Joshua knew his intentions and intentionally joked, “How could we just eat noodles with wine? You
should make some more dishes to show your hospitality.”
“You should be contented with these noodles.” Andrew topped up his wine glass.
He looked at the wine glass filled to the brim and laughed, “Bro, aren’t you afraid that I’ll get you
drunk?”
Dolores and Bonnie left the dining table after they were done.
“Mom, I’ll cook some dishes for them to go with the wine,” Bonnie said.
“Okay.” Dolores placed the dirty dishes in the basin and asked, “How long haven’t they met?” She had
not seen Andrew for almost two years.
Bonnie pondered for a while but could not be sure, “It must be when we went to see you. It has been
almost two years.”
Dolores sighed within her. She really did not want her son to be doing such a dangerous job and he
was always not at home. Then she thought that he had grown up and had his interests and career. She
could not restrain him. Even if she continued to worry for him, she had never asked him to come back.
She just felt that she had not taken good care of him. He left the home when he was rather young and
soon had a career. Now he was also married.
“Bonnie, has Joshua ever said that he was frustrated with work?” Dolores asked as she was washing
the dishes.
“No, he’s young and is energetic,” Bonnie said as she cooked some pepper beef cubes.
“You are with him now and should take good care of him. He left us when he was very young.” Dolores
said.
Bonnie understood Dolores’s concerns and laughed, “Rest assured, mom, I will take good care of him.
You had been very good to him and gave him a lot during our wedding.” Bonnie continued, “You should
rejoice. A lot of siblings would bicker due to money. Just look at them.”
Dolores looked towards the dining room. The two of them had arms around each other’s shoulders and
were having a good time. She indeed felt blessed and happy.
She rejoiced that Andrew was safe and the brother’s relationship was so good.
On the other end, Amanda brought Jessica to White city. The Forbis family home was vacant but it
looked like it was periodically cleaned.
Jessica was thin and frail and could not walk steadily. Amanda supported her towards the door.
“This all looked so familiar.” Jessica looked around the courtyard.
Instantly she had a flashback and thought about the days when she was with Mr. Forbis. They loved to
sit under the tree in the courtyard. There was even a swing on the tree.
“Do you still remember this place?” Jessica said as she sat down on the chair.
Amanda was here when she was young but had not returned since. She sat on the swing and replied,
“Not too clearly.”
She had some impression but the memories were hazy and not too clear.
“Let’s stay here for several days before going to B city.” Jessica touched the stone table and
reminisced the time when she had meals with Mr. Forbis. She suddenly thought about the days when
she spent with him and then became melancholy due to his passing.
Amanda replied, “Okay.”
She got off the swing and walked to Jessica, “Grandma, did you love my grandfather?”
Jessica and Mr. Forbis were old when they decided to be with each other. They only spent their waning
years together. Amanda wanted to know if they were together because of love or just
companionship.
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