“No way.” Gilbert shook his head, his voice low and husky, filled with hesitation, “To me, you’re like a brother, just like my actual big brother.” Brother? Sibling?
Hmph. Caroline scoffed silently, “And what about Sherilyn? Is that love then? No, I don’t buy it!”
Her voice was thick with skepticism.
“Even if it is! Where in this world does undying love exist? Didn’t Francis once say it was only me forever? Total BS!”
Her agitation grew, grabbing Gilbert’s arm, her eyes sparkled with a strange light.
“Gilbert! Give up on Sherilyn! From now on, start seeing me as a woman you could love, wouldn’t that solve everything? Be with me, okay?” “Caroline! Calm down!”
Gilbert caught her wrist, gently prying her fingers open, “What’s between us, has nothing to do with Sherilyn. Even without her, we could never be. I’ve never felt that way about you… You, me, the big guy, we’re family, siblings, don’t you get it?” He paused, then added, “If not Sherilyn, it would’ve been someone else.”
…Just never you!
“…” Caroline was utterly stunned, her grip on his hand loosening gradually.
Gilbert stepped back, silent for a moment, then turned to leave.
He hadn’t gone far when he stopped and turned back to Caroline, who sat dazed, “Sherilyn has accepted my proposal. We’re… getting married.”
Turning away, he didn’t pause again, exiting the room.
Caroline sat in the wheelchair, her gaze drifting.
She could hear him outside, instructing the nurse, “Keep an eye on her, don’t leave her alone.”
“Of course, Mr. Johnson.”
Hmph.
Caroline’s lips curved in a cold smile. Was he worried she might ‘lose it’ again?
Would she? No, she wouldn’t!
He and Sherilyn were getting married, weren’t they? Then how could she consider dying? She had to live, to really live, and see if they could truly be happy in the end! She looked down at her legs, everyone else paired up, happy? And she was left to rot alone?
What a joke.
…
As the weather warmed, the mornings brightened early.
When Gilbert arrived at Sunset Ridge Community, Sherilyn had just gotten up, not yet ready for the day. Sophia was busy in the kitchen, coming to open the door. “Morning.”
At the doorstep, Gilbert held a bunch of flowers in one hand and a bag from Crimson Table in the other.
“Fresh out of the oven egg tarts, your and Jenna’s favorite.”
“Thanks.” Sherilyn took them, not saying much else.
“I’ll go check on Jenna.”
“She’s still asleep…”
“That’s okay, I’ll just wait with her.”
Sherilyn didn’t stop him, unwrapping the flowers, finding a vase, filling it with water, and arranging them inside.
Soon, the room filled with the sounds of father and daughter.
“Mr. Gilbert, good morning.”
“Morning, Jenna.”
Gilbert handed her clothes to her, “Wow, Jenna, your dress is so pretty today.”
Jenna twirled in her dress, “Wow, I look so fab!”
“Fab?” Gilbert raised an eyebrow, “What’s that?”
“It means fab!”
Jenna blinked her big eyes, earnestly explaining, “Mr. Gilbert is cool! Jenna is fab!”
“Oh, haha…” Gilbert couldn’t help but laugh, nodding in agreement. “Makes sense.”
Watching his daughter’s adorable antics, Gilbert reached out, affectionately ruffling her hair, “So Jenna, how about living forever with your super cool Mr. Gilbert, how does that sound?”