I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 263

Gavin checked his watch. It was already past nine in the evening, which meant it would be past ten by the time they got home.

"Dad, do you want to grab a bite to eat out, or should we eat at home?"

"I had a quick meal on the plane. Ethan must be asleep by now, so let's not disturb them."

Knowing that Sarah woke up early in the mornings, Harold couldn't bear to make a fuss and ruin her sleep.

Gavin walked Harold to the door of his room and politely said goodnight. "Get some rest, Dad. See you in the morning."

Harold took his suitcase from Gavin, bid him goodnight, and went inside alone.

He took a shower and lay in bed for a while, but sleep eluded him.

He had been in meetings all day and then sat through a two-hour flight. His body was exhausted, but his mind was racing.

He walked out into the yard and sat on the porch swing, zoning out in the quiet night.

It was September, and the yard was filled with the rich, sweet fragrance of blooming lavender.

Harold remembered that there used to be a bush just like it in the yard of Sarah's old house. After late-night study sessions, the two of them would use a flashlight to pick the flowers in the dark.

Sarah had a knack for turning them into sweet Honeyed Lavender.

During the years he was away at college, Sarah would make a few jars of Honeyed Lavender every autumn and give them to him when he came back to Boston for the winter holidays.

The Harvest Moon Festival was only three days away. The moon looked like a cookie with a bite taken out of it, just a sliver away from being perfectly full.

The bright moonlight blanketed the ground like frost.

Harold found a glass jar in the house, walked over to the bush outside the yard, and picked a jar full of blossoms. He placed it on his nightstand.

The scent wouldn't escape the sealed jar, but Harold still dreamt of the moon and the sweet flowers.

The next day was Harold's birthday. It wasn't the weekend, so Gavin and Sophie had to go to work, but they dropped off breakfast for him on their way.

Sophie smiled and said, "Happy birthday. My mom is at the park rehearsing. The Riverside Singers have an event coming up for Columbus Day Weekend."

"Go on to work, and come home early tonight."

After eating breakfast, Harold went upstairs to check on Ethan. Sarah hadn't returned yet, and Yvonne, the live-in nanny, was bundling Ethan up in his coat.

Sitting there with his grandson in his arms, waiting for the boy's grandmother, reminded him of his college days. He would rush back from Boston and stand under the sycamore tree at the factory gates, waiting for Sarah to get off work.

Back then, Sarah told him countless times not to wait, but he loved watching her run toward him, her eyes brimming with a smile.

Her braids would bounce with every step, and her cheeks would flush a deep pink from running so fast, making her eyes look exceptionally bright.

Over time, waiting for her had become its own kind of fulfillment.

When Sarah finally walked over and saw Ethan's little head resting on Harold's shoulder, she asked, "Is Ethan tired?"

Ethan reached his arms out for Sarah, but Harold soothed him. "Grandpa's got you. You've gotten heavier, buddy. You'll wear Grandma out."

He switched arms, shifting Ethan to his other side, and said to Sarah, "He's been running around non-stop. He's probably exhausted. Let's head home."

Sarah nodded and fell into step beside Harold.

"When's the performance?"

"On the day of the Harvest Moon Festival."