The Cherished Wife

Noelle was stunned for a moment but quickly composed herself. "Hey, Steven!"

Steven gave a slight nod, acknowledging Noelle. "Hi, Noelle. Where's Charlie?"

"Charlie is inside, and Aunt Nancy is here too," Noelle smiled. She then glanced at the young girl, nodding politely. "Steven, who's this?"

"Elly, aren't you going to greet her?"

"Ms. Noelle." Eloise's voice was sweet. It was the kind that made her instantly likable, completely different from the cold, hard tone she had used the previous night.

Noelle smiled and nodded. "Hello, I'm Noelle Shaw." She then added, "Please come in!"

Noelle led Steven and Eloise inside and handed them slippers to change into. "Steven, please go inside. Elly, you too."

slightly as he noticed Nancy sitting on the couch. The woman before him overlapped yet diverged from the person in his memory. "Nancy." His

handsome features that vaguely resembled the stubborn child she remembered. However,

him over. "Come here, let me take a look at you. It's been

walked over, knelt beside her, and took her hand. "It's been a long

as I can be at my age." Nancy sighed, studying Steven carefully. "How many years has

told me. How have

great respect to Nancy, letting her

smiled. "I never thought I'd get to see you again in my lifetime. Did

didn't you come visit in Cascade City? After all... and this

but Nancy could not quite place her. "Stevie, is this

and shook his head. "Take a closer look, Nancy." Steven stood up and said, "Elly, come closer so she