“Pop, you’re not a fool,” Candace looked at her great-grandpa, sounding serious, “Joe said those kids who can realize their mistakes are still good kids. I’m not mad at you anymore, Pop.”
Franco was about to cry hearing his great-granddaughter’s sweet words. He hoisted the girl onto his bed and left a kiss on her cheek.
“Cody, you made some cookies with Candace back home, right?” Cristelle cleared her throat, “Why don’t you go ahead and give them to Pop?”
Cody nodded, following his Mom’s order.
Linford cast a glance at his son before exchanging a look with Cristelle. Cristelle got his meaning immediately, smiling, “Candace, you said you wanted to buy ice cream earlier, right? Let’s go fetch some ice cream downstairs.”
Candace jumped off the bed when she heard the word “ice cream”.
Linford stood up from the couch, “I’m going with them too. Cody, you stay here and take care of your Pop.”
Cody hummed a, “yes”, no mood to agree enthusiastically about his Dad’s plan.
Linford brought Cristelle and Candace to leave the room. Cristelle sounded a bit worried, “It won’t be too awkward for both of them?”
Linford suddenly paused and peeped through the door crack. Cody was sitting next to the bedside. It looked like Franco was telling him something.
“Cody, I know I have…”
Cody opened the jar of the cookies he brought with him, “It’s okay, Pop. You don’t have to explain anything. I know what happened. Why don’t you try some of these cookies? I used xylitol.”
Mr. Weston and Franco both instantly understood Cody’s meaning, letting out a long breath before taking the jar of cookies, “Thank you.”
Cody sat there like a little boss, “You don’t need to mention what happened anymore, Pop. I just want you to get better.”
Franco smiled, “Okay, I will get better.”
Cristelle was curious, but Linford gave her an eye. The two people thus kept watching.
After finishing the cookies, Franco asked carefully, “You’re not mad at me anymore, are you, Cody?”
Cody shook his head, “Nope.”
Franco finally smiled.
Cristelle also felt relieved. Linford let out a breath before taking Candace in his arms and walking downstairs.
Candace was so happy as she clapped, “This is great, Mommy! Pop’s gonna live with us soon?”
“Yes, sweetie,” Cristelle was happy as well. Linford carried his daughter to the car, “Which place do you want to live in, Candace? My house or Pop’s?”
Candace thought for a short second, “Yours. That place is bigger, and it can fit all of us.”
“Good. My house is then,” Linford ruffled his daughter’s hair, smiling.
They spent about an hour in the nearby supermarket. Cristelle brought some healthy desserts for Franco, “Let’s go. Let’s take Pop back to our house today.”
Linford shrugged, “We’re not in a hurry.”
Cristelle blinked at him, “You want them to hang out with each other more?”
Linford nodded, “Yep. If they can have a good chat, maybe they will get all their problems solved.”
Cristelle nodded and sat beside Linford quietly, starting to scroll down her phone.
When they finally returned to Franco’s private ward, Franco laughed happily. Cody was telling a joke.
“Pop, what did the doctor say? How long do you need to spend in the hospital?” Linford asked as he held the door open.
Franco knew they were here to pick him up.
He didn’t want to stay in the hospital longer. So he instantly said, “The doctor said it was just a small problem. I can leave at any time if I want to.”
“Well, since you look better, let’s go home immediately,” Linford started to collect Franco’s stuff after saying that.
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go back home,” Franco’s smile hadn’t left his face.
Cody turned to Mr. Weston, “Mr. Weston, why don’t you join us as well? Auntie Claire’s making a big meal this evening. We will be so glad if you’re coming.”
Mr. Weston nodded, smiling, “Okay. I’ll go with you guys.”
****
When they went back to the mansion, Claire and Frank were preparing the meal. Claire put down the pan and walked over the minute she heard the noise.
“Pop, you’re feeling better now, aren’t you?”
Franco nodded with a pleasant smile on his face, “I feel a lot better.”
Claire felt so much at ease after seeing the old man’s wide smile. The old man seemed pretty nice to Cristelle. It looked like Cristelle wouldn’t be kicked out of the Bradley House.
****
Meanwhile, Mrs. White’s assistant was reporting to her about what had just happened.
Mrs. White let out a long sigh after hearing the report.
It was pretty obvious. Franco’s car had broken down because he planned the scene intentionally to get his family’s forgiveness.
She was being too concerned for that old man.
Mrs. White couldn’t help remembering the day when she was still young. She remembered that summer night years ago.
She had been wondering for years.
Things would have been so different if he had made a different choice. She probably wouldn’t have ended up miserable.
However, things couldn’t return to what they used to be, no matter how much she regretted her decisions.
****
Franco enjoyed a big meal with Cody and Candace. Cody and Candace knew Pop had missed them, so they spent almost the whole evening with the old man.
But Franco didn’t seem to get any tired after the meal, and he even spent another hour playing with the babies.
“Do you guys want to hear more stories? I can tell more stories about me when I was a young soldier.”
Candace shook her head, “I don’t think so, Pop. It’s getting really late now. You should go to your room to sleep.”
“But I’m not sleepy yet,” Franco was overexcited.
“We’re sleepy now, Pop,” Cody never spoiled anyone.
Franco wanted to refuse, but he knew the boy was right. So he only sighed, “Fine! You guys must sleep too. We still need to go fishing tomorrow morning. Just go and have a good sleep.”
Linford just left the bathroom, walking downstairs as he overheard the conversation, smiling, “I know you want to spend more time with the babies, but you also need to remember your age and condition, Pop. Candace and Cody are still young. Don’t you want to spend more time with them in the future? If you do, you’d better start to take care of yourself.”