Chapter 253
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15 BONUS
“But it hit me today, when I caught a glimpse of his true colors–I don’t deserve to have a crush on Walter.” How could she say she was in love with him if she did not even know what he truly was? It was less like love, and more like she had found a face that fit perfectly with the one in her dreams and convinced herself it was love.
Alex was in his wheelchair, leading the way, while Evangeline pushed him along, step by step.
He could not see the look on her face, but the tears that the wind whisked away landed softly behind his
ears,
“Evie, don’t be disappointed,” he said.
Caught in the chilly embrace of the autumn breeze, Alex struggled to find words that could comfort Evangeline and settled for a simple plea.
“I’ve got a knack for saying the right thing, and trust me, you’re going to find your slice of happiness.” Alex tried to sound upbeat.”
Evangeline felt the tug of his quirky consolation and could not stay wrapped in her blanket of sadness. She mustered a smile to match the upbeat mood.
“Right, I’m not worried about finding a guy. There’s a sea of them out there! And hey, I’m Evangeline–I’ve got smarts, a solid family background, and youth on my side. Who needs Walter, that jerk, when there are plenty of great guys around?”
They returned to the party to find the celebration had fizzled out, the key person Alex having vanished for so long.
Alex, no stranger to such disappointments, packed up without a word, ready to head out.
Evangeline had planned to head back to the dorm with Alex, but before she could take off, Trey pulled her aside. His face was lined with concern as he asked, “Evie, you didn’t get into a fight with Walter, did you?”
Evangeline squinted slightly, offering a strained smile. “Fight? Walter and I? No way, what’s there to argue about?”
Trey had grown visibly older lately, the stress of her rocky marriage with Walter weighing on him. She cared for Trey deeply, like her own grandfather, and the last thing she wanted was to add to his worries. “But I saw Walter, and he seemed very upset,” said Trey, his suspicion clear as he remembered his grandson’s angry face at the banquet.
Evangeline felt a shiver of anxiety. Trey could spot Walter’s anger a mile away. Why did he not pay that much attention to Alex, the one who never showed up at the banquet? She figured Alex deserved better from Trey. Even so, how could she, a granddaughter–in–law, voice such a thing?
“Maybe the company ran into some problem that even David, the assistant, couldn’t fix? Grandpa, I mean no disrespect, but you’re not getting any younger. Maybe it’s time to stop fretting over us kids, okay?”
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