Chapter 451: Shouldn’t I Be Good Too To Match Him?
Lariette bit her lower lip as the heat of unshed tears swelled in her eyes. She tightly gripped the mug, her hands shaking. She lowered her gaze, unable to look at Felicia.
Silence filled the kitchen as the ladies were swept by a turmoil of emotions. Despite not being spoken out loud, their feelings and thoughts were similar.
Indeed. Ruediger was too young back then, too naive when he was forcibly dragged to witness how dirty the world could be.
"Lari."
Felicia lifted her eyes, breaking the silence by calling Lariette softly. The young lady blinked in a daze before she looked up, her eyes glazed with tears. Her lips trembled, but she said nothing as she waited for the former to speak.
"My parents, too, have loved him like our own ever since he came to us. I’m thankful, because he needed every care and support he could get. But no matter what, it’s still different from having a partner by his side."
Someone to share his days, his dreams and even his silence.
"That boy had endured and survived enough," Felicia exhaled a sigh, "That’s why we hoped that he’d find someone who could love him as he is. Someone to remind him that there’s more to life than surviving. Lari, he’s very fortunate to have you."
Lariette abruptly shook her head, her soft bangs swaying gently above her forehead. She reached for Felicia’s hands, her touch channeling her inner tremors.
"Aunt, don’t say that. If you think he’s lucky to have me, that’s also what I feel," she paused, trying to find better words, "He makes everything feel all right even when it’s not."
Having him by her side was like having an everlasting light. He listened even to her smallest woe and he kept her grounded when she was lost.
"To me, we balance each other. I’m not the only one doing the steadying. He’s also my pillar, so," Lariette squeezed Felicia’s hands, her smile brighter with hope, "I’ll share every storm, not just the calm. I’ll walk with him through all of it, be it happiness or hardship."
As to how he wouldn’t let her walk alone, she would also accompany him through everything.
Felicia silently gazed at Lariette, her eyes glistening faintly in the warm light. The sincerity in the young lady’s voice eased the uneasiness of her heart.
"Lari," she whispered, "You’re a good woman."
Lariette grinned, "Shouldn’t I be one to match him? He’s a good man."
Felicia chuckled at that. Her eyes were still damp, but her soft laughter held no traces of being forced. She nodded a few times, agreeing with Lariette.
"Aunt," the young lady said again, "He’s good, and the world is still great. I don’t ever want him to forget that."
Felicia said nothing this time. She reached for Lariette’s shoulders, bringing the young lady into her arms. Her action spoke of her gratitude.
For a while, neither spoke again.
They simply sat there, two ladies bound by affection for the same person. The steam from their tea curled softly upward, dissolving into the golden light.
When Lariette finally returned to the living room, the chess game had ended. Ruediger was alone there while the other three had vanished. As for Felicia, she was still in the kitchen.
When Lariette entered the lounge, Ruediger looked up, her emerald eyes lighting up instantly, "Where did you disappear, huh? Shouldn’t you be your dear husband’s cheerleader?"
She grinned, "Aunt kidnapped me for tea. We gossiped about you, okay?"
He chuckled. He rose from his seat, walking across the lounge until he reached her. He intertwined their fingers together. She smiled as she felt the familiar warmth and grounding sensation.
"Let’s go to bed," Ruediger pulled Lariette to the staircase, "Grandpa and Grandma went back to their room. Maddie too."
"Okay~"
Lariette leaned slightly against Ruediger’s shoulder as she followed him upstairs. Her gaze softened as she recalled the past few days, full of gentle chaos and laughter.
She knew she would miss everything here, but her life with him was somewhere else.
The next morning arrived gently. The dazzling winter sunlight spilled through the windows.
At seven, Lariette and Ruediger shared their last meal with everyone in the townhouse. Their luggage waited by the door as farewell lingered in the air. Madeline would drive them to the airport.
Felicia and the Walter couple sent the pair to the door. Mrs. Walter hugged Lariette first, "Lari, take care of yourself, dear. Don’t overwork yourself. Being a teacher is tiring too."
"Hehe, I won’t, Grandma," Lariette said with a laugh, her voice soft as she returned the embrace.
Mr. Walter shook Ruediger’s hand firmly before pulling him in for a brief hug, "Take care, both of you. Contact us often and come home when you can."
"We will," Ruediger promised, "Grandpa, we’ll visit again soon."
Felicia smiled fondly at them both, "Don’t forget to call us when you land. Maddie, drive safely. The road’s icy."
"Aye aye, ma’am!" Maddie teased her mother, pretending to offer a salute.
They all laughed, but a tinge of melancholy was still evident in the air. Soon, the car rolled out of the driveway.
Lariette glanced out of the window to take in the sight.
The morning light reflected on the snowy streets. She looked at the rows of townhouses, the evergreen wreaths hanging on the doors and the children playing near piles of snow.
Somehow, it felt hard to believe the holidays were almost over. The days went too fast. Her work would resume the day after tomorrow.
Traffic thickened as they neared the airport, but Madeline swiftly pulled into the VIP drop-off zone. She stepped out to hug them goodbye, promising to return to Velondia soon.
Once Madeline drove away, Ruediger and Lariette dragged their wheeled suitcases into the airport. The airport buzzed with families, businessmen and other travelers.
Amid the bustling, the pair moved smoothly through the VIP entrance, guided by airport staff. Not long after, they were already seated in a quiet lounge, far from the chaos outside.
"Should we visit Grandpa tomorrow?" Ruediger asked as he leaned back on the couch, his shoulder slanting toward Lariette, "I don’t want to be on his bad side. He’d scold me if I didn’t bring his granddaughter to visit before her work starts."
Lariette laughed upon hearing his remarks. She nudged his arm, "Sure. We’ll visit him at noon. Aunt gave us lots of things. We can share some with Grandpa."
The chaos of the new term would begin soon. The principal had already updated the calendar with important meetings as early as next Monday.
While they waited for boarding, Lariette texted Chairman Delaney, informing him about their visit tomorrow. Then, she scrolled her phone before it buzzed.
Lariette saw Nora’s name flicker on the screen. The latter sent her a message. Her index finger moved, tapping on it.
"...what?" she gasped as she read it, her brows furrowing.
Ruediger looked up from his phone, "Lettie, something’s wrong?"
"Nora texted me," Lariette said slowly, still surprised by the message, "She said... Mr. Eastwood resigned. Suddenly."
Ruediger frowned, "Resigned? But the new term starts so soon. An emergency, perhaps?"
"Maybe... It’s too... sudden. Maybe it’s really an emergency."
Lariette was unsure. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the news didn’t sit right.
This was too sudden!