There were some rustling sounds coming from the forest. Some animals might be foraging for food now that the snow had melted, or perhaps it was just the sound of wind breezing past the leaves.
“You don’t have to hurry; you can take your time to consider it after going back to Riverdale.”
Justin didn’t urge Rachel to make her decision as soon as possible. After all, business matters required extensive and detailed consideration.
Rachel didn’t give her reply right away, either.. For one, she originally never wanted to get involved with Burton Group. Also, she didn’t want to mediate things between Justin and Julian ever again, fearing that things would only get worse if she did.
“Okay, then I’ll think about it when we get back.”
“Sure.”
The two followed the path and walked further into the mountain. Rachel looked around her. “This place does kind of look like Somerset Mountain. If I have a chance, I’d love to visit it again.”
After the fire, which happened when she was eight, she was brought to Riverdale, and she had not visited that place ever since.
Justin said, “No one lives in Somerset Mountain anymore. The forest is also protected well, and it developed into a scenic area. If you want to go back, you might have to buy entrance tickets.”
“I have to buy entrance tickets even when I’m returning to my own home?” “Why don’t we ask about it when we get there?”
When Justin finished speaking, the two smiled at each other.
Rachel and Justin roamed the mountains for a bit and finally returned to the village at noon. An enthusiastic villager insisted on treating them to lunch before letting them leave, and the trunk of their car was stashed full of local specialties. On the way home, there was the smokey smell of cured meat in the car..
Justin frowned as he said to Frankie, “Didn’t I tell you not to accept anything from the villagers?”
Frankie wore a sullen expression. “President Burton, I didn’t mean for that to happen either. The villagers were carrying various gifts in their hands when they blocked our car. They refused to let us leave just like that. As soon as I opened the trunk, it was stashed full right away. I even asked them to leave half of it for themselves, but we still ended up with so much.”
Rachel said, “Don’t blame him. We’ve seen for ourselves how the villagers acted. They might make us stay for dinner if we didn’t leave earlier. We might have to accept their kindness. for a whole month before they let us go.”
“That’s because President Burton is popular here, and the villagers tend to repay any form of kindness.”
“Yes, so we have to hang this meat in front of our doors when we get back so that it can keep curing. The villagers were so sincere about the gifts, after all.”
Hearing Rachel’s words, Frankie and the driver both stifled their laughter. Justin glanced at Rachel in exasperation.
It took more than 20 hours by car to travel from Greensborough to Riverdale. Frankie and the driver alternated between themselves taking the wheel, and they finally reached Riverdale in the shortest possible time.
It was afternoon the next day by the time they arrived at Riverdale. The driver sent Rachel home first. “Gloria’s flight is tomorrow, so don’t forget to fetch her at the airport.”
With the car window between them, Rachel waved at Justin. “I’ll go fetch her if I have time.”
Justin said, “Just focus on your work. She’s not a child now. She doesn’t need anyone to fetch her.”
“You’re so stubborn.”
Rachel laughed, then after watching the car drive away into the distance, she turned around and went upstairs. The first thing she did when she got home was to call Jolly up.
Over the phone, she could even hear Jolly jumping up from the couch. “Why did you go back to your apartment? You should have come to my house straight away. The new year is just around the corner, so there’s no need to go home.”
“It’s almost New Year’s Day?” Rachel was still a little puzzled as she raised her head to look at the digital calendar on the wall. It was already the 28th of December.
“Wow, you’re right.”
“Of course I am; why would I lie to you? Just tidy up and come over as soon as you can. My parents even asked me this morning when you’re coming over. This is our first time counting down to the new year together as a family.”
“Okay, I’ll clean up first, then go to your place at night.”
After hanging up, Rachel put down her luggage and looked around her. There wasn’t much to clean up, but she noticed some white roses placed in a vase on a table. The flowers were changed recently.
She didn’t remember when it started, but there had always been fresh white roses in the vase in her house. As far as she could recall, she had never seen the flowers wilt in her house. At the thought of the person who sent the flowers, Rachel felt her lips curve into a warm smile.
Women would always be moved by little gestures without realizing it. At that moment, Rachel didn’t even realize that herself. Because of flowers in full bloom in the evening, she once again felt moved after so many years.
The next morning, Gloria’s early morning flight arrived at Riverdale Airport. Rachel and Jolly departed from the Carter Residence with the two children to fetch Gloria at the airport. Jolly yawned as she leaned back in the passenger seat. “She’s really somebody for us to pick her up.”
Rachel was driving as she rolled her eyes at Jolly. “You were the one who wanted to come with me, weren’t you? Are you regretting it now?”
“It’s too boring if I stay at home alone. It’s the holidays, so what can I do if I don’t go out?” “If you miss working so much, I don’t mind. rushing you to submit the annual plan as president.”
“Please don’t.” Jolly grinned, immediately backing off. “I still think it’s not too bad to pick up Gloria. After all, your bestie is my bestie as well. I have to be her bridesmaid at her wedding too.”
“Did she agree to it, or did you force yourself into the role?”
“Even if she doesn’t agree to it, she’ll have to.”
“You’re terrible.” “Right, why didn’t Victor come? How is he so unenthusiastic when it comes to fetching his own wife?”
Rachel replied, “He got the house, remember? He bought groceries and is now making meals at home. He wants us to go over together and throw a pre-New Year’s Eve party there.”
“Ho, he’s smart. I’ll give him that. Gloria has good taste. Victor is quite a decent person.” “You just never saw him when he was at his worst.”
Rachel couldn’t help laughing. For some reason, she remembered the first time she saw Victor six years ago, with his bleached hair and spiky attitude.
Halfway there, Jolly poked at Rachel and gestured for her to look behind her. “Hey, look at your daughter. She’s drooling in her sleep. I wonder who she took after.”
Rachel glanced in the rearview mirror. “Your son isn’t any better. He’s still holding the game console in his hand.”
“Chris, are you taking sides now? You’re referring to him as my son now? What do you mean by that? Isn’t Samuel your son too? Did you forget about your son now that you have a daughter?”
“Stop twisting the truth.” Rachel straight-out ignored her. In her heart, Samuel was like her biological son. Jolly positioned herself in the passenger seat as she whipped out her phone to take photos of the children.
They had woken up too early, so the children were already a little dazed when they got into the car. They fell asleep not long after the car started, and one of them had their head on the other’s shoulder. Charlotte’s drool was already getting on Samuel’s collar.
Even though Jolly wasn’t very good at raising children, she was still softened at the sight of the adorable children. She took tons of photos and sent them to Leroy.
Leroy seemed to be occupied with something, for there was no reply from him. Jolly suddenly thought of something. “Chris, do you think they count as childhood friends?”
“Probably. It counts as long as they grow up together.”
“Chris, I have an idea.”
“What is it?”
“Why don’t we arrange a marriage between our children?”
