It was rare for the whole family to travel together, after all.Irene tousled Tommy's hair and said, "You're that happy, huh?"Tommy nodded and hugged her, asking, "Where are we going?"Irene had no idea, so she asked the man who was driving, "Where are we going?"She needed to take care of Baby and Tommy, so she had to stay in the backseat, while only Isaac sat in the front row."I'll decide for the day. How about that?" he said."Okay." Irene smiled—there were plenty of places worth visiting, but Isaac was used to most and was therefore not interested.Moreover, the children might not be interested as well, so he had gone out of his way to find some that would suit the children.They drove for a way, passing multiple neighborhoods with plenty of detached housing. It was sparsely populated and a lot less congested than Zidonia, making for a good living environment—other factors notwithstanding. It was not surprising Mick Gooding would get to this place and refuse to move aft
Still, Irene scoffed. "Well, I can give you that much. But was it glamorous?"Zachary was speechless in turn—his marriage was certainly a dark part of his history and mentioning it was just hurting himself.He quickly changed the subject. "Do you like grapes? We washed them before bringing them over—I'll get it for you."Irene caught his sleeve. "By the way, does it count as your second marriage if you marry again?"Zachary sighed. "You used to respect me so much, but you've really changed. You're just like Isaac now."Isaac shot Zachary a cool, warning glare right then. "Does it kill you to stay quiet?" "How boring would it be for everyone if I did?" Zachary retorted calmly and feebly. "It's a nice day out with nice weather but we have nothing to do. Staying quiet would be a waste, so I'm just making the best out of a difficult situation, you know.""What's difficult about your situation? Don't you have a daughter? What more do you want?" Isaac asked, still upset about how Zac
Tommy blinked his large eyes hopefully at Isaac, hoping for Isaac's acknowledgment.Isaac bit off a chunk, chewed, and seriously commented, "It's alright."Tommy blinked, but it was a praise, was it not? He giggled before running off, skipping.Irene smiled as she watched Tommy being so happy.Bzzt…Her phone started to ring in her pocket, and she picked it up to answer. A man asked, "You're Lulu's best friend, right?" It was a familiar voice—Irene recognized him as one of the members of Martin York's squad, back when she met up with Lulu at New Kent."Yes. Why do you have her phone? Where is she?" Irene replied, sharply noticing that something went wrong.It should be Lulu talking if she was asking for her. So why was it this man instead?"Lulu was hurt—"Irene sprang to her feet right then and asked urgently, "What happened?! How did she get hurt?! Is it serious?!"The man was quiet for a moment before saying, "It is a little serious, but her life isn't in danger, so
Holding up a skewer of grilled mushrooms, Zachary said, "You don't usually get this either. Exclusively imported matsutake."Irene did not care. "It's just mushrooms.""Could you at least try before you give a comment?" Zachary smiled wryly. "It's not your usual mushroom either."Irene took a skewer and tried it, but it really was good.Baby tripped and fell just then, and she quickly got up. "You two can eat. I'm checking up on Baby."Zachary turned to watch her as she left. "Why do I have this feeling that she's deliberately avoiding me?"Isaac shot him a cool look. "Does she have to? Why do you think you are?""Hey now, you know she's close with Lulu," Zachary told him. "She knows a lot about Lulu, but she just won't tell me."Isaac was left speechless, but he quickly changed the subject. "Call James. Ask him when he's going back to Franconia."Zachary was left speechless—Isaac was the one who told him not to bother James, since James just got married! And Isaac was now ask
Isaac frowned slightly as he replied, "We're outside.""Where?" James pressed—there was no helping it, since Erin was complaining about being bored when they were supposed to spend the day together. She then suggested visiting Irene and taking Tommy outside to play, only to arrive at their lodgings to find it empty.Isaac asked in return, "You have a lot of free time today, huh?"James was a little speechless—he should indeed be spending time together with his new bride.He could not help sighed feebly as he glanced at Erin as she drove beside him, since she really preferred it lively."Pretty much," he chuckled.Isaac gave him the address. "Come over. I happen to have something to tell you.""Okay," James replied cheerfully.As soon as he lowered his phone, Erin asked impatiently, "Where did they go? They should stay at home…"James turned toward her. "What, are they supposed to wait there for you?"Erin smiled—it was just bad phrasing.Still, James told her where they we
Irene's gaze was tender as she watched Erin being lively again.Erin had become quiet and withdrawn after what happened, and she was more or less comforted to see Erin's personality reverting to how it was before.Meanwhile, Isaac was speaking with James, probably discussing going back to Franconia.Things were fine for them since there was nothing stopping them, mainly because James and Erin were just married and could stay here for a while.Isaac was giving him a head's up, but James said, "I can go back to Franconia with you."James got married quickly so that he could go back to work, and his leg was more or less better even though it was not fully healed. Most importantly, he was bored out of his mind here, while he and Erin had already agreed to go back to Franconia once they were married—even if they might stay another couple days."I'll arrange for the return flight," James said, since he was always the one who arranged it. Isaac simply clapped him on the shoulder. "D
When Isaac did not respond, Irene messed with him by reaching underneath his collar, but he put a hand over hers, stopping her.Glancing behind at her, he said, "In two days, ideally."With that, he hung up, and turned around to wrap his arms around her waist, holding her tightly against himself.They could feel each other's warmth through the fabric.Irene looked up then, her hair still a little wet and bearing the lingering freshness of shampoo as she asked, "What would be ideal in a couple days?""Weren't you planning on going back to Zidonia? I'm asking someone to arrange for it in two days," Isaac replied.She was indeed in a hurry to visit Lulu. In fact, remembering Lulu left her a little unsettled, especially since the officer who called Irene had been stammering but did not tell her how Lulu was. It was certainly weighing down on her mind, and she was intending to get comfortable with Isaac, only to lose interest just then. "Take a bath. I'm going to bed…"Isaac was
Zachary's eyes caught the hickey on her neck, and he raised a brow.He understood everything but feigned ignorance. "Then why are you getting so nervous about nothing? You're stammering too, like you were caught in the act for doing something naughty."Irene feigned composure and retorted, "What are you talking about?""You know exactly what I'm talking about," Zachary replied. "Just look at your face. It's as red as a beet.""You really have a lot of time on your hands, don't you?" Isaac walked over to them and gave Zachary a stare. "Could you shut it?"Zachary was speechless for a moment, but he cleared his throat. "I'm just jealous."It was first Irene and Isaac, and then James and Erin—everyone got to find their better halves and happy endings.Only he never got what he wanted…It was not quite right since he has a daughter now, but it was still a shame that his daughter was motherless."Stan's worse off than you are," Isaac suddenly said.Zachary laughed right then, "Tru