Chapter294
TheFordResidencewasvast,emanatingasenseofheritageandvintagecharmateveryturn.Itwasapparentthatthehousewasafortunepasseddownthroughgenerations. Despiteitsrefurbishedexterior,theinteriorretainedtracesofitsstoriedpast
Contrarytomyexpectationsofsplendidness,simplebutsignificanttoucheslike<b>a</b>hand–paintedvasecasuallycedinacornerspokevolumes.ItwasanantiquefromtheVictorianera<b>,</b>valuedatoveramilliondor
Gregorystrodeleisurely,handsinhispockets,embodyingasenseofcalm.
Heledmepastthegranddiningroom,headingstraightforthebackyard,wheretwoelegantlydressedelderldieswerefromafarOnewassavoringhercoffeebythefirecewhiletheotherwastrimmingapottedntwithscissors.
Approachingthem,Gregorypouredhimselfacupofcoffeeandjoked,“Ladies,you’reinbettershapethanIam,bravingtheoutdoorsinthischillyweather?
AdahyfullyhitGregory’sback,scolding,“Yourascal,you’vefinallydecidedteback,huh?”
“Oh,leavetheboyalone!He’etoseeus,afterall,Ramonainterjected,pullingGregorytohersideprotectively.
Squeezinghershoulder,Gregoryreplied.“Exactly,Ramonaknowshowtotreatmeright.Grandmaherelovestofindfault.”
Theirbanterleftbotdiesinamixoughterandtears.
Gregorymotionedformetecloserandintroducedme,“Thisis<b>Jane</b>,afriendI’verecentlymadeinRiverCity.”
Catchingonquickly,Adahremarked,“<b>What</b>abeautifulyoundy,sogentleandgraceful.Gregtellsusyou’vetakenoveryourparents‘customdesignbusiness,andyou’redoingquitewell?”
<b>“</b><b>Adah</b>,Ramona,”Ibegan,feelingsomewhatrelievedattheirkindlydemeanor,“I’verecentlytakenovermyparents‘brand.We<b>do</b>customordersandonlinesales.ThankstoMr.Ford’skindness,helooksoutforafriend’sbusinesslikemine.“.
Adahraisedhereyebrowsinsurpriseandthencoveredhermouthwithugh,ncingatGregory.“Doyou<b>have</b>somethingonher?You’vealwaysbeenatroublemaker,andit’sthefirsttimeI’veheardsomeonepraiseyousohighly!”
Icouldn’thelpbutalmostsmileatthat.Indeed,IwascountingonGregorytohelppromotemybusiness,soalittletterywas
necessary.
“Nothinggetspastyourkeeninsight,”Iyedalong
Unfazedbybeingcalledout,Gregoryretorted,“Sheneedssomethingfromme.”
Adahturnedtome.Thisboycanbeahandful.Ifyouneedanything,youmightbebetteroffaskingusoldiesinstead…”Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.
“Grandma!Don’tstart.Whynotjustshowheryourclothes collectionso<b>she</b>cangetasenseofyourfashiontastes?”GregoryquicklyInterjected.
Despiteherwords,Adahisactionsshowednothingbutaffection,“Fine,fine,asyouv
wish”
Adahledmeupstairsto<b>a</b>spaciouslivingroom,whichopenedintoanexpansivewardrobe.Themajorityoftheclothesmatchedthestyleshewaswearingthat<b>day</b><b>.</b>
Ismiled,“Madam,forthiscustomorder,wouldyouliketosticktoyourusualstyle,orareyouthinkingoftryingsomethingnew?”
“Uptoyou,”Adahrespondedwithouthesitation,her<b>face</b>expressinggenuineopenness,“Youyoungpeoplesurelyknowmoreaboutfashionthananoldylikeme.Youhandlethedesign.11handlethewearing.”
Theclientwasn’tpicky,butIknewIcouldn’ttakethetasklightly.Backintheyard,IsubtlyinquiredaboutAdah’spreferences.Adahdidn’tputonairslikesomeonefrom adistinguishedfamily.Shewasstraightforwardandexceptionallyapproachable.