Novel Ships
Chapter 570
Larson had been crashing at Curtis and Leanne's place for several months, and Curtis eventually stopped trying to kick him out because he discovered a new use for Larson. And it was babysitting. Betty, the new addition to the family, was quite intrigued by him.
She loved origami, a brain-teasing puzzle game that Leanne had taught her. After mastering it, Betty was eager to share her new skill, successfully teaching Curtis, the two nurses, Joy and Selina, on vacation, and Jennifer, who video-called every Friday evening.
Once everyone had learned, Betty's interest waned until Larson became her new pupil.
Visually uninterested, Larson botched it up three times, but Betty, finding a new challenge, patiently taught him until he got it right, whether he wanted to learn.
While Larson was in lessons reluctantly, Curtis would take Leanne out for a movie and a candlelit dinner or lay together in the backyard hammock, watching the sunset.
After Larson's dad left the hospital, he flew to Boston. Perhaps due to Curtis' influence, the father and son's meeting was surprisingly peaceful.
For someone's sake, Larson acted the dutiful son, and his dad, seeing his compliance, unfroze his credit cards.
Even after moving back to his renovated apartment, Larson would still pop by Curtis' for a free meal, each time ending up as the default babysitter. Despite that, he always found a sense of peaceful relaxation there.
From early fall to the beginning of summer, the aura of "the world owes me" visibly diminished around him.
Then, perhaps the world only owed him a little.
Leanne finished her PhD program three years early, and Betty, three, was ready for preschool.
Curtis had arranged for her to attend a prestigious preschool back home, fulfilling his grandmother's wish, and also built a hospital for Leanne.
Larson went to the airport to see them off on the day they left for home.
Before boarding, Betty gave Larson a big hug. "I'm going home with Mommy and Daddy now. Uncle Larson should come home with Mommy and Daddy, too."
Larson was momentarily stunned, unable to discern if she was just being innocent or if she understood more than she let on.
As they boarded, he waved goodbye from the escalator, bidding farewell to the rare warmth he had experienced in his twenty years.
Betty was excited about going home.
Though she had spent most of her
life in Emberland, she remembered her mom telling her that Stonebridge, with its beautiful gardens, was their real home.
Landing at Stonebridge Airport, they could see Joy excitedly waving from outside, with Austin trying to keep her calm.
When Leanne appeared from the plane, followed by Curtis with Betty in his arms, Joy couldn't help but burst into tears.
Austin couldn't hold her back as she rushed forward to embrace Leanne.
"You're finally back!"
Caught between laughter and tears, Leanne hugged her back, "What are you talking about? We just saw each other two months ago."
"It's not the same. Here is where we belong," Joy sobbed, "We're the Stonebridge trio, not the Emberland trio."
As Leanne wiped her tears away, she took out her phone to video call Selina, who couldn't make it that day.
"She's getting busier by the day. You need an appointment to have lunch with her."
The emotional scene even got to Skyler, who prepared to hug Curtis. "Welcome back." Curtis gave him a look and declined, "Hold back your tears. I'm not into crying with men." Skyler was speechless.
When they got into the car, Joy and Leanne squeezed into the backseat together, chattering to Leanne'sText © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.
Castle, where a bustling dinner awaited them.
The two women, once together, had endless topics to chat about and gossip to catch up on.
Joy, 20 weeks pregnant, was as
carefree as ever, bouncing around and even planning a road trip to the grassland with Selina, all white Austin looked after her attentively.