Walter Winslow and Joan Sawyer called when they were almost at the roundabout in Jarton County, so Wyatt Winslow grabbed the car keys and went out to pick them up.
Holly Winslow and the others were at ho preparing the food. Soon, Anna Willow and Iris Kensington arrived with their partners, carrying a fruitcake.
Holly Winslow feigned displeasure. "Since when do you have to bring gifts when you co to my place?"
Iris Kensington said with a wide smile, "It’s not for you, it’s for Uncle Winslow."
With that, she threw herself at Holly Winslow, wrapping her arms around her neck. "Holly, I missed you so much! It’s been too long. You’ve gotten even prettier."
Holly Winslow’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled and gave her a kiss. "Ellie has gotten prettier too."
Anna Willow, not to be outdone, leaned in. "Holly, I’ve gotten prettier too."
Holly Winslow and Iris Kensington nodded at the sa ti, and then they all laughed.
Zeke Zane froze for a mont when he saw Mortir Quincy sitting on a stool, trimming scallions. It wasn’t that he thought Mortir was incapable; he just found it amusing. ’Even the great "don’t ss with " Scholar Quincy has a day like this, huh.’
A few years later, he discovered his day would co too.
eting his gaze, Mortir Quincy shot him a lazy glance, as if to say he was making a big deal out of nothing.
’Unmarried people just don’t get it.’
Zeke Zane sohow understood his aning. "..."
After chatting for a while, Holly Winslow went into the kitchen with Robin Roland to chop vegetables. "Anna, Ellie, you two go sit and watch TV. Hehe, you’re in charge of entertaining your own boyfriends."
Iris Kensington walked into the kitchen with a grin. "We’re not watching TV. We ca to help."
Anna Willow patted Zeke Zane and followed her in. "You go trim the scallions. I’m going to help Holly."
Iris Kensington had never t Robin Roland before, so she glanced at her curiously a few tis before asking Holly Winslow, "Holly, who is she?"
Holly Winslow explained, "This is Aunt Roland."
Iris Kensington said "Oh," then politely added, "Aunt Roland."
Anna Willow knew Robin Roland and had even eaten her cooking a couple of tis. She said cheerfully, "Aunt Roland, you’re cooking! I’m in for a real treat today."
Robin Roland’s cooking was indeed excellent; that was no exaggeration.
Robin Roland was a bit embarrassed by the praise. She smiled and said, "I’m just helping Holly. Holly’s a great cook."
Anna Willow and Iris Kensington knew Holly Winslow’s actual skill level and imdiately burst out laughing. Holly, feigning anger out of embarrassnt, declared, "I’m unfriending you for one minute."
Whenever the three of them were together, they had endless things to talk and gossip about, their laughter frequently ringing out.
Suddenly, the na Xavier Jennings was heard.
Mortir Quincy’s hands paused. Zeke Zane shot him a gloating look.
The next second, Mortir Quincy put down the scallions, stood up, and walked into the kitchen. He opened a cupboard and started looking for sothing.
The mont he ca in, Anna Willow and Iris Kensington stopped talking about Xavier Jennings.
Seeing him fumbling around for a while without finding anything, Holly Winslow glanced at him, puzzled. "What are you looking for?"
"A bowl," Mortir Quincy said, his gaze deep as he looked at her.
Holly Winslow understood. "..."
’This guy is definitely trying to eavesdrop on our conversation.’
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Reaching out, she grabbed one and said with a grin, "Isn’t this a bowl?"
"Not this one. I want the green one," Mortir Quincy said calmly.
Holly Winslow: "..."
Anna Willow and Iris Kensington were just saying that Xavier Jennings was on TV, yet this guy looked as if he’d just been cuckolded.
She pinched him. "There are no green ones. Just take this."
Mortir Quincy slowly ambled out. Iris Kensington tilted her head and whispered, "Holly, your handso cousin seems so docile at ho."
Anna Willow chid in, summing it up in three words: "A little puppy."
Holly Winslow: "..."
’Docile has nothing to do with Mortir Quincy. Wolf is more like it.’
’An untad wolf at night.’
Before she could say anything, Anna Willow whispered again, "A wolf by night, a puppy by day."
Iris Kensington laughed out loud, "Haha!" Holly Winslow: "..."
The tips of her ears grew a little hot.
Seeing her reaction, Iris Kensington knew she’d hit the mark. She deliberately nudged her arm and said with a mischievous grin, "Holly, am I right?"
Holly Winslow: "..."
She grinned and retorted, "Well, what about you two? If you are, then I am. If you’re not, then I’m not."
Instantly, Anna Willow and Iris Kensington fell silent. The next second, the three of them looked at each other and burst out laughing, "Haha!"
In the living room, the three n trimd scallions in silence. Outside the ho, Mortir Quincy basically gave off a "don’t-bother-" vibe.
Although Zeke Zane was talkative, without Pantheon there to take the heat, he decided to keep quiet. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to handle Mortir Quincy’s venomous tongue.
Chris Chaucer was a year ahead of them in school and they rarely interacted, so there wasn’t much for them to talk about.
「...」
When Joan Sawyer and Walter Winslow got ho, they were surprised to see Robin Roland and subconsciously glanced at Wyatt Winslow.
It was no wonder they reacted that way. For years, they had almost never seen a woman of Wyatt Winslow’s age in the Winslow family ho.
She was likely the first one besides Yvonne Lewis.
Wyatt Winslow knew what they were thinking. He pursed his lips. "It’s not what you think."
Walter Winslow and Joan Sawyer were a little disappointed. Walter Winslow let out a "hmph," but rembering it was Wyatt’s birthday, he held back what he wanted to say.
But he sighed internally. ’How can a father rest easy when his son hasn’t started his own family?’
It wasn’t that Holly Winslow wasn’t a filial daughter, but children have their own families and jobs. The ti they can spend at ho is minimal. When that ti cos, Wyatt Winslow will be all alone, without even soone to talk to.
A mont later, Holly Winslow was pulled into a room by Joan Sawyer. Once the door was closed, Joan Sawyer asked, "Holly, who is that woman?"
Holly Winslow understood what she ant and explained, "She’s the mother of a student I used to tutor. Young Yancy is interning at Dad’s factory, so Aunt Roland ca over to take care of him."
"Oh," Joan Sawyer sighed.
"Grandma, Aunt Roland is single, and I think she’s a really nice person."
Holly Winslow actually hoped Wyatt Winslow would stop pining for Yvonne Lewis, but thinking of the photograph she had seen in a drawer in her past life, she pursed her lips.
Joan Sawyer’s face lit up. "What does your dad think about it?"
Holly Winslow was amused by her grandma’s expression. "I don’t know either, but Dad really likes Aunt Roland’s cooking. He weighed himself a few days ago and he’s gained five pounds."
Hearing that her son had gained weight, a smile spread across Joan Sawyer’s face. "No wonder he looks healthier. I ntioned it to your grandpa, and he said, ’Healthier? I doubt it. He just goes through the motions of eating when he’s alone.’"
Gazing at Joan Sawyer’s loving face, a thought suddenly ca to Holly Winslow: Everyone has their misfortunes, but their fortunes as well.
Although Wyatt Winslow didn’t have a good marriage, he had parents who doted on him. It was just like her—she didn’t have a mother’s love, but she had the profound love of a father.
And she had Mortir Quincy’s constant, unwavering affection.
’So things may seem unfair, but if you look at them from another angle, they’re all fair in their own way.’
"Grandma, I’ll be graduating in another year. I’ll take good care of Dad then."
Joan Sawyer patted her hand, gratified. "Holly, you’re your dad’s only daughter. You and Mortir should co back to visit more often. It’s a good thing your families live so close, just a few minutes away."
Holly Winslow nodded.
「...」
The group was chatting animatedly about this and that, making for a lively atmosphere. Before long, Mortir Quincy’s parents also arrived. They brought a gift for Wyatt Winslow, and there was sothing for Holly Winslow too—a collection of snacks from their business trip.
Mortir Quincy, of course, got nothing. But he was used to it. He was used to his wife having a higher status in the family than he did.
But he also reaped the benefits: no mother-in-law versus daughter-in-law drama.
Holly Winslow took out so of the snacks to share with them, then carried the rest back to her room. When she ca out, she saw from the wall clock that it was almost twelve. She authoritatively ordered Mortir Quincy, "Go pick up Young Yancy and bring him back for lunch."
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