Angela was well aware that she had acted unreasonably, but she knew that Zelda was gentle and sensible, so she assumed that Zelda would do her bidding.Back then, Zelda had been on the outs with the Stiggs because she had insisted on marrying Kenneth. Zelda never asked the Stiggs for a penny, even when she couldn't afford to eat. It was after Kenneth became successful in his career that Zelda took the initiative to make peace with the Stiggs.Zelda forgave Mary for everything, even though she tried to steal Kenneth from her. After Mary got married far away, Zelda cared for her and even went out of her way to support her. After an unexpected earthquake and the loss of Rebecca, Zelda still forgave Mary.However, everything was different now. As Angela looked at the countless vibrant flowers in front of her, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't been against Zelda in the first place.She remembered how she had prayed for Rebecca to come back safe and sound. She was delighted when Re
Zelda frowned and looked at Angela in confusion. "Mom, I don't think what I said earlier is disrespectful. I've already made my point. What else do you want from me?""You!" Angela was too angry to find the right words. She knew Zelda was right. She just couldn't stand that Zelda was treating her like a guest.A whirlwind of emotions washed over Angela as she saw Rebecca clinging to Zelda's arm. All Angela wanted was a close relationship with Zelda. Even if it couldn't be as close as it had been with Mary, it shouldn't have to be so distant.Angela felt devastated. Her anger seemed absurd as she looked into Zelda's indifferent eyes. She knew she had no right to get mad. Her demands for Zelda were endless, yet she still hoped for forgiveness."Mom, it's getting late. I'm not hungry, but the children must eat. Let's talk after dinner," Zelda said. Anger and guilt were written on Angela's face. Yet, Zelda ignored her and went to comfort Cerys, who was still in Penny's arms. "Cerys,
After lunch, Zelda headed upstairs to rest. She was emotionally drained from the recent events. She probably wouldn't have any appetite if Rebecca wasn't by her side.Everyone seemed to eat peacefully. Only Zelda felt how unbearable it was. She never thought there would be a time when she couldn't stand to hear Angela talk. As soon as she finished eating, she went straight back to her room. Everyone knew Zelda's health was not great, so no one found it strange that she had excused herself.Rebecca had cooked the food herself, and it tasted good. Everyone except Zelda seemed to enjoy it. Even the not-so-happy Angela ate quite a bit.Rebecca was very much aware of her culinary skills. She ate her food at a slow pace. She was just beginning to feel full by the time everyone else had finished.Penny went for a walk with Oliver and Cerys. The only person left at the table was Angela, who seemed to be quite satisfied with her meal. She reluctantly put down her utensils when everyone le
Rebecca smiled. She thought Angela was wrong. Losing a lot over the years had made her who she was. Now, she was even careful around her family when they seemed unkind.Before, she felt she had to be meek and mild in front of the elders, just like Zelda had been. After all she had experienced, she knew not to blindly follow the elders, but to be critical of their words.With a sigh, Angela continued, "I was glad when you came back from Riverwood. Yet, our family is in a difficult spot right now for many reasons and you're one of the big ones. That's why I wanted to talk to you."Perhaps a little tired from the walk, Angela took a seat on the wicker bench. She sat in the middle of the bench and left Rebecca with no choice but to stand. Yet, Rebecca didn't mind at all. She didn't want to sit with Angela even if she had asked her to."Grandma, so, what do you want to talk about?" Rebecca asked with a smile. She showed no displeasure to Angela.Angela would have changed her mind about
Angela was stunned. With a sense of guilt, she explained, "To love someone is to take care of them and everything that is connected to them. It works the other way around as well. You should be able to understand that."Her point was that her hatred of Rebecca was the reason for her hatred of Zelda."I realize now that I hold quite a place in your heart." Rebecca chuckled."You're my granddaughter. How can you not be in my heart?" Angela insisted stubbornly.Rebecca changed the subject. "I've barely spent a year in Rookfort, and we've hardly met up. And yet you resent me and my mom. Isn't that what you've been saying?"Angela pursed her lips and scowled at her. That was indeed what she was saying. Her pettiness was obvious now that Rebecca had pointed it out so bluntly.Rebecca had long felt that Angela was nothing like she remembered. The sight of Angela struggling to find the right words was absurd to her. Perhaps Rebecca would not have despised Angela if she had just admitted
"Grandma, I'm not going to do anything. It's just that your words remind me of something. Since you are so fond of Mary, who is also your daughter, I suppose she wouldn't mind taking care of you, would she?" Rebecca replied calmly with a smile.Angela frowned. "What do you mean?"Rebecca had a broad smile on her face. "I don't mean anything. I just think that what you just said makes sense. I'll talk to my mom about relieving the housekeeper who looks after you. It'll save you some trouble.""You—" Angela was about to retort but Rebecca turned away without bothering with the look on her face.She wasn't being heartless even though she said those words. As she walked past the housekeeper, she didn't dismiss her. She simply told her to look after Angela's health and worry about nothing else.Angela was getting old anyway, so Rebecca figured she should just leave her alone. There was no need to mistreat Angela since the Johnsons weren't lacking in material wealth.However, Rebecca f
Zelda grinned as she watched Rebecca pick out the cookies she wanted. Later, Zelda tried another one. It looked strange but tasted good, just like the one Rebecca had given her. It was crunchy and tasty.Zelda ate while she watched Rebecca, who was absorbed in her phone while enjoying the cookies. Suddenly, she had a feeling of pride in the realization that she wasn't so bad at cooking after all. It occurred to her that practice makes perfect.Even though her dishes might not be appetizing to the eyes, they could still be delicious to the palate. Any lingering unpleasantness in her heart immediately disappeared. She decided to experiment with making more dishes for her family going forward.Zelda leaned back. She was finally able to enjoy her coffee. She had been restless and torn between her respect for Angela and her desire to protect her family. But now she decided to let it go. Angela wasn't particularly fond of her anyway."Becca, if Grandma's presence bothers you, I'll have s
Zelda used to feel inferior to Mary because Angela favored Mary more. She thought that Angela's bond with Mary might be similar to her bond with Rebecca. Rebecca's kind words always warmed Zelda's heart. They made her want to give Rebecca all she had.Zelda wondered if Angela felt the same way about Mary. Yet, she decided to stop worrying. She knew that equality was a matter of will. She always did her best, even if she couldn't be perfectly fair with her children.Whether her children were mature or playful, they were all wonderful to her and she loved them all equally. Likewise, Zelda realized that she was good enough just the way she was.The afternoon was beautiful, with the chirping of cicadas and the singing of birds in the lush trees. The sunlight streamed through the colorful flowers in the conservatory and landed on the wooden table. The warmth seemed to melt away all the sadness.Angela walked slowly toward the house while using her cane for support. The conservatory upst