Double the Points!

Sunlight poured through the stained glass, painting the cathedral in rainbow hues.

Warm air, a gentle sun… and a child running a fever…

“······.”

Hang in there just a little longer, me. Once we get home, I can sleep.

······Or can I?

Two sons, fully recharged after a solid nap, were planted right in front of me. There was no way I’d be getting any sleep.

So what do I do…

Ah.

I’ll tough it out today somehow, and tomorrow I’ll take both kids to the pool. Then, when I put them down for a nap in the living room with the ceiling fan on, maybe I can grab a few solid hours myself.

I want to sleep like I’ve passed out… just drop dead asleep.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow, at least, I’m sleeping… tomorrow…

My head dipped sideways without my noticing, then jerked back up—someone was tapping my arm.

It was Sister Greta.

“It’s time. Wake the children and get them ready.”

Next on the program was the children’s baptism. I startled awake, eyes flying open, and nodded.

“Reni, time to get up.”

I stroked the sleeping boy’s arm and whispered, and Reni—bless him—snapped right out of it and gathered his wits.

I woke Reni first, since he would need to walk up on his own. Luca I would gently rouse only once we were up on the dais waiting our turn. If he started crying before then, we’d be in trouble.

“Aung······!”

Forgetting we were out in public, Luca fretted out loud and tried to drift off again—but then—

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit······.”

Trickle······.

Baptismal water suddenly touched his head, and Luca’s eyes went perfectly round.

Jolted from a deep sleep by the most effective alarm imaginable, the baby wore a face of pure, infinite injustice. He looked at me as if debating whether to burst into heartbroken tears.

I scooped him up with a warm smile, and after a little more silent deliberation, Luca slipped back into a hazy doze.

Quiet laughter rippled through the congregation. Most of the people at Mass were older; I imagined they were looking at Luca the way they would their own grandchildren.

Reni, several years older than Luca and beaming proudly, received his baptism with perfect composure.

He’d already grown close to the priest, so maybe he was less nervous for it.

I was gazing at the boys with quiet pride when the priest’s playful streak kicked in. In a solemn, dignified voice, he addressed the assembly.

“And so, on this day, the Lord’s children have received baptism, received their baptismal names—and gained a godfather.”

The joke that wasn’t quite a joke set the whole room laughing.

Father······.

Still, he had the good sense to keep the rest of the rite relatively simple and quick—for Luca, already back in dreamland; for Reni, still a little drowsy; and for me, who looked ready to pass out if anyone so much as poked me.

Camera shutters clicked from every direction, but I had no attention to spare for them.

Reni was starting to yawn again in tiny little puffs, and I worried he might miss a step, so I scooped him up lightly too and carried him back to our seats.

There was no reason not to. Relieved that the baptism had gone off without a hitch, I settled the boys in for a proper rest.

They could race around the house later screeching like dolphins for all I cared—so long as they slept peacefully until Mass was over.

“Jun······. Jun······!”

Someone seemed to be calling me from far away, and my mind slowly swam back to the surface.

The voice belonged to Cassandra. She’d been gently shaking me awake.

“Jun, Jun! Mass is almost over! Wake up! Look at you three, all asleep the exact same way—you really are father and sons now!”

She was right. I had thoroughly slept right through the rest of Mass after the baptism.

I jolted fully awake, carefully laid the still-sleeping Reni down off my shoulder, stood up, and finished Mass with everyone else.

Lord, I slept hard through today’s Mass and didn’t catch a single word of the homily—but for the kids’ sake, please let it slide just this once.

After Mass ended, we woke the boys again and took plenty of photos. Luca had gotten enough sleep by then; he wore a grumpy face but didn’t fuss.

I soothed my admirable second-born while Reni and I posed for pictures with the priest, the sisters, and Alicia—who looked genuinely well, all things considered.

Alicia smiled at Reni and Luca with a face of perfect calm. Had she worn that same expression during the baptism earlier?

But Sister Greta never left her side, so I could tell she was probably holding this moment together on the strength of her medication.

Fully awake now, Reni hovered near his mother and kept talking to her without pause.

The little boy chattered like a bird—about everything that had happened at the baptism, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about how I’d cut his hair and dressed him in new clothes—on and on without stopping.

“······.”

Alicia didn’t answer. She only smiled and held the child’s hand. To her, Reni’s words might truly have sounded like nothing more than a tiny bird’s chirping.

When his mother gave him no reply, Reni looked a little downcast—but he still held her hand, swung it gently, and smiled.

Even after Mass, the cathedral remained bustling. The sisters here were always cooking up various events to boost the church’s “revenue.”

Bake sales, for instance, or modest markets selling paintings and calligraphy by the more artistically gifted sisters.

And since the neighborhood itself was a quiet place with little else to do for fun, the post-Mass events were always popular.

On weekends, when Reni came to the cathedral, he would probably help the sisters with those events—just as I once had. That wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.

I looked around, briefly lost in old memories, then went to say my goodbyes to the priest and the Mother Superior.

“We’ll be heading out now. I’ll bring Reni back Saturday morning.”

“All right.”

I beckoned to Reni, who had been spinning in circles around his mother while holding her hand.

“Reni, did the sisters tell you? Today you’re coming home with me······ with Dad, and Luca, to Dad’s house.”

Reni’s clear eyes filled with surprise.

“Unc······ I mean, I’m going with Dad? What about Mom?”

I smiled gently. The word “Dad” still felt awkward for both of us—but we had to get used to it, even if we had to force it.

And apparently no one had told Reni yet about his living arrangements. Had they deliberately kept it from him?

Maybe they’d decided it would be better if I explained.

I knelt down to his eye level and started explaining carefully, step by step.

“Yeah. From Monday through Friday······ five days, you’ll stay at Dad’s house with Luca. On the weekends, you’ll come back to the cathedral like today and be with Mom.”

Reni’s eyes were full of confusion. Even just hearing it, the idea of leaving his mother’s side for a while must have sounded scary. In a tiny, shrinking voice, he asked,

“Why······?”

“At Dad’s house, there are toys Reni will love, and dolls, and books.”

The child’s small hands fidgeted.

“There are lots of pretty new clothes that fit Reni just right, and when you come to Dad’s house, Dad will cook you lots of delicious food. Also, the kindergarten Reni will go to later is near Dad’s house, so you’ll need to go from there.”

“Wow, really?”

His eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Yep. So our Reni will have fun playing with Dad and Luca for a few days, then come back to the cathedral and stay with Mom······ and after Sunday Mass, you’ll come to Dad again—back and forth like that, over and over. Is that okay?”

Before answering, Reni looked up at Alicia—as if asking her permission.

Alicia only smiled, so this time Reni turned to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the priest.

“Aigoo, going back and forth like that—Reni’s going to have such a good time. Fun with Luca at Dad’s house, and with Mom and the sisters and the priest at the cathedral. Our Reni has so much family.”

Only then did Reni give a small nod and take my hand.

“Mass is over, so can we go together now?”

I smiled and lifted him into my arms.

“Yeah. Let’s go together.”

I buckled Luca and Reni into their car seats, and Charlie sat between them.

Once the bags were in the trunk and I’d settled into the front seat, Cassandra said cheerfully,

“All right—shall we head out?”

Ding-dong!

As if answering her, my phone’s notification sound chimed right on cue, and everyone laughed.

The car pulled smoothly away, and I checked my phone, wondering if Maria or Greg had sent a congratulatory text.

“······.”

Then I saw what was on the screen and glanced a little awkwardly toward Cassandra and Charlie.

Cassandra was focused on getting out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the parking lot, and Charlie was talking back and forth to the two little brothers on either side of him. As an only child, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the big-brother role now that he had younger ones.

I carefully looked at the screen again.

“······.”

“Thank you so much for today, Cassandra. Next time I’ll treat you to a proper dinner at my place.”

Cassandra laughed.

“I’m not joking—I’m genuinely looking forward to it. But take a breather first and get in touch when you’re ready.”

“What about me, Uncle? What about me?”

Charlie leaned way forward from the back seat to ask.

“Of course you’re coming too, Charlie. For dessert I’ll bake that chocolate cake you love. And I’ll make a whole pile of muffins and cookies for you to take home.”

“Wow! Thank you!”

“Calm down, Charlie. No matter how much Uncle Jun gives you, it’s one a day.”

“Why do you always get to decide everything, Mom? That’s so mean! They’re mine! Wait—can I sit up front?”

After seeing Cassandra and Charlie off, I patted Reni’s shoulder. He was glued to my leg, round eyes sweeping in every direction.

An unfamiliar place—of course he felt uneasy.

“All right. Let’s go home.”

Cassandra had dropped us at the intersection, so I walked slowly, pushing the stroller so Reni could keep up without strain. And in that short walk, I made a decision.

I’m buying a wagon stroller!

Speed wasn’t the issue. Reni walked fine, but he seemed smaller than other kids his age, so long walks would be hard on him.

On top of that, the real problem: while I was looking after Luca outside and glanced away for even a second, he looked fully capable of vanishing in a flash. A stroller that could carry both kids at once was going to be essential going forward.

Of course, as far as I knew, wagon strollers weren’t cheap—but now······.

I reined in the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth and opened the lobby door. Reni let out a tiny gasp of wonder.

“Wow······.”

“Yeah, the lobby’s really pretty, isn’t it? Our place is on the third floor.”

I ruffled Reni’s hair as his eyes went huge, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and while we waited for the elevator, I used those few seconds to check the Manito App Version 3.0 benefits again.