Chapter<b>112</b>


    Lucasdidn’tunderstandwhyhisgrandmothersuddenlybroughtupthisissue,buthecouldonlyendureitsilently.


    “Iunderstand,Grandma.I’lltreatmywifewell.”


    Barbarahuffed.“That’smorelikeit.”


    Withthat,shereleasedLucas‘ear,whichwasalreadyredfrombeingtwisted.


    Aveline,hidingbehindanearbybush,sawthissceneandpressedherlipstogether.Atfirst,shewaspleased.Buthermoodquicklyturnedsomber.


    Afterall,BarbarawasLucas‘grandmother.Evenifshescoldedhim,shewouldn’tletanythingreallyhappentohim.Thethingsshesaid.-Avelinedidn’tbelievethem,andshedoubtedLucasdideither.


    Forgetit.


    Therewasnopoint.


    JustasAvelinewasabouttoturnandleave,agentlevoicecalledout,“MadamBarbara.”


    Aveline’sbodystiffened.SheturnedandsawSophiawalkinginfrom


    theentrance.


    Sheworeabeigelongdressthatreachedherankles,butherprostheticlegwasstillnoticeable.Herhairwasdrapedoverhershoulders,herlightmakeupwaselegant,andshelookedgentleandgraceful.


    Barbaralookedather.“Whoareyou?”


    Sophiaopenedthelidofthesnackcontainershewasholdingandofferedittoher.“MadamBabara,it’sme,Sophia.”


    Barbara’sattentionshiftedtothespacks.“Oh,it’syou


    Shetookapieceandstartedeating


    Sophiasaid.“MadamBabara,youstilllikethesesnodes.Tusedtomake themforyouoften.”


    Barborasmiledassheare“Really?Areyouthegoodatmakingstocks?Willyoumakethemformeagain.


    Sophianodded.“Ifyoulikethem,I’llmakethemforyouofte


    Barbarabeamed.“Ilikethemverymuch.Iespeciallylikethem


    Sophia’ssmiledeepened..


    SophialookedatLucas“Whatacoincidence,Ididn’texpectyoutobeheretoo.”


    Lucasasked,“Doyoehereoften?


    Sophiareplied,“Yes,MadamBabaramustfeellonelyhereby


    herself.Sinceyou’rebusy,IthoughtI’d visitheroften.Mostofthetime,though,she’sasleepwhene.Todayisalucky day,she’sawake.”


    Lucasrespondedwithanomittalsound,hisgarereturningtoBarbara’s face.


    Shehadcrumbsaroundhermouthfromthesnacks


    Sophiagentlywipedthemawaywithatissue.“MadamBabara,doyouremembertwoyearsagowhenyousaidyouwantedLucas andmetohaveabig,chubbygreat–grandchildforyou?”


    Barbaraheldhersnack,lookingasifshewastryingtorecall.Afteramoment,sheshookherhead.“Idon’tremember.Butyoucan’thaveachildwithLucas.Healreadyhasawife.”Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sophia’ssmilefroze.”MadamBabara<b>,</b>I…”


    ISBONUS


    “Stop,Sophia,”Lucasinterruptedher.“Grandma’smemoryisn’tgood.Don’tpushit.”


    Sophiabitbackherfrustrationbutmanagedtoholdhertongue.“IguessIwastooeager.”


    Suddenly,Barbaragrabbedherhand.“Yoursnacksaredelicious,andIlikeyoutoo.”


    Sophia’ssmile returned.“ThenI’llspendmoretimewithyou,alright?”


    “Yes,yes!”Barbarappedherhandshappily.


    LucaspushedthewheelchairwhileSophiawalkedbesidehim,andtheystrolledthroughthegarden,creatingapictureofpeaceful,happytimes.


    Fromthebushes,Avelinewatchedwithankexpression.


    Shefeltlikeshewasmakingafoolofherself.Itwasherownfaultforputtingherselfinthissituation.


    ButseeingLucastreathersopoorly,howcouldshejustleaveitbe?


    AflickerofdeterminationshoneinAveline’sbeautifuleyes,andshesteppedout.“Grandma.”


    Athervoice,allthreeturnedtolookather.