Chapter 514 Childhood Friends
"Menopause?" Caleb laughed on the other end of the video call. "I don't know if May was mad at you before, but if she hears that, she'll definitely be pissed."
"I didn't say she is," Susan shot back.
"Sounds like you might be," Caleb chuckled.
"What did you just say? Me, menopause?" Susan glared. "How am I in menopause?"
Caleb grinned, "Loving me but saying you don't, wanting me to stay but not admitting it, all that back and forth. Menopause seems like a solid guess."
Susan rolled her eyes. "You're the one in menopause, and your whole family too."
He was totally asking for it. She was already being super chill.
Whatever, she was too tired to argue.
Susan added, "Since May's made up her mind, you should hurry up and find her a match."
Caleb sighed dramatically. "Never thought I'd be playing matchmaker. My reputation's shot..."
Susan laughed, teasing him, "What reputation? You're overthinking it. Anyway, I'm done talking to you. The sun's out, I'm gonna go catch some rays."
"The sun's nice, how about a date?" Caleb asked.
"We're not dating!" Susan waved him off.
"Then a video call?" Caleb suggested, "Just seeing your smile is enough."
"Go take a shower," Susan said.
"Video live stream?" Caleb joked.
"I'm not that creepy."
This was going nowhere, so Susan hung up.
She headed downstairs.
Maurice was usually out gardening, and the yard was in full bloom, like spring had exploded everywhere.
With all the colors and sunshine, Susan felt great. She grabbed a watering can to help out and started humming a tune.
The water made a faint rainbow in the sunlight, and her smile was even brighter than the rainbow.
At least, that's how Michael Johnson saw it. He stared at her, thinking of sixteen-year-old Susan, so young and full of life, like the sunshine itself. She passed through his eyes and settled in his heart, unforgettable.
Michael's heart raced, and he couldn't help but blurt out, "So beautiful."
Susan heard him and turned around, surprised. "Michael?"
The guy in front of her, around thirty, well-dressed and wearing glasses, was definitely her childhood friend Michael.
Susan put down the watering can and hugged him. "Long time no see."
"Long time no see," Michael grinned. "It's been, what, almost ten years?"
After high school, one went to Novaria, the other to Virtalia. Michael had visited her twice, but they hadn't kept in touch much. Still, this friend of over ten years always had a place in Susan's heart. Reuniting with him made her super happy.
"Yeah, it's been forever."
Susan wasn't the delicate flower she used to be. She was more gentle and charming now, full of femininity.
"What brings you here?" Susan asked.
"May said you were back, so I came to see you," Michael explained.
"Yeah, I'm back."
Michael continued, "Looks like you patched things up with your dad. I'm really happy for you. When you... had that accident, I wanted to come back, but the company was in a tough spot, so I couldn't get away."
"It's all good, it's in the past. How about you? How's life treating you? How's the wife and kids?" Susan asked. Michael had been married for a while, and she figured he had a happy family by now.
A shadow crossed Michael's face, but he smiled. "I'm doing alright."
"That's good. Did you get taller?" Susan gestured with her hand, "I remember I used to be at your ear level."
"5'11"," Michael replied.
"Nice, you've grown."
But after seeing Caleb, who was 6 feet tall, Michael's height didn't really impress Susan anymore.
"What about you? Are you married?" Michael asked.
Susan shook her head. "But I have a son."
"That's... great too." A thought popped into Michael's head, but he decided to wait and see how things played out.
"Come on in and sit," Susan said.
Soon enough, Susan's parents came back and invited Michael to stay for lunch and dinner. Susan and Michael had so much to catch up on, they talked from morning till night.
"Mommy, I'm home from school!" Oliver burst into Susan's arms like a little bird.
"Hey, sweetheart." Susan picked him up and kissed his cheek.
"Mommy, did you miss me today?" Oliver asked.
"Of course. Did you miss me?"
"Yeah, even more than you missed me," Oliver replied.
"Good boy." Susan praised. "This is Mommy's childhood friend, Michael."
"Hi, I'm Oliver."
"Hello." Michael found the kid delightful. If only he had such a cute child; he always liked kids, but unfortunately...
After dinner, Susan took Oliver to bathe first.
Michael stood in the yard, lost in thought.
"You still like Susan, don't you?" May walked over.
Michael's face turned red. "I..."
May cut him off, "You've had a crush on her since elementary school. I remember in middle school, you always secretly watched her. My parents knew about your feelings and hoped you two would end up together, but you were too shy to confess. Then you went to different cities for college, and it just fizzled out. Don't you regret it?"
Michael smiled bitterly. "Life's full of regrets."
May continued, "But some regrets can be fixed. You're divorced now, and Susan's single. If you don't mind that she has a kid..."
"I don't mind," Michael quickly said, "But it's too soon. We just reconnected."
May shook her head and smiled. "Ten years ago, you missed your chance because you hesitated. Do you want to miss it again? Susan's got plenty of options. If you keep hesitating, someone else will snatch her up. Unless you don't have feelings for her."
May was pushing his buttons. She'd noticed how Michael looked at Susan today. He was clearly smitten. Bringing him here was a good move.
Susan, that tricky vixen, always had a way with men.
Michael said, "Even if I like her, she might not..."
May interrupted, "No, I can tell she's into you. You know Susan's personality; if she wasn't interested, she wouldn't have talked so much. You felt her enthusiasm, right?"
Michael felt a bit encouraged, thinking back to today.
Susan had talked a lot with him, like they had endless things to say, always smiling brightly at him.
She was really beautiful, making Michael's throat tighten, unable to take his eyes off her.
Could it be that she also...
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