Chapter 298
The master bedroom suite on the second floor was spacious and filled with natural light, a perfect reflection of Maddox’s love for vintage treasures. The reclaimed wood shelves were adorned with priceless antiques, each telling its own story.
Jennifer was suffering from one of her headaches again. Maddox, ever the caring partner, fetched some warm water and aspirin from the wooden tray and handed it to her.
“Stop frowning. Look at you, you’re going to get wrinkles.”
After taking the medicine with a sip of water, Jennifer’s furrowed brow relaxed only slightly.
“Do you think I like frowning? I just can’t figure him out. He and Suzan were doing so well, and then out of the blue, they split up. And with Leanne, it’s like they’re living on two different planets, barely speaking unless they have to. They were this close to filing for divorce, and now they’re back together. It’s like a never-ending soap opera. And Phillip? Tina was so into him. They even set a date and she had her dress picked out, but then suddenly, it’s all off.”
“You’re worrying over nothing,” Maddox said, his voice calm. “They’re not kids anymore. They can handle their own relationships and decisions. Let them be.”
“It’s always something with them. Daughters are so much easier.”
Jennifer couldn’t shake a certain sadness that lingered in her heart, “If only that child had been born, they’d be twenty by now. If it weren’t for your brother…”
“Enough,” Maddox cut her off with firm finality. “We’re not discussing this again.”
A knock at the door interrupted them – it was the housekeeper, letting them know Mary
summoned them downstairs.
Descending to the living room, they found the family’s grand dame had changed into a vibrant red sweater, ready for Leanne to do her makeup.
With a few gentle strokes, Leanne applied a light foundation, shaped her eyebrows, and added a touch of lipstick.
Curtis, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watched the scene unfold. “Getting all dolled up, are we? Trying to outshine your granddaughter?”
Leanne, having ignored Curtis since their spat in the garden, focused solely on her task, braiding Mary’s hair.
“And who’s the fairest of them all?” Mary teased.
As Leanne reached for another hair tie, Curtis blocked her path playfully.
With her hand gripping the braid, Leanne had to stretch past him, her sweater brushing
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Chapter 298
against his crisp shirt.
Curtis caught a glimpse of her profile, a smirk forming on his lips. “What’s this? Trying to seduce the judge? You’re quite the competitor.”
“If I were a judge,” he continued in jest, “I’d be the worst kind, offering you anything for a kiss.”
Leanne rolled her eyes, “You’re in my way.”
Jennifer, witnessing Curtis’ antics, felt her headache intensify, wishing to look away.
Once the camera was fetched and the matriarch’s makeup complete, the family gathered in the living room once more.
Maddox inquired, “You called us down here for a reason?”
“Not everyone’s as fond of speeches as you,” Mary quipped. “I thought, since we’re all here today, we should take a family portrait. Who knows if we’ll all be together next year.”
Her words struck a chord in Leanne, bringing a bittersweet ache to her chest.
Everyone was aware of Mary’s declining health. The thought of a future without her was a painful reminder of the fragility of family ties.
Mary, always one to speak her mind, seemed at peace with her own mortality, opting to cherish each day as it came. Yet, for those left behind, her candid remarks were a poignant reminder of the inevitable.
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