CHapter 61


    Noe mmed up, looking a tad awkward! She had been up to her eyeballs these days with the


    whole former Pris Star mission and whipping up remedies for Grandpa Sexton. She really hadn’t


    had a sec to think about Palmer,


    Plus, he was a grown man for crying out loud. Did he really need her fussing over him?


    Palmer caught the vibe from her face and knew what was up. He let out a chuckle, low and husky


    from his chest, that kind ofugh that tickles your ears and you just can’t help but itch. “Ah, forget it,


    you heartless little thing. Just don’t forget to miss me, okay?”


    “Got it.”


    Palmer grinned, satisfied, swaying with her in the dance hall. The cruise ship’s party was lit up like a


    Christmas tree, swarming with who’s who from all over, yet they all stepped aside to give Palmer


    and Noe the center stage to dance!


    Off to the side of the cruise, a young woman in a sharp suit was helping an old man with snow–


    white hair to his seat, super careful–like.


    “Take it easy. Mr. Horwich, I’ll go grab you some grub.”


    “No need, I’m good just sitting here.”


    This old–timer was none other than Merrick Horwich, a literary legend with a rep that crossed


    borders, bagging every top lit award you could think of. His name weighed a ton in the literary


    world.


    “Who’s that dancing? Looks familiar, doesn’t she?”


    “No clue, but if you’re keen. I’ll go snoop around.”


    Merrick shook his head, but his eyes were glued to Noe who was dancing, her green dress


    fluttering like a sprite, every move a piece of art, a downright masterpiece!


    The more Merrick watched, the more pumped he got. He ordered his Secretary, “Invite her here.


    would you? I wanna know if this youngdy would be up for being the muse for my new book!”


    “You got it. Mr. Horwich.”


    Merrick couldn’t get enough. Seeing Noe seemed to pump him full of life and youth, like a st


    from the past, breaking through his writer’s block in a snap!


    “Miss, Mr. Horwich would like a word. Got a moment?”


    Noe, a bit taken aback, looked over at Merrick bathing in the moonlight by the window.


    Merrick Horwich, headliner of Harmonia Country Literature Newspaper every week? That’s her


    grandad! Sienna’s folks had bolted abroad for some health R&R, so they missed her birthday bash!


    12:46


    Palmer spotted Merrick too and, hand in hand with Noe, made his way over.


    “Grandpa Merrick, it’s been a while.”


    “The Pock kid? Hold up, ain’t you engaged to my granddaughter? What’s this, dragging another


    girl around? Listen here, don’t think you can push my granddaughter around just ‘cause you’ve got


    the big bucks! I’ll take you down a peg or two! Out with it, what’s your deal. with this pretty young


    lady? I saw you, hand in hand, even had your arms around her!”


    Back in the day. Merrick did a stint as a war correspondent, so you bet he’s got a bit of a short fuse.


    The fact that he’s even talking is him holding back.


    Noe sweetly said, “Grandpa, how are you?”


    Merrick was shocked.


    Hold the phone! What did this little rascal just call him? Grandpa?


    “You’re Noe? You looked just like your mom back in the day! Good thing you didn’t take after your


    dad, or it’d be game over. Your brothers, especially Stirling, are as unfortunate–looking as your


    father.


    Noe was like, even though Stirling’s got the spitting image of Tristan, his face is the talk of


    Tinseltown for all the right reasons!


    “Come, sit with Grandpa. Oran, grab Noe something to munch on. The Pock kid can stand;


    he’s probably no good, just like his granddad!”


    The secretary Oran tried to keep a straight face, apologizing to Palmer, signaling him not to get.


    worked up over Merrick’s temper.


    “What would you like, miss? I’ll get it right away.”


    “Anything’s fine. I already ate.”


    Merrick, holding onto Noe’s hand, was all smiles, his wrinkles nearly vanishing.


    “Noe, who picked such a nice name for you? Just by hearing it, I know you’re a Schnabel kid!” “It


    was my step–grandma.”


    Merrick, looking at Palmer standing by the table, frowned and waved him over. “Sit down, why don’t


    you? Standing there like a sore thumb. Is that how Sexton teaches his grandkid?”


    “Sure, thank you, Grandpa Merrick.”


    Palmer knew Merrick’s temper was a match for his own grandpa’s, and with his engagement to


    Noe, Merrick’s cold shoulder was no surprise.


    Calling him Grandpa smoothed things over a bit; Merrick’s face unwrinkled, clearly pleased.


    This kid’s got smarts, and if Merrick ever found out Palmer was messing around and doing Noe


    dirty, he’d break his legs without a second thought!


    “Noe, what brings you here?”


    “He did.”


    Palmer chimed in, “Grandpa Merrick, the view’s not half bad on the high seas. Thought I’d take


    Noe out for some fresh air, plus let the world get a glimpse of the future Mrs. Pock.”


    Merrick gave Palmer an approving nod with a hmph through his nose.


    “Smart move, kid! Noe, I just got back. I’m sorry that I missed your birthday party. Don’t be mad,


    okay?”


    “I’m not. You’re looking well, Grandpa. Still getting headaches?”


    Merrick’s gaze softened even more as he looked at Noe, chuckling, “Your mom told you? I’m


    much better. Your grandma’s been buried in some big experimenttely, total lockdown, I can’t even


    see her! She doesn’t know you’re back; she’d be thrilled to hear it!”


    Merrick was itching to tell his wife about bumping into Noe.


    “You wouldn’t believe it. Last time I saw your grandma, it was ra who dragged me in there!


    What’s it gonna be, spending a lifetime with me or with herb?”


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Though Merrick grumbled, his eyes couldn’t hide his longing.


    Palmer whipped out his phone and shot off a few texts, and in no time, got a thumbs–up response.


    He looked up, his face breaking into a gentle smile.


    “Grandpa Merrick, it’s all set! Granny will be heading home this weekend.”


    “Really? Oh man, you Pock family kiddo, you finally did something right! Noe, sweetie. make


    sure you head back with ra this weekend. Your granny’s been missing you like crazy! I just hope


    it doesn’t throw a wrench in the olddy’s experiments!”


    Noe nodded obediently. “ra actually headed back to Emerald County yesterday. She’s got


    some presents for you and Granny. I’ll bring them over this weekend.”


    “That’s great, you guys are such thoughtful kids.”


    ra grew up under the care of the Merrick couple, so they had a particrly deep affection for her.


    Seeing how well ra and Noe got along put their minds at ease!


    “Although I gotta say, it makes me feel a bit red–faced, Noe, but ra’s innocent in all this. We


    once thought she wasn’t your biological parents‘ child, so we took her for a paternity test. And would


    you believe it, the results back then confirmed they were rted! It’s been a confusing mess for


    years, and that’s why it took so long for you toe back.”


    Merrick was somewhat wistful as he recounted the past.


    “Why was there a doubt? And why did the results show a biological rtionship?”


    Merrick matter–of–factly replied, “Well, she was just too darn smart. They say daughters take after


    their dads, and I just couldn’t see your dad’s IQ producing such a bright spark, so we went


    12:46


    for the test! No offense, Noe, you take after your mom, so your smarts are a given!”


    Noe just sat there, speechless.


    “Not to throw shade on you, Noe–you’re smart as a whip. Just like your mom! As for why the test


    showed a biological rtionship back then…”