Chapter 616


    "No!" Karen blurted out, her voice resolute. "Just give me some time, okay? I need to let this sink in


    with them."


    The thought of breaking the news to her parents that her blind date had shifted from Levi to Jeffrey


    was daunting. There was no way her parents would take it lightly.


    She needed a detailed n on how to break it to them and, truth be told, Karen still found the idea


    of her and Jeffrey discussing marriage a bit ludicrous.


    "Alright, you''ve got one day," Jeffrey conceded, setting his final limit. "I''m bringing my parents over


    tomorrow."


    "What''s the rush, Jeffrey?"


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "Just jealous of Everett, I guess. I want my own little ''Langston'' soon, too."


    After seeing Everett with his kids, Jeffrey''s desire for a child of his own had skyrocketed. He was so


    impatient it was almost as if he wanted to kidnap a baby and call it a day.


    ...


    The next morning, Dorothy and Everett left the house early.


    Their first stop was Central Street.


    Since it wasn''t the weekend, the crowd was sparse, only with couples and friends chatting and


    laughing in twos and threes.


    "Want a taste?"


    Everett, donned in a dark trench coat, quickened his pace and bought a maple pecan ice cream


    from a street vendor.


    Dorothy took a bite, "Delicious."


    "Then I''ll have Kevin buy some more and bring them back home."


    "No need for that, really."


    Hand in hand, they continued on their stroll, stopping asionally and snapping several photos


    along the way.


    They followed the navigation to the Saint Cathedral.


    "Wow!"


    The sight of the cathedral in front of her made Dorothy gasp in awe.


    The sky was a striking blue, as if freshly washed by water, creating a visual spectacle against the


    cathedral''s red brick and green domes.


    She took out her phone, eager to capture the moment.


    Standing behind her, Everett suddenly said, "Just taking a picture is boring."


    Dorothy looked up at him, curious. "Then what would be interesting?"


    Everett paused, his gaze shifting to a young student nearby with a backpack. He approached the


    student and tapped his shoulder. "Hey, mind if I borrow a pen and paper?"


    The student was a bit startled by Everett''s presence but nodded in agreement. "Sure, no problem."


    After receiving the writing tools, Everett beckoned Dorothy with a finger.


    "What do you want to write?"


    She got the hint and yfully suggested, "Greetings?"


    Everett chuckled with a hint of exasperation. "Isn''t that a bit trite?"


    "So what do you suggest?"


    With a smile, Everett took the pen and wrote on the paper: Greetings from Everett & Dorothy.


    Dorothy leaned in to read it. "What’s the difference from my idea? I thought you said it was trite?"


    "Trite, yes, but I have to listen to you," he replied with a wink.


    He returned the pen and paper to the student with a thank you, then held up the note in front of


    cathedral.


    "Let''s take the picture this way."


    Dorothyughed and raised her phone, capturing the vibrant blue sky, the exotic cathedral, and their


    note in one frame.


    "You really like it here."


    She nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I remember seeing promotional images of Snowfall City and


    thinking how beautiful it was! But the photos were all snowy. It''s even more beautiful now."


    Everett tucked the note away and took Dorothy''s slightly cold hand in his again.


    "We''lle back when it snows," he promised.


    Dorothy looked at him and smiled. "Yeah."


    "Close your eyes," he suddenly instructed.


    Sheplied instinctively. The next moment, the warmth of his lips pressed gently against hers.