“Why not?”
“Is that even a question?” Becky White blinked, “I’m married!”
“Please.” Sheri scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re not planning on getting a divorce.”
“Divorce?” Becky repeated, frowning in confusion.
“Yeah.”
Sheri continued, “You and Eddy are definitely heading for splitsville… You’re still so young. Don’t tell me you’re not looking to find someone else eventually?” “Well…”
Becky was at a loss for words, “Even if I were looking, now’s not the time. Besides, I barely know him…”
“Then get to know him,” Sheri suggested, half for Becky’s sake, half for Francis’s.
“Who knows, maybe you’ll hit it off?”
Becky frowned, silent for a moment before shaking her head, “No, I can’t… With my past, even if I were divorced, I couldn’t do that to someone. It’s just not right!” She gripped Sheri’s hand, pleading.
“Could you tell Mr. Francis for me? Maybe find a different place to live?”
“That’s doable.”
Sheri couldn’t refuse, given how adamant Becky was.
Patting Becky’s hand, she said, “But, Becky, try to put your worries aside for a moment. What do you think about Henry? He likes you. And you? Do you… feel anything for him?”
“…” Becky was momentarily speechless. Did she like him? She didn’t dislike him, that was certain.
Henry had saved her twice, always polite and gentlemanly, with a kind disposition, the gentlest person she’d met.
But beyond that, as she had said, she couldn’t afford to hope for more.
Sheri didn’t press further, “Just give it some thought. You don’t have to answer me now.”
As for the matter of moving Becky to another place, she’d inform her brother. It was up to him how to handle it.
“Let’s not talk about me anymore.”
Changing the subject, Becky looked at Sheri, “So, you and Gilbert are tying the knot?”
Sheri paused, “You knew?”
“Jane told me,” Becky nodded with a smile. “Given Gilbert’s status and your semi-celebrity circle, it’s all over the news. Won’t you tell me about it?”
belongs to
“I didn’t want to bore you…”
Sheri sighed, “It’s just… whatever he wants, I have to go along with…”
After listening, Becky was silent for a while, then said thoughtfully, “His stubbornness, maybe, just maybe,
means he really… likes ov
Sheri was surprised, “Why would you think that?”
“What else?” Becky offered a rational analysis, “Why would he pressure you if not for that?”
Sheri was stunned.
She realized she didn’t have anything he might want…
“Ah…”
Becky sighed, shaking her head, “If it weren’t for Carol, things might not be like this between you two.”
If?
Sheri was taken aback, her gaze intensifying, “There are no ifs. Hypotheticals are pointless.”
…
At the hospital.
Carol finally got to see Francis while she was awake.
Jokingly, yet with a hint of complaint, she said, “I finally get to see you. Feels like it’s been ages.”
Francis frowned slightly, explaining,
“I was here yesterday, but you were asleep. I didn’t want to wake you…”
swho…”
Carol smiled at him, “Then today, can you stay a bit longer…”
She was interrupted by Francis’s phone ringing.
“Sorry.”
Francis got up to answer.
It was Sheri calling.