Around 3:00 PM, Don Quixote stood at his front door, smoking one cigarette after another.
The sounds of laughter and joy from the surrounding hos made him seem out of place in the neighborhood.
Bei Ling Ridge had a considerable number of Italian immigrants. Compared to the Angsa and other Latin Arican ethnic groups, their sense of family was much stronger, especially during this holiday.
"Hey, Don Quixote, old buddy," Mr. Stanford said as he drove by. "Where’s your nephew?"
"He went out to chase girls," Don Quixote said, tossing his cigarette butt to the ground and stomping it out. "He’ll be back in a bit."
Stanford parked his car in front of the house and walked over.
"There’s sothing I need to tell you," he said, pointing at the lawn around Don Quixote. "During the Thanksgiving holiday, if you have the ti, you should probably take care of the lawn. You’re a mber of the hoowners’ association, so you need to set a good example..."
Don Quixote froze for a mont. Having spent so much ti living in the basent, he had completely forgotten about having to regularly maintain his front lawn. He apologized profusely and promised to take care of it the next day.
"That’s a small matter..." Mr. Stanford waved his hand. "The main reason I stopped is sothing else. You did a pretty great job with the holiday decorations recently, right? The president of a hoowners’ association over in Dyker Heights was asking about it. He wants to contract you for their community’s Christmas decorations."
As he spoke, he took out a business card with a matte finish that looked quite expensive.
However, Don Quixote didn’t seem particularly interested. On the contrary, he appeared rather unconcerned about the job.
"What’s wrong, buddy?" he asked with concern. "You seem really on edge."
"I..." Don Quixote hesitated for a mont, then waved his hand. "Never mind. Forget it."
"Co on," Stanford said warmly. "You can co over to my place and share so turkey with us."
Just as Don Quixote was about to refuse, a Cadillac Escalade ca around the corner and pulled up to the house at a leisurely pace.
The driver and front passenger doors opened simultaneously, and Li Wei and a young girl jumped out.
"Did you rember everything I told you?" Li Wei asked her. "This way, you’ll be able to see your dad at least once a month."
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh," Lily nodded eagerly, clutching a huge ice cream. "Mommy locked up. This was an ergency evacuation."
"Aweso," Li Wei praised. "Huh? Mr. Stanford?"
"Lily!"
Before Mr. Stanford could say a word, Don Quixote had already rushed forward and swept Lily up into a tight hug.
"Ow, Daddy!" Lily protested, pushing his face away. "Didn’t you shave today?"
"How did you convince that bit—" Don Quixote glanced at Lily and quickly corrected himself. "—convince Catherine to let you bring Lily out?"
"Mommy locked in my room. I couldn’t get out by myself," Lily said, licking her ice cream. "Li Wei helped get out."
"Let’s put that aside for a mont," Don Quixote said. "Did Li Wei buy you this ice cream?"
"Yep." Lily took another big lick.
"You’re too young to be eating ice cream; it’ll upset your tummy," Don Quixote said, shooting a glare at Li Wei. "Let’s go inside. Mr. Stanford, can we talk about this after the holiday?"
Li Wei shrugged helplessly. He and Lily had already rehearsed their lines on the way over.
He then recalled Don Quixote ntioning that Lily’s favorite treat was the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 3, so he had made a special trip to buy her a large one. (Chapter 17)
Once inside, Li Wei explained the situation to Don Quixote.
"This is too risky!" Don Quixote said, frowning. "What if soone saw you? If that damned bitch finds out, I’m finished."
"That won’t happen," Li Wei said. "I’ve invited soone very capable to help."
"Who?"
DING DONG! The doorbell rang.
Li Wei glanced at his watch. "Speak of the devil," he said. "You go get the door."
"Why ?" Don Quixote grumbled as he walked to the door. "Susan?!"
Standing at the door was none other than Susan—Don Quixote’s current boss and a major shareholder, whom he and Li Wei had rescued (though Don Quixote himself was unaware of this).
She was wearing light makeup today, a rare sight. "Earlier this morning, Li Wei asked how I was spending Thanksgiving. When he found out I had nowhere to go," she explained, "he told you were spending the day with your daughter and invited to join."
She was holding a huge apple pie. "I brought apple pie."
"P-Please, co in," Don Quixote said, opening the door hesitantly. He felt a bit awkward. "Uh... sit wherever you’d like."
Lily ca scampering out, instantly catching Susan’s eye.
"Oh my goodness, if I’m not mistaken, is that the chocolate drink from ’Serendipity 3’?" Susan put down the apple pie, then crouched down with a smile to be at eye level with Lily. "Even in Manhattan, it’s not easy to get one of those. The lines are always so long."
"Li Wei bought it for !" Lily said, holding up the huge cup and presenting it to Susan like a treasure. "Do you want a sip? Sister?"
That single word—"Sister"—clearly delighted Susan, and the smile crinkling the corners of her eyes deepened instantly.
"Thank you, sweetie. It’s a sha I didn’t know a little cutie like you would be here, or I would have brought you a gift," Susan said as she took off her cashre coat and hung it on the rack. "Is your turkey ready yet, Don Quixote?"
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