Ferdinand could not put a name to the feeling in his heart.
Perhaps, in that instant, he had caught a glimpse of the danger and loneliness Wade carried in another world. Or perhaps it was the deep guilt and self-reproach of a father who could do nothing to ease the burden on his son's shoulders.
Unconsciously, he clenched the fist resting on his knee.
Just then, the boy looked up and smiled, his eyes curving.
"Ah, the cake is here," Wade said lightly. "I'm already hungry."
Ferdinand paused slightly, then smiled along with him despite himself.
He asked nothing. He merely moved Wade's coffee in front of him and said gently, "Have something warm first."
"Okay." Wade picked up the cup and smiled. "Thanks, Dad."
That afternoon, the family moved on to Fortnum & Mason. The shop had long supplied groceries to the British royal family and held a royal warrant, so its prices were naturally exorbitant. Many people only entered the department store when they needed to buy gifts.
If it had not been Christmas, and if the family's financial circumstances had not been improving steadily, Fiona would not have been willing to shop somewhere like this.
Looking at the numbers on the price tags, she adopted the solemn manner of a state banquet chef as she carefully selected each item:
A turkey with evenly distributed fat, top-grade smoked salmon from Scotland, all sorts of dried fruit and candied fruit for pies, and Christmas-limited pudding-flavored black tea.
Ferdinand also picked through the selection carefully. In the end, he chose a bottle of tawny port and winked at Wade.
"For dinner tonight, we'll have something good. You're grown up now—you can have a couple of drinks with your dad."
"...Alcohol?" Wade's gaze fell on the amber-colored bottle, hesitant.
"Don't