Chapter 39

"Daddy..." Jonas tugged at my sleeve gently, his eyes full of hope. "Jonas, can I join you on the trip?" Lorraine asked Jonas. Her way with children made me wonder if she had studied child psychology. Jonas looked up at me nervously, biting his lip before nodding. I could tell he was afraid I would be upset, and his uncertainty broke my heart. I ruffled his hair gently. "Well, let's all go together." As a father, I couldn't give him a complete family or his birth mother, so I tried to make up for it in other ways. "But the tickets..." I had only planned for two people as I hadn't expected Lorraine's sudden proposal. "I already bought mine!" Lorraine giggled sweetly, looking slightly embarrassed as she poured Jonas a glass of orange juice. "If you hadn't invited me, I was planning to go anyway." "We wouldn't leave you behind, Ms. Sommerton," Jonas said, holding her hand and swaying it gently, making Lorraine beam with joy. "No, we wouldn't," I agreed, scratching my head awkwar