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Ellsworth replied coolly, “Mm.”
At Ellsworth’s indifference, Harriet explained, “I went to see
Grandpa.”
She hadn’t planned to come back, but Patsy had called her.
She didn’t want Patsy to think she was sulking over what Ellsworth said at lunch, nor did she want to complicate things right before the divorce, so she came back.
Ellsworth still ignored her as usual. Harriet took off her
earrings and watch, grabbed her pajamas, and quietly went to
the bathroom.
When they first got married, she had invited Ellsworth several times to visit her grandfather, but he always refused.
After that, she stopped asking him.
Every New Year and holiday, she went back alone.
Standing under the shower, letting a handful of warm water
wash over her face, Harriet didn’t even want to return to the
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bedroom.
Because she didn’t know how to interact with Ellsworth
anymore.
Even so, after dawdling in the bathroom for an hour and a half,
Harriet still went back to the bedroom.
Ellsworth was working overtime. Harriet quietly got into bed,
pulled up her thin blanket, put on her eye mask and earplugs,
and went to sleep first.
At the desk, Ellsworth didn’t stop working until Harriet was
asleep. Then he looked up at her.
Harriet was lying with her back to him.
He stared at Harriet for a while, expressionless, then turned off
his computer and went to bed.
Harriet heard Ellsworth’s movements, but she didn’t react, just
pretended to be asleep.
After three years of marriage, her acting skills were already
perfect.
With only a small bedside lamp on, Ellsworth saw Harriet lying
motionless with her back to him. He reached out and removed one of her earplugs. “Are you still upset about what I said at
lunch?”
With her back to Ellsworth, Harriet let out a long, gentle sigh.
After a moment of silence, she said, “No, I know you were just
caught up in the conversation.”
Even though she was the one being scolded, the one feeling
embarrassed, she still had to comfort Ellsworth.
After hearing this, Ellsworth put her earplugs back in.
In the days that followed, life returned to its usual, calm
routine.
Although Ellsworth came home every day, the two of them still
didn’t talk much.
***
That afternoon, just after Harriet returned to her office from a
meeting, Deloris called her.
She said, “Miss, Sir Chavez has been hospitalized. He just
finished his checkup. Could you come by after work to see
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him?”
On this end of the line, Harriet immediately became agitated. “Grandpa’s in the hospital? Deloris, why didn’t you tell me
sooner?”
Nowadays, only matters concerning Ralph could elicit such a
strong reaction from Harriet.
Deloris said, “Sir Chavez wouldn’t allow it. He was afraid it
would affect your work.”
Harriet felt helpless.
No matter how important work was, it could never be more
important than her grandfather.
Without saying much more to Deloris, Harriet hung up and
drove straight to the hospital.
When she arrived at the hospital, Ralph had already finished all
his tests and was in good spirits.
Sitting down by the bedside, Harriet held Ralph’s hands in hers,
deliberately putting on a stern face as she said, “Grandpa, you
kept something this serious from me. What if something
happened to you? Do you want me to feel guilty for the rest of
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my life?”
Ralph patted Harriet’s hand and said with a cheerful smile, “It’s just a little cardiovascular issue. Everyone gets it when they’re older. Calling you over wouldn’t help-this is the doctor’s job.”
Frowning, Harriet said seriously, “You fainted, and you call that a little issue?”
She added, “This can’t happen again. No matter what it is, you have to let me know right away next time.”
Worried, Harriet watched as Ralph nodded repeatedly.
“Alright, alright, I’ll let you know about everything right away
from now on.”
While the grandfather and granddaughter were talking,
Deloris was busy tidying up nearby, her eyes full of diligence.
After asking about Ralph’s condition, Harriet was about to go
find the doctor when the door to the hospital room was
suddenly pushed open, and a familiar voice followed: “Sir
Chavez.
Harriet looked up and saw Kenneth, dressed in a formal suit,
entering with an air of authority.
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Kenneth was very tall and had sharp features. He looked a lot
like Ellsworth, except one was upright and steady, while the
other was laid-back and debonair.
Seeing this, Harriet quickly stood up from her chair and greeted
him. “Ken.”
She was still a little afraid of him.
Kenneth looked at Harriet as if nothing was out of the ordinary
and said gently, “You came.”
Before Harriet could respond, Kenneth handed her a stack of
test reports. “These are Sir Chavez’s test results and
hospitalization documents. Keep them safe.”
