On the way back, Estrella asked, "So, how many people has Aiden planted around me?"
Hands on the steering wheel, Jason glanced at her. "We've found nine so far. Some were just distractions set up by Keith."
Because they hadn't identified Keith's operatives early on and didn't know his limits, Jason had been cautious about returning. Now that they had identified some of Keith's people and had a better understanding of his boundaries, Jason decided it was time to come back.
Outside, the weather was beautiful, brimming with spring vibes. Estrella smiled, "Keith sure doesn't mind investing time and effort in me, huh?"
Looking ahead at the road, Jason chuckled, "Getting older makes one a bit obsessive. When he wakes up, I'll have a good chat with him."
They switched topics to company matters and Isaac, with Jason carefully steering clear of anything too heavy about Aiden. He didn't want her to worry.
Soon, they pulled up outside the Dorvold family home. As Jason got out to see Estrella off, Autumn emerged from the yard.
Seeing Estrella and Jason together, Autumn was first surprised, then her face lit up with a smile, "You're back!"
Considering they had spent the previous night out together, Autumn couldn’t hide her amusement. They were at an age where regular 'communication' was beneficial. A few more such 'communications' and remarrying would be a breeze. Isaac would finally have a complete family.
"Mom," Jason greeted. As Estrella was about to speak, Autumn, all smiles, beat her to it.
"Jason, it's almost lunchtime. You're staying to eat with us, right? I'll whip up a couple of your favorite dishes."
Originally planning to head out, seeing Estrella and Jason return together made Autumn change her mind. After all, Jason hadn't had a meal at either the Dorvold or Nelson home since his return.
Graciously accepting Autumn's offer, Estrella was about to decline on their behalf when Jason, with a smile, said, "Sure, Mom. I'll just park the car in the shade."
He circled back to the car and parked it under a nearby tree.
At the doorstep, Estrella, noticing Jason didn’t make any excuses and instead agreed to stay for lunch, gave him a teasing smile. Seems like things really do change after you share a bed!
Catching Estrella's look, Jason stepped closer, gently cradling the back of her neck, giving it a small squeeze. Estrella looked up at him, her gaze meaningful.
When Autumn saw Jason agreeing to stay for lunch, her smile widened, and as she watched the two enter the house, she felt like she was escorting two teenagers home.
A white butterfly fluttered past Estrella, who waved it away. Jason sneakily wrapped his arms around her from behind, softly biting her ear. Estrella turned around, her look casual, "With all this spring beauty around..."


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