Chapter 143: Fun at the amusement park.
Saturday arrived. The sky was clear. The sun was shining brightly. A pleasant breeze blew.
The moment the car pulled into the amusement park, Leo pressed his face against the window.
"Uncle, look. The Ferris wheel." His excited shout made Elena laugh.
She looked out the window and saw the colorful rides towering into the sky. Children ran through the entrance holding balloons, cheerful music floated through the air, and the sweet aroma of caramel popcorn, roasted corn, and freshly made waffles drifted on the breeze.
For a brief second, she simply stood there. A familiar warmth filled her heart.
Her father used to bring her here almost every month. He would patiently accompany her on every ride, buy her every snack she pointed at, and laugh whenever she begged for "just one more ride."
After he passed away, no one had ever brought her back.
This was the first time she had stepped into an amusement park in years. The memories made her eyes glisten.
Then Leo grabbed her hand. "Aunt, hurry."
The boy pulled her toward the entrance before she could think any further. Within minutes, both of them were running from one attraction to another.
They began with the merry-go-round, where Leo waved excitedly from a painted horse while Elena laughed so hard that even the operator chuckled at her childlike excitement.
Next came the bumper cars. Leo insisted on driving his own little car.
He accidentally bumped into Elena’s car over and over again, bursting into uncontrollable laughter every single time.
"You did that on purpose," Elena protested between laughs.
"I won," Leo declared proudly.
"You cheated."
"I didn’t."
Their playful argument continued until Elias shook his head with a helpless smile.
After that, they boarded the miniature train that circled the entire park, passing flower gardens, tiny bridges, sparkling fountains, and colorful sculptures.
Leo pointed excitedly at everything they passed, while Elena admired the beautiful scenery like she was seeing the world through a child’s eyes again.
Then came the Ferris wheel.
As the giant wheel slowly climbed higher, the entire amusement park unfolded beneath them.
The stream winding through the nearby forest shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.
"It’s so beautiful," Elena whispered.
She rested her hands against the glass, her eyes shining with wonder.
Elias wasn’t looking at the view. He was looking at her. He had never seen her smile so freely.
Every laugh that escaped her lips felt genuine. Every sparkle in her eyes softened something deep inside him.
After the Ferris wheel came the pirate ship.
The moment it swung high into the air, Leo squealed in delight.
Elena screamed even louder.
When the ride finally stopped, she stumbled off laughing, clutching Elias’s arm.
"My legs are shaking."
"You were shouting louder than Leo," Elias teased her.
"I was not."
"You definitely were."
Leo nodded seriously. "Aunt Elena screamed the loudest."
Elena pouted while Elias laughed.
Before long, they found themselves playing carnival games.
Leo proudly won a small stuffed penguin after several attempts.
Elena applauded. "My little champion."
Leo puffed out his chest proudly. "I’ll keep it forever."
As lunchtime approached, they found a small outdoor café overlooking a lake.
The three of them shared burgers, crispy fries, grilled corn, and fresh lemonade.
After lunch, they wandered into a row of snack stalls.
Leo tugged on Elena’s sleeve. "Aunt..."
He pointed eagerly. "Look. Cotton candy. I want one."
Elena’s eyes lit up just as brightly. "Oh. I want one too."
She laughed like a little girl. Before Elias could say anything, the two of them sprinted toward the stall.
"Wait for me." He sighed, smiling helplessly as he followed behind them.
He paid for both while the two were already taking delighted bites. The fluffy sugar melted the instant it touched their tongues.
"So sweet," Leo exclaimed. "It’s the best."
A moment later, Elena noticed pink sugar sticking to the corner of Leo’s mouth.
"There you are."
She gently wiped it away with a tissue before smoothing his hair.
Leo smiled innocently.
Not far away, Ian stood quietly beneath the shade of an old tree. He had been there for quite some time, watching, following them from a distance. Yet he never stepped forward.
His eyes remained fixed on Leo. His son laughed without restraint and ran without fear.
A dull ache spread through Ian’s chest. He had missed the moments with his son, his school performances, birthdays, and picnics.
He had not been there when Leo scraped his knees. He had not been there to comfort him. In his achievements, he wasn’t there to celebrate. He had been saving strangers while unknowingly losing the people waiting for him at home.
Now Leo had learned to be happy without him.
A bitter smile curved Ian’s lips.
"Was I really wrong for choosing to save lives?" his voice was barely above a whisper.
His gaze dropped to the ground. "Why won’t you give me another chance, Eve? Do you hate me now?"
When he opened them again, the three of them had already disappeared into the crowd, still laughing together.
...
By the time evening arrived, all three were exhausted. The moment they settled into the car, Leo hugged his new stuffed penguin.
Within minutes, he was fast asleep. His head rested against the seat.
Elena smiled tenderly. She gently brushed the hair away from his forehead, her fingers lingering there for a moment. Watching his peaceful face stirred something deep within her.
She suddenly wanted to hold her own child in her arms, a child who looked a little like Elias.
The thought alone made her cheeks grow warm. Almost unconsciously, she lifted her eyes toward the driver’s seat.
Elias was focused on the road. Then, as though sensing her gaze, he looked into the rearview mirror.
Their eyes met.
His lips curved into a knowing smile. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Elena’s heartbeat skipped. She quickly looked away. Even the tips of her ears turned crimson.
Elias noticed every bit of it. His smile deepened. "What are you thinking about?"
His teasing voice only made her blush harder.
"It’s nothing."
"Really?" One eyebrow arched. "If it’s nothing, then why are your cheeks so red?"
Embarrassed, Elena immediately cupped her face with both hands.
"It’s because of the heat outside." She avoided his eyes. "Nothing else."
A chuckle escaped him. He knew she was hiding something. And he had a feeling he would eventually discover what it was.
For now, he let her off the hook. He turned his attention back to the road.
Elena secretly let out a breath of relief when he didn’t press further. But she had no idea what he was planning to do with her.