Amber Demands Answers About Co-Parenting Surprise — Then A Hidden Document Reveals Jamal’s True Motive
Chapter 7 — Leo Enters The Kitchen — Then Their Son Shares His True Preference
Leo wore a light blue cotton hoodie.
Dirt smudged the toe of his right sneaker from the soccer field down the street.
He dropped his water bottle onto the counter with a dull plastic thud.
“Hey, Mom,” Leo said, looking up with a bright, unbothered smile.
“Hey, sweetie,” Amber said.
She pushed her red hair back behind her ear.
She forced a calm, steady tone into her voice.
“How was practice?”
“It was good,” Leo said, grabbing an apple from the white ceramic bowl near the sink.
“Coach let us scrimmage the older kids today. My team won three to two.”
“That’s fantastic, buddy,” Amber said.
She knelt down slightly to check his scraped knee.
“Did you clean that cut before you left the field?”
“Coach put a bandage on it,” Leo mumbled around a bite of apple.
He pointed a sticky finger toward the mudroom.
“My bag is still by the door.”
“I see it,” Amber said softly.
She stood back up and glanced across the kitchen island.
Jamal hadn’t moved an inch.
He kept his gaze fixed on the countertop.
He looked like a man waiting for a storm to hit.
“Go wash your hands in the guest bath, Leo,” Amber instructed gently.
“Then come right back here. We need to talk about something important.”
Leo paused with his hand on the hallway archway.
He looked between his mother and his father.
“Am I in trouble?” Leo asked, his brow furrowing.
“No, you’re not in trouble at all,” Amber assured him.
“Just wash your hands. Your dad and I are right here.”
Leo nodded and trotted down the hall toward the bathroom.
The sound of running water echoed faintly through the open kitchen.
Amber turned her attention back to Jamal.
“You haven’t even asked him,” Amber whispered fiercely.
“Ask him what?” Jamal muttered, still refusing to look up.
“You haven’t asked Leo if he even wants to leave his school,” Amber said.
“You haven’t asked him about his friends. Or his soccer team. Or his teachers.”
“He’s nine years old,” Jamal said dismissively.
“He doesn’t understand the long-term value of a network like the one at that academy.”
“He understands his life,” Amber shot back.
“And it’s happening right here in this district.”
Leo’s footsteps padded back across the tile floor.
He stepped into the kitchen and leaned against the edge of the wooden counter.
He wiped his hands on his jeans.
“I washed them,” Leo announced.
“Good job,” Amber said, pulling up a wooden chair for him.
“Sit down with us for a second, Leo. Your dad and I want to ask you a question.”
Leo climbed onto the chair.
He swung his legs slightly.
“About what?”
“About school,” Amber said, keeping her voice level.
“Jamal and I were talking about next semester.”
She paused, watching her son’s expressive face.
“How do you feel about your current school? Do you like your classmates?”
“I love my school, Mom,” Leo said instantly.
His face lit up with genuine enthusiasm.
“Mr. Davis lets us do science experiments on Fridays. And my best friend Noah is in my class.”
Amber nodded slowly.
She looked straight across the table at Jamal.
“What about a new school?” Amber asked softly.
“A big private academy across town. With uniforms and strict rules.”
Leo stopped swinging his legs.
His smile vanished.
“Why would I go to a different school?” Leo asked, his voice dropping into sudden confusion.
“I don’t know anybody over there.”
“Nobody told you about a new school?” Amber pressed gently.
“No,” Leo said, shaking his head.
“Did you guys sign me up for something?”
Jamal finally lifted his head.
He looked squarely at his son.
His jaw tightened as he realized he had been completely caught.
