On a cozy Friday night, the apartment was filled with the lively sounds of Alex and Lily engaged in a spirited gaming session. The glow from the screen illuminated their faces as they navigated through the virtual challenges.
"Hey, Lily, your homework!" Emma's voice echoed from the couch, where she sat scrolling through her mobile.
"Come on, Emma, it's almost the weekend! Let her enjoy a bit more," Alex pleaded, defending their shared gaming moment.
"Thanks, Papa!" Lily grinned, appreciating her father's support.
"You're spoiling her too much, Alex!" Emma teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Issable, always a thoughtful presence, brought coffee to Alex and Emma, adding a touch of warmth to the cozy evening.
As the gaming continued, Alex's mobile, resting on the table, interrupted the fun with an incoming call from his mother.
"Bro, your mom's calling," Issable informed him.
"Let it go. It's not worth it," Alex dismissed the call, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
Emma, curious about the mention of his mom, probed gently, "You never talk about your mom. Everything okay?"
"Just leave it; it's better without her," Alex responded, attempting to shift the focus back to their gaming and family time.
"I won!" Lily excitedly declared after a victorious round.
"Nah, thinking of losing to a 6-year-old girl!" Alex playfully teased.
"Let's play again!" Alex declared, the gaming fun continuing in their cozy Friday night.
On a bright Saturday late morning, Lily's excitement bubbled as she tugged at Alex's sleeve.
"Papa, can we go to the playground today?" she pleaded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Sure thing, Lily! Let's go have some fun," Alex agreed with a smile.
They strolled towards the familiar neighborhood playground, the air filled with the promise of a delightful morning. The vibrant colors of the playground equipment greeted them as they arrived.
Issable, nestled in her cozy spot with Mittens, continued chatting with Oliver through her mobile when the doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation.
"Who's now?" Issable mused, reaching the door with curiosity. She swung it open to reveal an older woman in her early fifties.
"Who are you?" Issable inquired, her gaze questioning the unexpected visitor.
"Where's Alex?" the woman asked, her concern evident in her voice.
"Brother? He went outside!" Issable replied, sharing information to ease the woman's worry.
"Brother? Alex is a brother to you?" the woman sought clarification, surprised by this new revelation.
"Yeah, he's my half-brother," Issable explained, giving a glimpse into their family dynamics.
"What's your name?" the woman queried, trying to understand the person in front of her.
"Issable!" she replied, introducing herself.
"So, you are my ex's child from his second marriage?" the woman deduced, connecting the dots.
"Wait, you're Alex's mother, Cynthia?" Issable confirmed, her eyes widening with realization.
As they stood in Alex's home, Emma and Issable exchanged glances, still processing the unexpected visit from Alex's mother, Cynthia.
"Why did you leave Alex?" Issable couldn't help but voice the question that lingered in her mind.
Cynthia sighed, as if grappling with memories. "I wanted to explore everything, see the world beyond the constraints of family life. I thought I needed to find myself, you know?"
Issable raised an eyebrow, finding it hard to empathize with such a justification. "You left him when he was just seven. He needed you."
Cynthia looked down, her gaze heavy with a mix of regret and nostalgia. "I made choices that I can't undo now. But I want to reconnect with him, be a part of his life again."
Emma, having overheard that and decided to join in, her expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Why are you back now, after all these years?"
Cynthia hesitated, then admitted, "I'm short on money. I've been trying to call Alex for financial help, but he's been rejecting my calls."
Emma's skepticism deepened. "You left him when he needed a mother, and now you want him to bail you out?"
Cynthia lowered her gaze, seemingly unable to meet their eyes. "I understand if he's angry. I just want a chance to make amends, to be there for him now."
Emma, with a stern expression, asked, "How much money are we talking about?"
Cynthia hesitated before mentioning a substantial sum. Emma raised an eyebrow, contemplating the implications.
"If I give you this money, are you planning to leave Alex alone for good?" Emma questioned, her tone firm.
Cynthia's reluctant nod conveyed a sense of acknowledgment. "Fine, I'll leave him be."
Emma, driven by a resolute determination, went to her home next door. In just a few minutes, she returned, holding a check in her hand.
Issable couldn't hide her concern as she pleaded with Emma, "What are you doing? Why did you give her the check?"
"It's my savings! I'll use everything if it's for Alex and Lily!" Emma declared, her conviction unwavering.
"But Emma," Issable began, expressing her worry.
"Alex is moving forward now! I don't want anything that disturbs him again!" Emma asserted, handing a substantial amount to Cynthia.
Cynthia, somewhat surprised, asked Emma, "Why are you giving your money for Alex?"
"Because I was his partner, and I want him to be happy!" Emma declared.
As Cynthia was about to leave, Emma called her back.
"Don't forget the promise!" Emma reminded her, ensuring the gravity of the situation was not lost.
Cynthia, taken aback, nodded in acknowledgment. "I won't forget."
Cynthia shut the door and exited the apartment.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Issable couldn't hold back her tears as she hugged Emma tightly.
"Thank you, Emma. I don't know how to repay you," Issable said, her voice filled with emotion.
Emma gently pulled back from the hug, holding Issable's shoulders. "Issy, we are family. There's no need for repayment. We're in this together, looking out for each other."
Issable nodded, wiping away her tears. "But still, you've done so much for us."
Emma smiled warmly. "That's what family does. We support each other, no matter what. Don't worry about repaying anything."
Issable, touched by Emma's kindness, nodded again. "Thank you for being there for us, Emma."
With a reassuring smile, Emma said, "Always, Issy. Always."
Later, Alex and Lily returned home after savoring ice cream, their laughter echoing through the city streets as they strolled together.
"Thanks for the treat, Papa!" Lily expressed her gratitude, the joy of the outing evident on her face.
"Let's keep this our little secret from Emma, okay?" Alex whispered to Lily, playfully emphasizing the need for discretion.
"Okay, Papa! Mum's the word!" Lily declared, sealing their shared secret.
As they approached the apartment, a recently departed car hinted at the presence of a recent guest.
"Seems someone just had a visitor!" Alex observed, his curiosity piqued.
"Issy, we're back!" Alex and Lily announced, swinging open the door, only to find Emma already immersed in lunch preparations.
"Hey, Alex! We're just starting to make lunch. Wait for a little while," Emma greeted them.
"Sure, Emma," Alex agreed, glancing around the room. Something subtle caught his attention—Issable's changed demeanor.
Curious, he inquired, "What happened, Issy?"
"It's nothing! We just watched an emotional movie, and Issable couldn't hold back a few tears," Emma swiftly explained, sharing a knowing look with Issable and signaling to keep the details discreet.
"Ah, sounds like a movie worth watching. I might have to check it out sometime," Alex replied, playfully making his way to his room with Lily.
Left alone, Emma turned to Issable, silently urging her to keep the incident between them.