Chapter 300: Something
"Something on your mind?" Melanie asked, watching Adam as he sat across from her with an odd look on his face. They’d already tucked Adir in for the night, and usually by this time, Adam would be rearing to carry her into the bedroom and have his wicked way with her. But tonight, he seemed lost, drifting somewhere far off in his own private world and she could not help but frown. It was so unlike him.
Adam nodded slowly, then reached out and pulled her onto his lap when she would have stood up. She let out an oomph as she fell against him but then, immediately curled her legs up on the couch, resting her head against his shoulder. She loved this part too-just being held like this, the quiet intimacy of it.
She felt him inhale deeply beneath her cheek. A moment later, he sighed and said softly, "Melon, I want to know about your childhood."
The question caught her off guard. Her head lifted slightly, eyes narrowing in surprise. What brought that on? But even as her mind raced to understand the reason behind it, she shrugged it off. Her childhood wasn’t a secret.
"I guess I had a pretty normal childhood," she said, still confused. "I mean, sure, I didn’t have my parents around like the others, but it didn’t really bother me all that much. Grandma was always there- she made up for their absence in every way she could. And honestly, I never felt unloved."
She paused, as if searching for the right words. "Of course, she was strict. She was older and set in her ways, and she expected a lot from me. But I didn’t mind it too much. I knew it came from a place of care. She did her best to raise me right."
Melanie looked up at him again, eyes scanning his face. "Why do you ask?"
"Did you ever ask her about your parents?"
Melanie narrowed her eyes at that. This was the second time in as many weeks when he had asked her about her parents. She remembered he’s asked her about it when she was in the hospital as well...
"Why do you ask?"
Adam flicked her nose and shook his head," Nah. First, you tell me. Then I will tell you."
Melanie rolled her eyes at his childish response and gave a soft chuckle before answering, "Okay, okay. Actually... I think I used to ask when I was very young. You know, those early years when you’re full of questions about everything. But over time, I stopped." She paused, as if trying to trace back through hazy memories. "Later, when I entered my teens, I remember asking Grandma again—just once, I think. She got this faraway look in her eyes, like she was watching something only she could see. And then she told me... she said I resembled my mother the most."