Yay!" Oliver clapped his hands, then leaned close to Martha’s ear and whispered very loudly, "Granny, when I get better, you have to chase me. But no cheating, okay? Mommy always cheats!"
"Oliver!" Evelyn gasped, laughing. She can’t believe her son will playfully say that. "What did you say? Of course, mommy doesn’t cheat. But, you just run too fast."
Martha chuckled heartily, smoothing Oliver’s hair. "Oh, I believe you, darling."
Evelyn rolls her eyes, pretending to be scandalized. "Excuse me? Whose side are you on?"
Oliver, still clinging to Martha’s neck, lifted his little chin. "Granny’s side!" he declared while giggling.
Martha and Evelyn both burst into laughter.
Evelyn shook her head, muttering, "Traitor," but her heart warmed at the sight of Oliver so happy.
Her son only revealed his real age when talking to Martha. To others, he appeared quite mature, almost like an adult.
This sometimes amused her, but she felt grateful because Martha was the only person her son considered a family member and thought of as his true grandmother.
Still, beneath her smile, nerves stir in Evelyn’s stomach. Martha wasn’t her blood relative, but she’d always been her safe place, the one person she could trust.
But now she was keeping the biggest secret of her life from her. The longer she waited, the harder it became to start telling her about Axel.
"You should’ve let me come to the hospital, Eve..." Martha’s words pull Evelyn out of her troubling mind.
Evelyn’s chest tightened. She had expected this. "I’m sorry," she said softly. "I just... didn’t want to worry you more than you already were."
"Worrying is my job..." Martha said softly, still holding Oliver in her arms. "You’re like my own daughter, Evelyn... Please don’t push me away." She smiles.
That eased Evelyn’s nerves, "I know... you’re right, Aunty... I won’t do that anymore." She smiled nervously.
...
They entered the living room and sat down on the sofa. Martha allowed Oliver to sit next to her, and Evelyn sat across from them.
While Evelyn was still trying to figure out how to tell Martha about Axel Knight, suddenly Oliver spoke.
"Granny... Do you know Daddy?"
Evelyn nearly choked on her breath. Her cheeks flushed red.
She was still trying to find the right words and the right moment to tell Martha, but her son just threw it out like that? She was left speechless.
Martha blinked in surprise, looking at Oliver. And then to Evelyn. "Daddy?" she repeated carefully.
Evelyn’s pulse thundered in her ears. She opened her mouth to intervene, but Oliver was already speaking again.
"Yes, yes, Daddy is big, taller than the door!" Oliver stretched his little arms high above his head.
Martha froze, her brows pulling together. "Eve... this..." she said slowly.
Evelyn forced a laugh, though it sounded fragile to her own ears. "He watched a movie the other day..." Hearing herself, she couldn’t believe she had said that.
And of course, Oliver interrupted with his innocent little voice. "No, Mommy. I mean my real Daddy. The one who gave me the big black car. Daddy Ax—"
Evelyn’s eyes widened. She tried to warn him to stop. Thankfully, he finally didn’t reveal Axel’s name.
She had already told Oliver that she needed to speak privately with Aunt Martha about it. Still, this little brat had forgotten his promise and had now revealed everything.
’Thank God... he finally understood...’
But just when Evelyn thought she was safe, Oliver spoke again.
"My Daddy is busy. He can’t stay longer with us. But he bought us a car..." He announced proudly, puffing out his tiny chest. "It’s black and shiny and has a big red bow!"
Martha’s lips parted. She looked utterly bewildered as she turned back to Evelyn. "Eve, the mysterious man? Did he finally come...?"
Evelyn could only laugh bitterly inside. ’Thank you, Oliver. Truly the world’s most loyal double agent.’
She cleared her throat. "Yes, he came. And yes, he bought a car for Oliver. For emergencies."
Martha’s eyes grew blurry with tears. She felt overjoyed to finally hear about the man she had always wanted to ask Evelyn about, but never dared, afraid it might make her sad.
And now, not only did she hear about him, but that mysterious man had finally come back. He had come to this town, met Oliver, and even bought them a car.
"Oh dear, Eve... I’m so happy for you and for Oliver..." Martha’s voice trembled. She genuinely felt happy for Evelyn. "W-Who is that lucky person, Eve...? You have to bring him here to meet me..."