I'm Afraid I Won't Be Able to Leave

Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Children Like Pure People

Leah didn’t expect her timing to be so perfect. Seth Keating had already taken the gift and run off to his room to unwrap it and play.

Leah looked around but didn’t see their daughter, Talia Keating. Sharon Shaw smiled and explained, ”The nanny just took her out for a walk. She should be back any minute now.”

Just as she said that, the nanny returned with Talia. Sharon Shaw took the child into her arms and said to her in a low voice, ”Tanya, this is your Uncle Asher’s girlfriend. Call her Auntie.”

Leah quickly took out her gift and knelt down to greet her, but Talia just stared at her with vacant eyes, showing no reaction.

Sharon Shaw sighed softly and said to her in a low voice, ”I’m so sorry, Leah. Tanya, she...”

”It’s alright, Sharon. Tanya is very cute.”

Leah smiled and stood up. Talia Keating was indeed very cute. She had inherited Alan Keating’s and Sharon Shaw’s best features; at only three years old, you could already tell she was going to be a beauty.

No one expected that just as Leah was about to turn back to Asher Keating, Talia suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand. The little girl stared at her intently, and after a moment, she quietly uttered a single word: ”Hold.”

Leah was surprised, but the Keating family was even more so, especially Sharon Shaw. Her eyes widened as she looked at the daughter in her arms, then she looked up at Leah, her eyes turning red.

Although Talia hadn’t pronounced the word ”hold” very clearly, it was the first word she had said all day.

No matter how they tried to coax her, she might not say more than a few words all day. Moreover, Talia would only let Sharon Shaw and the nanny who had raised her hold her. Even if Alan Keating tried to hold her, she would immediately burst into tears.

After a moment of shock, Leah quickly picked up the child and sat to one side, speaking to her with a smile. Talia didn’t react much, but she didn’t reject Leah. She even cracked a little smile at her.

The only sound in the living room was Leah’s voice as she spoke to Talia. Sharon Shaw grabbed Alan Keating’s hand excitedly. ”Alan, Tanya... she really likes Leah.”

Alan Keating patted her hand and turned to look at Leah and Talia. Delighted by Talia’s smile, Leah gave her a kiss on her soft little cheek. Talia stared at her intently.

Leah laughed. ”Tanya, do you want to give me a kiss?”

Something even more shocking to the Keating family happened next. Talia actually lifted her head slightly, puckering her little lips in imitation of Leah. When Leah leaned her face closer, the little girl touched her cheek.

Sharon Shaw couldn’t hold back anymore. She turned her head and quietly wiped away her tears. Alan Keating, still in shock, took her hand and comforted her in a low voice, ”What are you crying for? This is a good thing. It means Tanya likes Leah and feels close to her. Didn’t the doctor say that it would be best if Tanya were willing to get closer to people?”

”Mm, I know. I’m just so emotional.”

Leah’s heart melted. Talia was starting to get sleepy. She let out a tiny yawn, her eyes fluttering shut. Leah gently shifted her position, cradling the girl in her arms to lull her to sleep. Just like that, Talia fell asleep in her embrace.

Asher Keating was also watching them. The sight of Leah gently coaxing Talia made his heart soften. ’If Leah and I had a child,’ he thought, ’they would be adorable, wouldn’t they? Yes, a daughter would be best. One who looks just like her.’

Ruth Hughes gently nudged Asher Keating. ”It seems like Tanya and Leah really have a connection. It’s amazing that she’s willing to be close to her.”

A smile was in Asher Keating’s eyes. ”Children like pure-hearted people.”

After Talia had fallen asleep, Leah looked up at the others. They were all staring at her with expressions of either surprise or excitement, which she found a little confusing. Sharon Shaw asked the nanny to take Talia back to her room to sleep, then sighed and began to explain things to Leah.

As she went on, Sharon Shaw’s voice grew choked with emotion. Alan Keating pulled out a tissue to wipe her tears, then turned to Leah with a smile. ”Leah, Tanya really likes you.”

There was a hint of a smile in his eyes as well. The Keating family hadn’t had a daughter in several generations; they were all sons. You could say that Talia was truly treasured by everyone, held in the palm of their hands.

But because of her condition, she normally didn’t get close to anyone. Seeing her willing to be close to Leah made him feel excited and happy, too.

Leah only knew that Talia’s responses weren’t great; she didn’t know the full story. From their brief interaction, she felt that Talia was just a bit slow to react and didn’t talk, but otherwise seemed perfectly fine.

’Such a sweet little girl. It’s such a shame.’

”Alan, Sharon, I remember there’s an Old Mr. Tierney in Kingsford who’s an expert in this field. Have you tried to see him?”

Sharon Shaw sighed. ”We wanted to. We tried to go as soon as we heard about him, but Old Mr. Tierney is already retired. His children took him abroad to live with them. He rarely comes back, and when he does, he might only look at exceptionally difficult and complex cases. He won’t see anyone else. Your older brother pulled a lot of strings and called in many favors, but he couldn’t get him to agree.”

Leah pressed her lips together. Thinking of Talia’s adorable face, she sent a message to Mabel Grant: ”Mom, that Old Mr. Tierney you mentioned before, the one who specializes in pediatrics—can you help get an introduction?”

The message had barely been sent when Mabel Grant’s call came blazing in. Leah had just answered when Mabel’s furious roar nearly made her drop the phone. ”Leah Grant! Don’t you dare tell me you’re pregnant!”

”Mom, what are you thinking!” Leah was speechless. She quickly covered the phone’s receiver and stepped outside.

”Then why do you need to see Old Mr. Tierney! He’s a pediatrician! Are you going to see a pediatrician now?”

The moment Mabel Grant saw Leah’s message, she was so angry she nearly bought a plane ticket on the spot. If her daughter dared to get pregnant right after getting engaged, she would personally murder Asher Keating.

Leah quickly explained the situation. After listening, Mabel Grant scoffed. ”Feeling overly compassionate, are we? Pleading on behalf of First Master Keating? Why don’t you ask Third Master Keating if he’s even willing?”

Leah was silent for a moment. It was true she hadn’t asked Asher, but her intuition told her he would definitely want this. Besides, from what she had seen today, the relationship between Asher and Alan didn’t seem so hostile anymore.

”Mom, I’m sure Asher would agree. Can you please try and ask for me?”

”Just wait. I’ll get back to you later.”

Mabel Grant snorted, hung up, and immediately went to find someone. Leah rarely asked her for anything, so of course, she had to take this rare request seriously.

Seeing how anxiously Leah had rushed out to take the call, Asher had followed her. Just as she hung up, she pulled him over and told him about it. Asher raised an eyebrow slightly. ”Aunt Mabel knows Old Mr. Tierney?”

”Well, not my mom directly. To be precise, it’s my maternal grandfather. He has some history with Old Mr. Tierney, so if my mom asks, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

Asher lit a cigarette and took a slow drag. ”If this really works out, my brother and his wife will definitely be grateful to you.”

Leah took his hand. ”Asher, you’ve tried to help before, haven’t you?”

She didn’t believe Asher would just stand by and do nothing while Talia was in this state. Asher squeezed her hand. ”Mm. It’s just that Old Mr. Tierney is incredibly difficult to persuade. He’s refused many times.”