It was as if Gilbert had read Sherilyn’s mind when he suddenly brought up his past.
Grinning, he said, I mean, before I ended up with the Johnsons… I had to fend for myself.
Life hadn’t been kind to him after he ran away from the Harrisons.
Just a kid, having escaped from the Harrisons, he found himself kidnapped by traffickers.
Because I was getting older…
Gilbert smiled softly, casually narrating his past.
The traffickers couldn’t find a buyer for me, so they kept me around to cover for them. Along the way, I had to do laundry, cook, you name it… Eventually, I got the hang of it all… Those were tough times.
That was until he met Caroline and Francis.
For a long while, it was just the three of us, helping each other out, practically inseparable.
Eventually, they managed to escape that hellhole together…
Knowing Sherilyn wasn’t fond of Caroline, Gilbert didn’t dwell on it.
Sherilyn, guessing some of it, kept her head down, quietly continuing her meal.
Eating the steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup, Sherilyn slurped it down spoonful after spoonful, beads of sweat forming on her forehead and the tip of her nose. Slow down.
Gilbert chuckled, pulling out a napkin and leaning in to wipe her sweat.
I’ve got it.
Taking the napkin, Sherilyn wiped her nose and mouth, then asked, You and Francis, you both have families. What about Caroline? Doesn’t she have one?
… Gilbert paused, then shook his head, No.
How come? Sherilyn was puzzled, She must come from somewhere, right?
Perhaps.
Gilbert sighed, Francis and I asked, but she said she was too young when she was taken to remember anything.
Too young? Sherilyn was confused again, But aren’t young kids usually sold off?
That’s usually the case.
Gilbert nodded, hesitating before adding, She was very perceptive from a young age. She managed to charm the leader of the traffickers. As she grew older, especially being a girl, she wasn’t sold. I see… Sherilyn nodded.
It wasn’t hard to imagine Caroline had such skills.
I’m full.
Putting down her utensils, Sherilyn
stood up,
and
pointing outside, Jenna
are in the garden, right?
swnov
Yes.
Then I’ll go find Jenna! I didn’t see her last night…
Alright.
Gilbert nodded, standing up to follow her.
Stepping outside, they were greeted by Jenna’s laughter from the garden.
Hahaha…
The little one was on the swing, laughing and shouting, Higher! Sophia, push me higher! Sherilyn ran towards her daughter, Jenna, mommy’s here!
Mommy, wow!
Gilbert stopped in his tracks, not advancing further, but silently watching, being there.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Picking it up, Gilbert frowned in confusion.
Was it Sylvia?
His grandmother was reaching out to him?
What could it be?
Half an hour earlier.
Hospital.
Sylvia had awakened, moved from the ICU to a regular ward, still weak and in need of recuperation.
Cara had come to visit Sylvia, bringing along the account book.
Ever since Caroline moved out, the household finances had gone back to Sylvia’s control.
It had been years since she last managed them, and picking it back
up, along with her fluctuating health,
she bad asked Cara tov
QUMS
Cara, always organized, had been sorting out the accounts
intermittently, comparing the net
the records of the past few
swears.
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