Chapter 14
Chapter 14
After all, she’d always just called her own grandfather, Fortune Kensington, “Hey!” Instead of “Grandpa p>
Keeley was fond of saying that Fortune Kensington had raised an ungrateful brat.
But today-
That brat seemed like a completely different person.
Keeley stifled her surprise and asked, “So… where’s your grandfather?
“My grandfather had something come up unexpectedly. He’ll be here a little later.” As she spoke, Caitlin placed the supplements she’d brought on the nightstand. “Keeley, all these are from my grandfather. He bought them for you and hopes you get well soon p>
Keeley just stared at Caitlin.
She didn’t say a word for a long moment
What had this girl been through?
How did she change so suddenly p>
Caitlin, unfazed by Keeley’s gaze, pulled out a canister of powdered milk from the bag. “Keeley, let me make you a glass of milk. It’s full of protein, calcium, and iron–should help your recovery”
Without waiting for a reply, Caitlin deftly mixed up a warm glass of milk 8
Keeley took the cup and needed a few seconds to process what was happening. Thethank you
She couldn’t help but wonder what this girl was really up to.
Still, somewhere deep down, Keeley genuinely hoped Caitlin had changed for real–so that old friend Fortune Kensington could finally have some peace and happiness in his twilight years.R
When Keeley finished her milk, Caitlin continued, “Keeley, since it’s hard for you to get around, let me grab a wheelchair and take you for a stroll in the hospital garden, okay p>
Back when Keeley was young, his family had been too poor for him to marry. It wasn’t until middle age that he finally found a wife–a divorcee with three kids. Even though she’d been married before, Keeley never minded. He treated her and her children with nothing but kindness, handed over every penny he earned, and worked himself to the bone for them. He’d always believed that if you gave people your heart, they’d return it in kind. But after years of raising those three kids, once his wife passed away, they turned on him in a heartbeat–kicked him out of the house and brought their biological father in to take his place.
Now, Keeley had nothing. He’d been in the hospital for weeks without a single family member visiting, let alone inviting him to stroll through the garden.
So when Caitlin offered to take him outside, Keeley felt an unexpected warmth bloom inside him.
“Well, that’s.. that’s very kind of you,” he said, a little embarrassed
it’s no trouble at all, Calin replied, wheeling in a chair from the hallway.
Early summer had painted the hospital gardens in every color–flowers everywhere, the scenery truly beautiful.
The sun was a bit strong, so Caitlin parked the wheelchair under a large gazebo for some shade.
The pavilion was big, already sheltering several people from the heat.
Nearby, a woman in her sixties was chatting with a young couple who had a baby in their arms.X
“So, you two only have one daughter?” the older woman asked.I
“That’s right,” the young mother replied with a nod p>
The older woman tsked, “Well, you’d better hurry up and have a son next p>
The young father answered politely, “We’re not planning on having a second child p>
That set the older lady off–she stood up, clearly agitated. “Not having another? That won’t do at all! Without a son, your family line ends hore! When you die, you’ll be condemned for it
ury you? Isn’t that just
She shook her head in mock sonow “Just think–when you’re old, without a son to look after you, who’ll even bury tragic?
“ Auntie, it’s the twenty–first century. Men and women are equal now–what you’re saying is really outdated.” the young woman couldn’t help but interject.
“Equal? What nonsensel Listen, young lady, no matter what er it is, women just can’t compare to men. Tell me, in all of history, how many women have ever contributed to our country or society? Isn’t it always the men holding everything up p>
Just as Gordon left and Beatrice wandered into the garden for some fresh air, she caught this string of backward nonsense drifting over
from the gazebo.lt
Her blood pressure instantly spiked. She was about to march over and give that narrow–minded, man–worshipping old bat a piece of her mind–when a clear, pleasant female voice cut through the air p>