My Mute Bride

Shutting the door, Nancy gripped Rachel’s arm.

“Why would you find him a job?”

Rachel, however, was dazed. Grandpa Irwin is our neighbor and he is always good to me. If he were to move in, you could take care of each other! Besides, you don’t know a lot of people in Riverdale, so it’s a win!

Seemingly anxious, Nancy frowned and mumbled, “You don’t have to worry about me.”

What’s wrong, Grandma?

“Irwin… However, Nancy stopped after muttering his name. “Nevermind. I’m sure it’s hard for him as well, being so old and living without his children. We’ll go as you wish, then. Plus, he gave us a lot of help back then.”

Revealing a smile, Rachel grabbed Nancy’s hand.

I know what you’re worried about, Grandma. Often, those who approach us come with ill intent, but not all people are evil, are they?

Besides, seeing Grandpa Irwin today reminded me of many fond memories from my childhood.

“Really?” Nancy asked, her eyes shimmering.

Yes.

Rachel sternly nodded her head.

At the sight of Grandpa Irwin, Rachel was able to piece together many fragments of her memory, including the one when he bought her a cotton candy from town and it was her mother that opened the door for him.

“Cotton Candy for Rae! Do you like it?”

“Say your thanks, Rae.”

Her mother whispered into her ears. The scene was rather unreal. After all, this was the first time Rachel had recalled it after twenty years.

Pondering on it, Nancy expressed, “Must have been fate. Some things are meant for you to remember.”

Very soon, Victor returned with the chives and Nancy promptly started making the dumplings.

Meanwhile, Rachel contacted the management team about the security post, which the administration kindly agreed to.

‘Where do you live, Grandpa Irwin? I’ll help you move to the workers’ hostel tomorrow’

head and rejected, “It’s fine. I don’t have much to transport. I’ll go home later

Nancy was visibly annoyed as she

main dish on the table along with

cold, Madam Tiller and Rachel. I shall go

Nancy quickly interjected,

fine. My grandma’s waiting for me to have dinner with her and it’s

hearing that, Rachel caught his arm. ‘Let me

need for

grandmother a signal, she grabbed her bag and put on her shoes, thereafter walking out

response, Grandma uttered, “Go

was Victor, who scratched his

gave him a box

taken aback by this, and

his hands, she pulled an envelope from her bag and placed it

he opened the envelope and saw a neat stack of hundreds. He was utterly stupefied

response, she showed him a pre-written

write me an IOU. Take this money and sign up for night school. Take up classes that you’re interested in so you can take care of your grandma even better and let

Rachel dumbfoundedly and hastily turned

choking

about to comfort him, he pushed open the car door, fearing that she would see his weeping face. It was not until he was far away that he shouted, “I’ll pay you

started driving the car amid the

notice that when she had left the alley, Victor

“What are you doing?”

“Grab him!”

he was restrained by two big men and his face was pushed against the unpainted concrete wall.

the pierogi and envelope had fallen

and bent down to pick up the envelope. “And I was wondering

“Give my stuff back!”

envelope. With a vile expression on her face, she pressed his head down and sneered, “So

a favor, and it’s solely up to me

grew infuriated

up if you have the balls to

The woman took a step backward. “Go on!

man let out screams of pain as he was trapped

heels as she looked down on him. Then, she grabbed the money from the envelope