"We have, we have. It’s nice that your families are so close. You can get together for a al anyti. That’s a real blessing."
The security guard looked quite envious. His daughter had married and moved to the city. All year, she only ca back for the New Year, and each visit was always a rush before she had to go back.
He could visit her, of course, but it wasn’t his own ho. He felt it would be imposing to go too often.
Besides, he was worried he might cause trouble for his daughter, leading to argunts between her and her husband.
Holly Winslow linked her arm through Brooke Jarvis’s and smiled sweetly. "You’re blessed too, Grandpa Langdon. The last ti I saw Sister Anna, she ca back with so many gifts."
At the ntion of his daughter, the security guard broke into a genuine smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening. "We’re all blessed. We’re all blessed."
After exchanging a few more words, Holly and the others entered the complex. When they arrived in front of a building, Wyatt Winslow glanced at Holly, then at Andre Quincy and his wife. "I’ll be heading back now," he said in a low voice.
Andre Quincy understood the situation with Holly’s family. He and Brooke Jarvis didn’t have their children living with them, but at least there were the two of them, so they always had company. "Wyatt, why don’t you let Holly and Mortir stay at your place? They didn’t say they were coming, so their own place hasn’t been cleaned."
"Let them clean it. They’re grown-ups. Holly, clean it yourself."
Wyatt Winslow pursed his lips. Although he wanted Holly to stay with him, she couldn’t stay at his house every single ti she ca back ho.
Brooke Jarvis smiled and chid in, "Just let them stay at your place. His father and I could use a break."
Holly shook Brooke Jarvis’s arm and said, trying to butter them up, "Mom, Dad, you’re the best."
Brooke Jarvis genuinely didn’t mind where Holly and Mortir slept. Even if the young couple didn’t stay with them, she and her husband would be going back to their own house anyway, so it made no difference.
What outsiders thought wasn’t important; family was what mattered.
She said, "Co over for lunch tomorrow. I’ll have your father buy extra clams and shrimp."
"Okay." Holly nodded.
As they went upstairs, Holly gazed at Wyatt Winslow’s back in front of her and was inexplicably reminded of Zhu Ziqing’s famous essay, "My Father’s Back."
He wore a small black cloth cap, a black cloth jacket, and a deep blue cotton gown. He shuffled to the side of the tracks and slowly leaned down, which was not too difficult. But crossing the tracks to climb onto the platform on the other side—that was not so easy.
He gripped the top of the platform with both hands and drew his legs upward; his portly body leaned slightly to the left, clearly showing the effort it took.
This was the passage that had left the deepest impression on her, because her own father had expressed his love in a similar way.
She suddenly grabbed Wyatt Winslow’s hand. When he turned his head, she whined playfully, "Dad, I’m so tired. Hehe, you’ll have to pull along."
Wyatt Winslow froze for a mont. Once he recovered, he glanced at Mortir Quincy, then back at her. He started to pull his hand away; his daughter was a grown woman now, after all.
But after a few seconds of hesitation, he didn’t pull away, letting her hold on.
"Alright."
Hearing his reply, Holly’s eyes crinkled into a smile. A mont later, her free left hand was taken. She turned to see a certain soone raising an eyebrow at her.
’Wifey, I want to hold your hand too.’
She was speechless. "..."
’Wyatt Winslow’s attitude toward him was a little better in this life, and this guy was already pushing his luck.’
Now that they were back, they had to visit their respective grandparents.
The next morning, Holly bought so gifts. They first went to visit Carl Quincy and his family. After lunch, they went to see Walter Winslow and his family.
When they arrived, Walter Winslow and Joan Sawyer were at ho watching TV. Walter was cursing at a character on the screen, looking like he wanted to jump right into the television and kill the man himself. "Son-of-a-bitch traitor! Back in my day, we would’ve just put a bullet in people like that!"
He never stopped talking throughout the show, and Joan Sawyer’s ears were going numb. She shot him a glare. "Walter, can you just watch TV quietly? If you’re going to be so noisy, go outside."
"Why can’t I say it? He *is* a traitor." Walter Winslow’s eyes widened.
Joan Sawyer couldn’t be bothered to argue. "Then watch it by yourself. You’re so annoying! I can’t even watch TV in peace."
As she got up and turned, she saw Holly and Mortir Quincy coming in with bags and exclaid in delight, "Holly, Miles, you’re here!"
Hearing this, Walter Winslow whipped his head around. The anger on his face from a mont ago was replaced by a huge smile. "I told your grandmother you two would co today, but she didn’t believe ."
Holly put the gifts on the table and asked with a grin, "Grandma, what were you and Grandpa talking about just now?"
Joan Sawyer shot Walter Winslow a look and said irritably, "We were watching TV with your grandpa. You know how he gets. As soon as the TV is on, he won’t shut up. He’s given a headache with all his noise."
"What do you an, I won’t shut up? That’s nonsense."
Walter Winslow denied it, then chuckled. "The other day, your dad brought back a lon. A cantaloupe, he called it. Strange-looking thing. I’ll go slice it up for you."
"Grandpa, let Mortir do it. That’s his specialty," Holly said playfully, making a slicing motion with her hand.
There was no way Joan Sawyer was going to let Mortir do it. She smiled. "Let your grandpa go. Otherwise, he’ll just start his non-stop comntary again, and my head might actually explode."
Walter Winslow harrumphed. "You’re just like your son. Holly is the one who takes after ; she never says a bad word about ." With that, he happily went into the kitchen to slice the lon.
After telling Holly and Mortir to sit down, Joan Sawyer said, still worried about Walter, "I’m going to check on your grandpa. He hasn’t been too steady on his feet lately."
Once she had gone into the kitchen, Mortir leaned close to Holly. "Wifey, we’ll be just like them when we’re old."
Holly shook her head in mock disgust. "Mortir, I’d probably find you annoying."
"Did you see my grandma? She still looks so young." She raised her eyebrows, suggesting he should be a little worried about getting old.
Mortir thought for a mont, then said seriously, "That’s fine. When you take up square dancing, I’ll go with you every single day."
Holly: "..."
She rolled her eyes. "Who wants to do square dancing? When I get old, I’m going to do those super sexy, srizing dances. The kind that will make all the old geezers swoon."
Mortir’s eyes narrowed. "Dances that make old geezers swoon?" he said, displeased. "Wifey, have you ever heard the phrase ’old but vigorous’?"
Holly understood instantly. "..."
The conversation ca to a dead stop.
A voice from the TV shouted, "Charge!" It was followed by the sound of rapid gunfire.
The next second, Walter Winslow ca running out of the kitchen and stood transfixed, watching the battle on screen. Joan Sawyer followed, carrying a platter of fruit. "Why don’t you just climb right into the TV?"
Walter was so engrossed in the show this ti that he didn’t say a word.
Holly couldn’t help but laugh. Joan Sawyer placed the fruit platter in front of them. "Miles, Holly, help yourselves."
After a few minutes, once the exciting part of the show was over, Walter thought of sothing. "Take so of this lon over to the Lester family," he said. "Let them have a taste."
Joan Sawyer nodded. "I set so aside in the kitchen. You can take it over. I’ll stay and chat with Holly."
Before Walter could respond, Mortir stood up, looking eager and well-behaved. "Grandpa, Grandma, I’ll go."
Holly: "..."
She gave him a strange look.
Walter figured the neighbors probably didn’t know Mortir yet, so this was a good opportunity for them to get acquainted. He chuckled. "Go on, then. They’re right next door."
「The Lester Residence」
Shane Lester, dressed in a black down jacket, paused when he saw Mortir Quincy in a denim jacket and hoodie. Before Shane could say anything, the man in front of him smiled. "Hello. I’m Holly Winslow’s husband."
"I brought sothing for you guys."
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