The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 363

Charley parked the car outside the Gilmore Estate. Lavinia opened the passenger door, got in, and buckled her seatbelt. The car pulled out of the private street and turned onto the main road.

Holding the steering wheel, Charley asked, "Three outfits. Have you decided which one to pick?"

Lavinia turned to look at him, smiling as she countered, "If I don't pick yours, will you be mad?"

"That depends on how you plan to make it up to me," he replied with a faint smile.

"You'll just have to wait and see," Lavinia laughed.

Charley glanced at her. "You're really not going to choose mine?"

Lavinia looked out the window, falling silent for a moment before changing the subject. "I just wish my parents were still here," she said softly.

Charley freed one hand to grasp hers. "They're watching you from heaven. If they knew how well you're doing now, they'd be so happy for you."

Lavinia smiled faintly, slipped her hand out of his, and pointed at the upcoming intersection.

"It's still early. I want to go back to my old home," she said. "Just make a U-turn at this light."

Charley hit the turn signal, flipped the car around at the next intersection, and headed toward the Joplin residence.

***

Saul pulled the door open and froze when he saw Lavinia and Charley standing there.

"Why didn't you let me know you were coming? If I'd known, I would've picked up some roast goose and poached chicken."

"Saul, don't worry about it. We already ate at the Gilmores," Lavinia said, stepping inside. "I'm just going to my room to find something. You keep Charley company for a bit."

Lavinia walked to the room at the end of the hall. This was the room she had lived in from her student days until she got married. The curtains were still the same floral fabric from back then.

Under the bed was an old camphor wood box, secured with a brass lock.

She opened the box. Inside lay a hand-stitched, water-red sheath dress with a standing collar. The tailored cut was still timeless even now.

This was the exact dress her mother had worn on her wedding day. Her aunt once told her that on that day, her father had ridden a bicycle to pick up her mother, and the entire street had rushed out to see the bride, whispering about whether she was a movie star.

Lavinia took the dress out, shook it loose, and held it up against herself.

Looking at the figure in the mirror, she fell into deep thought.

...

The tea had been refilled twice. Everyone was waiting for the leading lady of the day to make her grand entrance.

Footsteps approached, and everyone turned to look at the carved rosewood doors.

A gentle silhouette stood in the light. She wore a tailored water-red dress, the edge of the collar revealing a hint of the standing collar underneath. Her only adornment was a single jadeite toggle clasp.

Her hair was half-tied back, a pearl clip holding the upper strands in place while the rest cascaded over her shoulders, looking both graceful and dignified. She looked like an elegant heiress stepping straight out of a classic era film.

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Garnett sat up straighter, Saul held his teacup, forgetting to set it down, and Julian's eyes were filled with pleasant surprise.

Charley's gaze landed on that jadeite toggle clasp. He studied it closely for a moment, a smile gradually rising in his eyes.

"Judith," Lavinia said, walking up to her grandmother.

Judith reached out and enveloped Lavinia's hands in her own.

"This dress is beautiful. Did you choose it yourself?" Judith asked.