Chapter 191
“Alright, let’s drop the sad stuff. Latham, your dad’s a real talker. We even played a round of chess p>
“You must have won,” Latham said with a laugh. “My dad’s terrible at chess p>
Pauline grinned. “He’d get mad if he heard you say that. I’m not that great either. It was Dorothea’s grandpa who loved to play. I just picked up a few moves from watching him all those years p>
“Wow, I can’t believe it’s been so long since Grandpa passed,” Latham said softly.
Dorothea’s throat tightened. The way her grandma sighed just now, there was a kind of quiet loneliness about it. She could tell her grandma really missed him.
Latham noticed the shift in mood and jumped in to lighten the moment. “It’s all good. If you ever want to play, I know the basics. I can keep you company, but I won’t be as good as Grandpa p>
Dorothea glanced at him gratefully. Just then, Latham caught her eye in the rearview mirror. Their gazes held for a second before they both looked away.
He kept driving, and Dorothea let the sad topics drop. She kept her grandma company, chatting about lighter things, and the heaviness in the air slowly faded.
They pulled up to the house. Pauline waved them off. “Alright, you can stop here. I’ll go in myself p>
Dorothea moved to get out too. “Grandma, I’m going to the office this afternoon. Let me walk you inside p>
No one noticed the black sedan parked under the acacia tree just behind the front gate.
Pauline took Dorothea’s arm, ready to head toward the house, when Latham rolled down his window and called out, “Honey, aren’t you forgetting something p>
Dorothea froze. For a moment, she was speechless. Then she remembered what Latham had asked for yesterday.
Did he really have to bring this up now?
Pauline tilted her head, looking between the two of them. “Dorothea, Latham’s calling you p>
Dorothea tried to laugh it off. “I’ll be right back, Grandma p>
She braced herself and walked over to Latham, who was waiting with a lazy, teasing grin.
He leaned out the window, turning
his cheek to her. “It’s just a
morning kiss Dorothea Det
it look like I’m forcing you.
Dorothea leaned in fast, her lips brushing softly against his cheek.
“Happy now?” she whispered, giving him a sharp look.
Latham reached out, gently pinched her cheek, and dropped a quick, noisy kiss on
her face. “Now neither of us got shortchanged p>
Blushing and a little annoyed, Dorothea turned away and hurried back to her grandma’s side.
“Let’s go in, Grandma p>
Pauline couldn’t help grinning,
practically beaming from ear to ear. Young people really did need time together. It had only been a day, and their feelings already seemed stronger. Next time, she would chat with Ladd about the next part of the plan.
Meanwhile, in the black sedan under the acacia tree, Albert sat with dark circles under his eyes, staring hard at the couple who just flirted like that in the open They really seemed like a proper couple. At the wedding, maybe it hadn’t been an act after all. Maybe they were truly together.
Jealousy twisted inside him, making the veins at his temples stand out.
Latham pressed the gas and then rolled down the passenger window. As he drove past the black car, he shot a quick, unreadable glance its way.
For a split second, their eyes met.
Albert pressed his lips together, realizing Latham had seen him.
He waited for Latham to stop, but instead the car sped up and disappeared.
Feeling good, Latham told the car’s Al, “Play ‘A Good Day’ for me. Put it on repeat, a hundred times p>
“Of course, sir. You seem to be in a wonderful mood today. Playing ‘A Good Day’ now p>