The next morning, Anna went to Selinaâs place with some fruit and flowers. Selina was alone in the garden trimming roses when Anna arrived.
The maid opened the gate for Anna and showed her the way to the backyard. She said, âAnna, youâre quite polite. You always bring so much stuff every time you visit your aunt.â
Before Anna could reply, Selina said, âEvery time | see these things, it makes me feel like youâre here to visit a patient.â Anna immediately frowned and said, âNo, Auntie Selina. | brought them because | respect you!â
Selina hadnât smiled at Anna since she walked in. She was âconcentratingâ on the roses and almost cut all the leaves off, and she seemed to also be mad at those flowers as well.
Anna felt terrible for the lovely roses, and then sighed. She sat next to. Selina and asked, âAre you still upset over what happened last night? Donât be angry, it really doesnât matter.â
Selina asked, frowning, âDonât you think it matters? This is your familyâs first meeting with Wayneâs family, for Godâs sake! The Gabriels have a poor reputation, and Iâm afraid the Wrights will look down on you after you get married. Bruce and his family are unbearable people. They not only embarrassed me, but also made you look awful in front of the Wrights. What a bunch of snobs!â
Hearing that, Anna wrapped her arms around Selina and leaned on her shoulder, saying, âGee, Auntie Selina. You know what kind of people they are, and Peter will find out about it if he wants to. Wayne and Peter 337 About Matthewâs Mother are nice people, believe me. Also, they know Iâm not familiar with Uncle Bruce and his lousy family.â
âBut they acted so rude and outrageous last night! They were very eager to get familiar with you, so they can take advantage of you. They didnât even greet you before trying to get you to do something for them. Itâs such a disgrace!â Selina said furiously.
âBut | didnât say yes to them.â
âEven if they had persuaded you, | would not have agreed! Theyâre all idiots! Bruce wouldâve still been poor if your grandfather hadnât adopted him fifty years ago. | hope they could get a job and stop idling around.â
Anna giggled at Selinaâs words and realized she was still as skilled as ever at swearing. When Anna was a child, she was very afraid of Selina when she was angry. However, Anna only found that she was actually amiable now.
Then Anna laughed and said, âIf you keep pruning, youâll get nothing but the branches.â
Selina lowered her gaze to her rose, then asked Anna, âDo you really not care about it? if so, I donât even want to talk to you anymore, Anna.â
Anna exclaimed as she shook Selinaâs arm, âNo. | still need you to plan my wedding for me. If you donât talk to me, then | will have difficulties planning a wedding. I need your help, aunt Selina.â
Selina soon stopped being angry. She smiled and said, âYou were a dependable little girl when you were younger, but how did you become like this now?â Though Selina was grumbling, she was delighted for Anna. Selina could tell Anna was doing well since she seemed happy in love.
Then Selina added, âActually, it would be nice if Wayne didnât have children. | truly donât want you to be someone elseâs stepmother. If 337 About Matthewâs Mother something goes wrong, theyâll all point the finger at you.â
Anna immediately stopped laughing and said seriously, âAuntie Selina, | actually came here to tell you something. Iâve been keeping this a secret for years.â
âWhat is it?â
Anna pursed her lips and said, âItâs about Matthewâs mother.â
In the evening, Ryan helped the waitress clean the tables at his motherâs hotel. Numerous tourists were visiting this town during the recent holidays, so it was often messy.
The waitress asked as she wiped the tables, âRyan, does your mother still have a cold? She hasnât been downstairs in several days, and Iâm worried about her. Is everything okay?â
Ryan frowned and turned to face the first floor. The door to his motherâs room was locked, as he could see through the wooden railing of the stairs.
He explained, âProbably because itâs been so cold lately, so her cold will worsen if she catches a cold breeze. Itâs fine. She just needs a couple more days to rest. Iâll have the cook prepare something sheâll enjoy and send it to her later.â
The waitress nodded and asked, âFine. By the way, how come you came back with your mom this time? You said that you were busy with school and wouldnât be back for a while.â
Ryan made an excuse and said, âIâm not busy anymore.â
âHuh?â
Ryan became irritated and snatched the rag from the waitressâs grasp, saying, âSally, why are you asking me so many questions today? Why donât 337 About Matthewâs Mother you clean up the front desk and stop bugging me?â
The waitress didnât get angry with him. She just sighed and rolled her eyes. As she walked toward the front desk, she said, âIâm not interested in that at all. No wonder your mother is always worried that you canât find a girlfriend. See, you have a really nasty temper.â
Ryan was in no mood te talk to her and said nothing, Jennie had never left her room since they had returned from Birmingham a week before And Ryan had the waiter bring Jennie meals every day, but she was losing weight by the day.
Itwas already dusk. Because it was a local festival that day, most of the guests were out celebrating, and there was almost no one in the hotel. Sally was sitting at the front desk, dozing, After a while, someone opened the door and asked, âIs this the Maplesugar Hotel?â
Sally replied as soon as she awoke, âYes. Are you staying here?â
âYeah.â
âHave you made a reservation?â
âNo, | forgot. Is there a room available?â
Sally observed the man wearing a black bowler hat and clutching a camera. She then lowered her head, checked her computer, and smiled, saying, âLucky you! It just so happens that someone checked the room out at noon. But the cleaners havenât had a chance to clean it yet. Just a moment, Iâll go and clean it for you.â