Chapter 19
The lunch was simple but falling. Cindy had to fast for ten hours that night to get ready for her surgery the next day. She stuffed herself until her belly was pleasantly round, then stretched out on the bed to let it settle, Sylvan flopped down next to her.
what do you think you’re doing? She didn’t bother turning her head, keeping her eyes on the ceiling. “You sure are making yourself at home in my bed lately.”
“What’s the big ded?
His compostire shattered the moment her words landed, his face heating up. Ever since realizing she felt the same way about him; he’d allowed himself to grow ton comfortable. Now that she’d brought it up so plainly, he was so flustered he sprang up straight.
“Once I’m out of surgery, I’ll tell you a secret, Sylvan,” Cindy said gently.
Sylvan’s cousin had taken the day off to Lake Celeste to the he
hospital on the day of Cindy’s surgery.
she was young but had already bonded with celeste. In less than a week, Celeste was calling her “Aunt Stella” in her sweet little voice.
Cindy reached out for Celeste, her eyes softening at the corners. “I really appreciate this, Stella. Honestly, I don’t know how we would’ve handled Celeste without
You
Meanwhile, Stella’s thoughts were spinning Cindy had lost weight over the years from her illness, but there was no mistaking it her face was the spitting image of the woman in that tramed photo Arthur kept on his desk
Stella gaped at her, lost in thought.
“Cindy’s brow kaunted slightly in confusion. “Stella? You okay?
“Y–Yeah, I’m fine.“Stella nodded, flustered
This wasn’t the moment to dig into things–not with Cindy heading into surgery. Bringing it up now wouldn’t change a thing
Stella’s thoughts were a tangled mess as she stared after the doctors taking cindy for her pre–surgery tests.
She looked down and tested Max “Max, didn’t you say the woman Arthur loved died?”
Max shot back right away. “Why are you still stuck on that? But yeah, it’s the truth. Since I’ve been working here, I’ve picked up more details!
“Arthur’s lover käiled herself, and after that, he started seeing a psychiatrist regularly. From what the others say, he’s still not doing great. He keeps going back to the clinic for meds.‘
A dull ache settled in Stella’s gut, a sadness she couldn’t shake. She watched Cindy disappear down the hall, then lifted Celeste into her ams and sighed. “Celeste, do you low where your daddy is?” she asked.
“Daddy?” Celeste tilted her head, lost in thought for a moment. Uncle Sylvan is my daddy, isn’t he?”
Stelle, afar–off relative of the Leigh family, didn’t fully understand the dynamic between Sylvan, Cindy, and Celeste. Turning the thought over, she felt tears prick hereyes
“You’ve been through so much, Celeste. Want to go get some candy downstairs?” she asked.
“I haven’t been through amthing! Celeste protested, pouring. “But we can buy some for Mommy. She says I can’t eat candy because of Celeste was a little girl with such a big heart, yet she’d grown up without a father. Besides, judging by Arthur’s condition, whatever had happened three years ago
of my teeth.” must have been a temble misunderstanding.
The more stella dwelt on it, the sadder she felt. A
Sylvan she’d take Celeste out for a bit, the stepped out of the hospital.
do you have Arthur’s number?
Stella had no idea what had come between Arthur and Cindy before, but she was certain that talling things out was the only way forward. Anyone could see that Arthur was still in love with Cindy. Stella couldn’t bear the thought of their relationship ending t employees with nothing but landness
this way. Besides, he had always
treated his
She had to try to mend things between them. Whatever happened, at least there’d be no wisat–its later.
Arthur had heard from Joseph that moming that Cindy’s surgery was set for today. Now he lingered at the opposite end of the hallway, watching silently as Sylvan clasped her hand, murmuring words too quiet to bear.
