Wyatt Winslow's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I'm working on a project with the factory near Jarton Second High," he said in a businesslike tone, "so I'm usually free."
Holly Winslow didn't expose his lie. She shook her head happily. "Finally, I don't have to squeeze onto the bus on Fridays. I'll even save a few bucks on bus fare, heh heh."
"Are you out of money?"
Wyatt Winslow glanced at her. She was smiling brightly.
She hadn't smiled like that in front of him in a very long time.
It seemed she had changed since last week. She no longer talked back to him.
Before Holly Winslow could answer, he added, "I'll find some time tomorrow to get you a bank card. From now on, you can just take money from it whenever you're short."
'She's older now and needs to buy things… feminine products. Even if I want to take care of her, there are things I might overlook.'
"I still have money. It's enough for now."
Holly Winslow looked out the window. They were heading toward the center of the county.
"Dad, where are we going?"
"Your mom wants to see you."
"Oh."
Holly Winslow fell silent. She remembered now. This was around the time Yvonne Lewis was supposed to go abroad with another man.
Her mother only came back after she and Mortimer Quincy got married, and by then, she'd already had another child.
The car stopped. Through the window, Holly Winslow saw it was, as she'd expected, that dessert cafe.
The dessert cafe was the only place in Jarton County for afternoon tea, a spot frequented by the wealthy. A tiny slice of tiramisu cost over thirty yuan.
The cafe had a foreign ambiance, much like Yvonne Lewis herself, with her large, golden curls, a beige, form-fitting sweater, and the exquisite makeup on her well-cared-for face.
Yvonne Lewis was beautiful and capable. Otherwise, she would never have married into the upper-middle-class Winslow family.
A heavyset man in an expensive suit sat beside her. Aside from the cost of his clothes, Holly felt he couldn't compare to Wyatt Winslow in any single way.
She glanced at Wyatt Winslow with concern. In her past life, when she was getting married to Mortimer Quincy, she had gone to her father's room to get the family register and had seen a photo of him and Yvonne Lewis together. Both of them were smiling happily.
She had never known that her perpetually serious father, Wyatt Winslow, also had such a tender side.
'He'd refused all attempts to set him up for remarriage. The truth was, he'd never gotten over Yvonne Lewis.'
When Yvonne Lewis saw them, she stood and waved, calling out gently, "Wyatt, Holly, over here."
Wyatt Winslow had Holly slide into the booth, and he sat on the outer seat.
Vernon Vance magnanimously extended a hand toward him. "How have you been?"
"Doing well." Wyatt Winslow returned the handshake briefly.
Yvonne Lewis handed the menu to Holly, playing the part of a doting mother. "Holly, order whatever you like."
"I'm not having anything, thank you." Holly pushed the menu back.
Yvonne Lewis's smile didn't waver. She cajoled, "Holly, the tiramisu here is delicious. Come on, have a slice."
It was the exact same thing she had said in her past life, but this time, Holly didn't go along with it. "I've never liked sweets, not even when I was little."
She wasn't saying it out of disappointment, merely stating a fact.
Yvonne Lewis treated her well, yet she could never remember what her daughter liked to eat and what she didn't.
Wyatt Winslow, on the other hand, was stoic and rarely smiled, but he always remembered her preferences.
Yvonne Lewis looked awkward and hurt to be called out like that by her own daughter. Vernon Vance reached out to pat her shoulder comfortingly.
"Holly just had lunch. She can't eat any more."
After Wyatt Winslow explained, he looked up at the server. "Two lemonades, please."
Yvonne Lewis quickly recovered her composure. "How are your studies going, Holly?"
"They're fine," Holly said.
The lemonades arrived. She put the straw between her teeth and stared out the window, looking somewhat distracted.
Suddenly, Yvonne Lewis said, "Holly, I'm going to be moving abroad."
Although she was mentally prepared, Holly still fell silent for a few seconds. She glanced at Wyatt Winslow. His expression was unchanged; he must have already known. "Okay," she said.