“Thank you.”
“You know I don’t need you to thank me.”
Rachel felt touched and sniffled hard to avoid the tears from falling. Her memories of the place might remain, but they would fade eventually. After all, this courtyard had been the setting for the carefree days of her childhood. Back then, her family was poor, and her happiest moments were when she had meat pierogi. If not for Justin rebuilding this place, she would have lost those memories and never get to recall them ever again.
“All right, stop crying. If Regina sees you, she will think I have mistreated you.” Justin handed her a tissue.
She laughed, tears still in her eyes. “I am not.”
He looked around at the empty room. “Since we will be in the area, you can spend the next few days recalling what the interior was like here. Then, once the interior is complete, we can probably stay here for a bit too.”
“We didn’t have much, honestly, just some old furniture. They were all handmade, so they might be difficult to build.” She took a deep breath and smiled. “You don’t have to recreate everything, of course. It’s good enough for me.”
“But is it within the rules to construct a house here?” She suddenly remembered some real-life issues. Somerset Mountain was now a tourist attraction; except for villagers living at the bottom, plus tourist-oriented shops and restaurants in more developed areas, no one else was allowed to live here. Moreover, people who had settled here in the past had moved away after receiving monetary compensation. So, she was worried that it was an illegal building.
Justin burst out laughing at her anxious face. “Why are you so worried? Do you think I am the type who doesn’t care about the law?”
“Then, what about all this?”
“Burton Group was a generous donor for when Somerset Mountain was being rebuilt. We still have the approval for a village restoration project here from back then, so building a house here is within the rules.”
“Really?”
“Really. When have I ever lied to you?”
She finally relaxed after listening to his reassurances. “Good.”
“Are you worried that I will get sued?”
“You need to be careful.” Times were different now, and Burton Group had split into two sides. Justin wasn’t exactly in a desperate situation, but it was better not to show weakness.
“Don’t worry,” he reassured her. “I’m not that stupid.”
As they talked, Regina’s voice came from up the slope. “Rachel!”
Rachel was amazed. “The paths are so difficult to traverse. How did she manage it?”
Justin glanced outside the window. “She’ll order Bobby around if she wants to follow us.”
True enough, the boy was carrying Regina on his back.
“Let me down.” The girl patted his back, then jumped back onto the ground. She glanced around in disbelief. “I can’t believe my eyes. When did this courtyard appear here?”
Justin replied, “This was where Rachel lived when she was a child.”
“Really?” Regina’s face lit up. “Rachel, did you live here when you were a child?”
Rachel nodded, and as Regina turned her head to look at the growing plants and clucking chickens, her face dimmed once more. “Rachel, did you live like this when you were small?”
“Is it so bad?” Rachel looked at the faraway mountains. “It has gorgeous rivers and mountains, which makes it an optimum location. Besides, the best place to live is together with your family.”
“You’re right! What’s important is living with your family. Rachel, if you stay with Dad and me, your life will be much better than your childhood.” Unfortunately, Regina was too busy interpreting Rachel’s answer, so she never noticed that Rachel had been looking at Justin when she said it.
Since they needed new furniture for the home, Rachel and Justin visited the town carpenter personally. Regina followed them insistently, sticking to Rachel’s side the entire time.
“These are the specifications we want. Can you build the furniture according to them?”
“The furniture’s not difficult to make because these are the most traditional, basic styles around here. We have plenty of available stock in the storeroom, so we can send them over after some customizations.”
“Really? That’s great!” Rachel was so delighted that she grabbed Justin’s hand.
Regina, seeing this, frowned with annoyance and so tripped over her own feet on purpose. “Oops.”
“You okay?” Rachel held onto her. “I told you to stay in the wheelchair. So why are you on your feet again?”
“My butt hurts.” Regina took advantage of her position and pushed Justin away, then shook her head. “I’m okay, though. But, Rachel, since we’re done picking out the furniture, can we go back now?”
“Of course, come on.” Rachel checked the time, realizing that it was already late.
The sky began to darken as the entourage made their way back. By the time they arrived at the homestay, night had already fallen. Justin was pushing the wheelchair as Rachel walked beside him. Neither of them was talkative, so they responded only occasionally while Regina talked.
They stopped in their tracks as they were about to arrive at the homestay. Rachel was the first to do so.
The roads of the town, paved with stone slabs, had been narrow in the first place and could barely allow a car to pass. But now, the people lined up on both sides of the street made it look much narrower than usual.
“Dad.” Regina was the first to speak. She sounded surprised, clearly not knowing Lionel would be here. Rachel and Justin, however, remained calm since they had already expected this. He would’ve sent someone to take Regina anyway if he hadn’t been here. After all, her special status meant that there would be severe consequences if she came to any harm.
The owner and her family were hiding in the kitchen at the back, making the lounge on the ground floor look empty.
“I’m not going.” Regina was sulky. “Who allowed you to take me back? I want to stay here.”
“Regina, stop being stubborn. The embassy will be alerted if anything happens to you here, and we can’t trouble them.”
“But Rachel’s here too. So if she’s not going, then I’m not either.”
“Please stop troubling your sister.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re not?” Lionel raised his hand. As he did so, a couple of “tourists” at an opposite stall lowered their heads, afraid to look at them.
Regina looked sheepish while Rachel and Justin shared a look as they realized something. Rachel asked, “Regina, do you know them?”
“No,” Regina denied vehemently.
Lionel betrayed her immediately. “They’re her personal bodyguards who arrived one day later than her. I’m assuming they’ve been staying nearby.”
“Why didn’t they show themselves?”
He looked apologetic when he heard her question. “I’m sorry, Rae.”
