Estelle chuckled, “Just grabbing a bite with Emily.”
Jonathan’s voice was soft, “Where at? I’ll come pick you up!”
Estelle gave him the address.
After hanging up the phone, Estelle grinned, “Kya’s over at the James family estate. I won’t go to say goodbye to her now. Just
tell her I said ‘hi’ when you see her.”
Emily joked, “She’s probably bummed out for missing a candy buddy.”
“I’ll bring her the biggest lollipop from the supermarket when I get back.”
They chatted briefly before Jonathan called to say he had arrived.
Estelle stood, “I’m off. Get back to work!”
Emily nodded, “Keep in touch. We’ll catch up when you’re back.”
“Will do!”
When the two stepped out of the café, Jonathan was already by the car, holding the passenger door open for her.
Estelle said her goodbyes to Emily before heading toward the car.
Emily stood there to follow the sleek black car with her eyes as it merged into the traffic before she crossed over to her office
building. She still clutched the half-finished milkshake in her hand. As she glanced back once more in the direction Estelle and
Jonathan had departed, a sudden, indescribable pang of emotion hit her.
Jonathan took Estelle to Old Mr. Quintin’s place, where they had lunch before heading to the airport.
As they were leaving, Old Mr. Quintin grumbled at Old Mr. Jarvis, “Why don’t you just move to J City? It’d save Estelle all this
back and forth. Stubborn old mule!”
Old Mr. Jarvis snorted, “Move to J City just to play chess with you and watch you paint? I’ve got better things to do!”
Old Mr. Quintin scoffed, “As if I need your company. You’ve been nothing but a nuisance these past few days. Just go!”
Old Mr. Jarvis chuckled, “Take a trip to C City sometimes. The air down by the mountains is better than here!”
Old Mr. Quintin’s pride was evident. “Beg me, and maybe I’ll consider it.”
“Beg you?” Old Mr. Jarvis said with his eyes widened before he turned and strode off, “You can keep staying in J City!”
Old Mr. Quintin laughed heartily.
Old Mr. Jarvis, ever the one to avoid goodbyes, just exchanged banter with Old Mr. Quintin and said little else before getting into
his car.
Old Mr. Quintin called after him, “Call me when you get home!”
Old Mr. Jarvis waved dismissively, “I’ll be busy!”
Old Mr. Quintin was left fuming and speechless.
Estelle reassured, “No need to see us off, Master. Head back inside. We’re off!”
“Take care of yourself, and of your grandpa,” Old Mr. Quintin said with a warm smile.
Estelle nodded, “And you take care of yourself too, Master.”
“Alright, get going!”
Jonathan bid farewell to Old Mr. Quintin once more before they drove off to the airport.
Estelle sat in the back, joking with Old Mr. Jarvis, “Grandpa, Master’s right. You should consider moving to J City. You could live
with us at Villa del Sol, up in the hills.”
Old Mr. Jarvis waved off the idea, “I’ll stay in C City till my last day. Old Mr. Quintin and I talked about living together in our old
age, as our wives passed away early on. But you see his temper? No one can stand that!”
Estelle thought to herself that the two were equally stubborn and prickly.
Jonathan caught Estelle’s eyes in the rearview mirror, both suppressing a laugh.
Old Mr. Jarvis sighed while reminiscing about the past, “Old Mr. Quintin and I, we’re linked by fate. My grandson won’t come
home, and his daughter won’t either.”