Chapter 9
She’d followed him abroad–he’d surely need to comfort Vanessa after this.
Just then, a figure with a silver–white crown of hair approached from the garden room. It was Grandma Magdalen Goodwin,
“Ellie, you’re here.”
“Grandma.” Eleanor greeted Magdalen warmly; since her marriage, Magdalen had always treated her kindly.
“Oh my! Evelyn’s grown so tall! I can barely hold her anymore!” Magdalen’s eyes sparkled with affection as she watched her great–granddaughter dart past.
After an eighteen–hour flight, Eleanor felt exhausted. Her daughter was busy playing with her grandmother and great–grandmother, and she didn’t want to interrupt. She took a shower, then retreated to her room to rest.
By eleven that night, Evelyn was still bursting with energy. Forcing herself awake, Eleanor joined her daughter in the upstairs sitting room. Before long, lan came in, dressed in soft cotton pajamas. He sat down, and Evelyn immediately climbed into his lap. “Daddy, play with me! Play with me, please!”
“Alright, what do you want to play?”
“Let’s build with blocks!”
lan patiently played blocks with his daughter while Eleanor sat nearby. Fatigue washed over her, and before long, she drifted off, her head resting on the arm of the sofa.
Half–asleep, she felt a tiny hand patting her. As her thoughts cleared, she heard her daughter whisper, “Daddy, can you carry Mommy back to bed?”
“You could wake her up, you know.”
“But last time, you carried Mrs. Shannon to her room! Why can’t you carry Mommy?” Evelyn pouted, a little jealous.
Eleanor’s brow furrowed. So lan didn’t even shy away from being affectionate with Vanessa in front of their daughter? Unbelievable.
She pretended to wake, opening her eyes and saying, “Evelyn, let’s go to bed together. Mommy will tuck you in tonight.”
She glanced up at lan, meeting his unfathomable gaze. Clearly, he knew she’d overheard their conversation.
“I’m scared. I want both Mommy and Daddy to sleep with me,” Evelyn said, lip trembling.
“Daddy has to work tonight. You’ll sleep with Mommy, lan replied, getting up and heading for his study.
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As Evelyn’s pout deepened, Eleanor scooped her up. “Come on, sweetheart. Mommy will tell you a story.”
The next morning, Eleanor led her daughter downstairs.
“Mrs. Goodwin, you’re up. Would you like breakfast now?” the housekeeper asked.
Eleanor nodded, then as she guided her daughter to the dining room, she asked, “Has Mr. Goodwin gotten up yet?”
“He left early this morning.”
Eleanor understood. Now that she was here, Vanessa couldn’t visit the Goodwin home. lan would have to go out to see her.
Maybe, right now, they were meeting for breakfast at some chic downtown café–or perhaps they’d already stolen away to a hotel for a passionate morning together.
At noon, Eleanor chatted with Magdalen. Her mother–in–law, though never particularly fond of her, wouldn’t show it in front of her granddaughter.
“Ellie, Evelyn’s five already. She looks so lonely. While you’re still young, why not have another child or two? The house would be livelier,” Magdalen said, taking Eleanor’s hand, her meaning
unmistakable.
Eleanor didn’t mind Magdalen’s urging. From her perspective, it made sense–the Goodwin family prized having many children.
With others to keep her daughter company, Eleanor returned to her room to work. This time, she was determined to fulfill her father’s last wish: to build the laboratory he’d dreamed of.
At dinner, lan finally came home.
“There you go, Evelyn, open wide.” Gina spooned food into Evelyn’s mouth, looking immensely pleased.
With a child around, the atmosphere was never tense. Still, the old lady couldn’t help but notice the chilly distance between her grandson and granddaughter–in–law.
She longed to see another great–grandchild born in her lifetime, and worry crept into her heart.
After dinner, Magdalen deliberately sent Gina and Evelyn off, then called lan and Eleanor over.
“Ellie, you young people should get out of the house for a bit. Don’t spend all your time cooped up with us old folks,” she said without preamble.
Eleanor smiled. “Grandma, I like staying at home with you.”
Magdalen’s expression grew serious as she turned to lan. “You leave your wife home alone all day while you’re out and about? Is that any way to treat her?”
lan’s gaze flickered to Eleanor, who immediately lowered her head. Clearly, he thought she’d been complaining about him.
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“Tonight, we’ll take care of Evelyn. You take Ellie out for a change of scenery, and don’t rush home,” Magdalen said, with a knowing look.
If the couple felt awkward being intimate at home, then a night away at a hotel should do the trick.
Eleanor caught on to her grandmother–in–law’s intentions and quickly protested, “Grandma, it’s cold outside. I’d rather stay in with you.”
“There’s a car and heating–you won’t freeze. Go on, have fun!” Magdalen waved her off.
Eleanor tried to come up with another excuse, but lan spoke up, his tone flat: “Let’s go.”
“Go on, go on!” Magdalen finally smiled.
Not wanting to disappoint the old lady, Eleanor nodded.
lan pulled the car up to the front door. Eleanor got into the passenger seat, glancing back to see Magdalen watching from the window, her face finally relaxed into a smile.
They drove out of the estate, and a heavy silence filled the car. Eleanor felt increasingly uneasy.
Then the car phone rang. The name “Vanessa” flashed across the dashboard screen, unmistakable.
Eleanor glanced at it, then turned her face toward the window.
lan reached out and declined the call without answering.
As the city streets appeared ahead, Eleanor said quietly, “You can drop me off anywhere convenient.”
“Come with me. There’s somewhere I need to go.” lan’s voice was cool, unreadable.
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