Ellen replied, “Oh, no problems at all! I can even climb eight flights of stairs carrying 20 pounds of goods.” Hector laughed. “Let’s not push ourselves at this age. Just work within your means.”
Ellen nodded enthusiastically, smiling as she said, “I’m so glad to see you! Why are you here too?”
“This is my clinic, after all,” he replied happily, after which Eugene made the introductions. “Mom, Mr. Gedding is Olivia’s teacher. Olivia had received help from Mr. Gedding and Mr. Parsons over the years.”
Ellen’s eyes were filled with even more gratitude. “Then you’re my family’s savior.”
The praises were a little too much for Hector, so he hastily said, “Oh, no, ‘saving’ is too strong a word. They didn’t cost me too much effort. Olivia calls me her teacher, but I treat her like my own daughter. There’s no need for such formality between a father and his daughter.”
Ellen smiled in embarrassment. “I’m just too. emotional. I never thought that I could meet you again in this lifetime. I asked Eugene to look for you since then, but he never found you. After so many twists and turns, I didn’t expect us to meet again under such circumstances.”
Hector smiled. ‘It’s all because of fate. To be honest, if it weren’t for Eugene here, I can hardly recognize you. You changed a lot.” Instinctively, Ellen touched her face. “I got much older, right?”
Hector replied earnestly, “No, you got much prettier. In the past, you seemed to be in low spirits, and there wasn’t much of a light in your eyes. Now, you look like a completely new person.”
Eugene and Olivia exchanged glances and smiled. Why did they think that the two looked quite good with each other?
Ellen was a little shy from the praise. “This is all thanks to you. In the past, I spent my days in dread, and I couldn’t find any hope in my life. I couldn’t do anything, and even suicide sounds like a luxury to me. My son worked so hard to save me, so I can’t let him experience the pain of losing a loved one again. I can only force myself to keep living, so how can there be light in my eyes during days like that? Later on, after you cured me, I realized that my numb legs are finally feeling things again. It was only then that I believed what you said-that I can stand on my own!”
To comfort her, Hector said, “Don’t think too much about it. There are better things to come.”
After hearing his motivational words, Ellen smiled. “I’ve always wanted to thank you, and now I finally get to meet you. You have to give me a chance to repay you.”
Hector said, “It’s okay, you don’t have to be so formal about this. Eugene has already given me my reward. Our children are dating, so we’re in- laws now. We don’t have to be so formal with each other.”
Agreeing with his words, she nodded gently. “I know, but Eugene’s gratitude is his only. I have to thank you too. No one knows that you saved not only my legs but also gave me the will to live. Take your time to think about it. You can ask anything of me.”
Eugene chuckled and said, “Mom, why don’t you make a meal for Mr. Gedding first? He’s Criecian too, and he probably doesn’t get to eat authentic Criecian cuisine here.”
Almost instantly, Olivia frowned. “Never mind, Mrs. Nolan. You’ve been on a plane for more than 10 hours, so you must be tired out. You can cook some other time.” Hector agreed. “Yes, we have all the time in the world. I can taste your cooking later.”
However, Ellen didn’t seem to want to rest. “It’s fine, I’m not tired at all. I can whip something up right now. Do you have ingredients at home?”
Eugene said, “Yes, but it’s probably not enough. Mom, let’s go out and buy more.”
Olivia was speechless. What is going on with Eugene? However, she had no choice but to go with them. “You’re new to this place, so Jewel and I will go with you.”
The party entered the supermarket. Jewel and Ellen selected the ingredients earnestly while Olivia lagged behind them. She grabbed Eugene and asked, “What’s up with you?”
Eugene looked at her doubtfully. “What do you mean?”
Olivia asked, “Why are you making your mom work so hard?”
“I have to give her a chance to showcase her cooking skills, right?” Olivia was obviously dissatisfied with the reply. “But it doesn’t have to be today, does it?”
Eugene replied, “Do you think she can just rest peacefully if you tell her to right now?”
