Chapter 118
Charles had told everyone it was time to leave, and Chloe, having gotten what she wanted the most, did not plan to stick around. However, she stopped and turned back at the door. “Charles, if you ever need help in the future, you can count on me.”
Charles just smiled and stayed quiet.
Noelle was getting ready to leave work when her phone rang. It was her Grandpa Samuel, which caught her off guard. “Grandpa?”
“Noelle, are you done for the day?” Samuel’s voice sounded old and weary. “I’d like to see you.”
Noelle bit her lip and checked the time. “You mean right now?”
“Yes, it’s been a few days since I’ve seen you, and I miss you. But I know it’s not easy for you to come to the Shaw’s with your mom and dad… Well…” Samuel let out a heavy sigh. “Let’s just meet up, okay?”
“Sure!” Noelle agreed. “Let’s meet at Homestyle Garden House.” She had started the coffee house with a . friend and had some shares in it. It was doing well, but it was not really of Noelle’s concern.
After setting up a time and place with Samuel, Noelle called Charles. “It’s me!”
Charles was also about to leave work and was surprised to hear from Noelle. “Yes? What’s up?”
“I might be late getting back tonight. My grandpa… He wants to see me.” Noelle felt a little awkward. It was Rowena yesterday, and now her grandpa. “He might need to talk to me about something.”
Charles’s face grew serious, and his eyes darkened a bit. “Okay!” He added, “Be careful out there, and call/ me if you need anything!”
“Okay!” Noelle ended the call, feeling a warm glow inside. She remembered how she and Xavier used to chat for hours on the phone, sharing what they were up to.
However, after they both started working, those long talks became few and far between.
With Charles, she was not quite sure what to make of it all. However, she figured that since they were married, keeping each other in the loop was just respectful.
Noelle got to Homestyle Garden House right on time and saw her friend Teresa Saunders. “Your grandpa’s been waiting a bit.”
“Thanks, Teresa,” Noelle said with a smile. She slipped off her shoes and walked in to find Samuel sitting and Mr. Thompson standing nearby. Samuel waved her over. “Noelle, come to Grandpa!”
“Grandpa!” she said, walking up to him. “Did you get here early?”
“Yes,” Samuel replied, handing her a cup of coffee. “Is work wearing you out?”
“Not one bit!” Noelle said cheerfully. “What did you want to talk about today, Grandpa?”
Samuel paused, then glanced at Mr. Thompson, who quickly handed Noelle an envelope. She looked at it, puzzled. “What’s this?”
“Just take a look,” Samuel encouraged.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)