Chapter 398 What is Gabriel Holding in His Hand
Fred was still shootin' the breeze with Michael about the good ol' days when Gabriel had already bounced from Michael's room.
When Sarah saw Mr. Harriman roll back in, she was about to ask if he was stickin' around for dinner, but he just grabbed something from his room and dipped. Clearly, he wasn't planning to hang, so she didn't bother asking.
Michael hobbled out of his room, leaning on his cane as he made his way downstairs. Seeing Gabriel wasn't planning to stay long, he squinted at him and asked, "You all healed up from those injuries you got in San Francisco?"
Sarah, worried Gabriel might get the wrong idea, quickly said, "Mr. Harriman, I didn't spill the beans."
Michael, gripping his cane with both hands and frowning, said, "Kimberly called a few days ago to check on me and asked about your injuries. She said she was only in San Francisco for a few days and couldn't make it to Xyleria. It was only when she mentioned it that I found out you were hurt. Such a big deal, and I'm the last to know. You all good now?"
As he spoke, Michael specifically eyed Gabriel's shoulder. Seeing him move without any issues and remembering he didn't seem uncomfortable when he came in, Michael figured he must be all healed up.
Gabriel, not wanting to get into it, shrugged it off, "Just a scratch, nothing to worry about."
Sarah, standing nearby, looked at Mr. Harriman with innocent eyes. Seeing he wasn't mad at her, she let out a sigh of relief.
Even though she had swung by Blue Bay Apartments a few times to change Mr. Harriman's bandages and cook, most of the time, it was Jessica or her assistant who took care of him. Mr. Harriman hadn't let her talk about it with the Harriman family, so even though Sarah knew about his injury and that Mrs. Jenner and Mr. Harriman were still in touch, she kept her lips zipped when she got back.
Kimberly had mentioned Mr. Harriman's injury over the phone, but Sarah didn't know the details and never dared to ask.
Michael stood outside for a bit, feeling the chill as winter crept in. When he got back to his room, he glanced at the photo album on the recliner, still open to a page with Gabriel's childhood pics.
He stared at the photo for a while, then suddenly squinted and picked up the album again.
Fred, noticing Michael's thoughtful look, couldn't help but ask, "What's up?"
Michael looked at the photo again and said, "Why does it feel like I've seen this somewhere before?"
Fred glanced at the photo and saw Michael's serious face, couldn't help but laugh, "How could you not have seen it? It's your grandson, after all. You've watched him grow up."
Michael shot him a contemptuous look and ignored him.
He must have seen it.
But it had been a long time, and he couldn't recall where.
It felt like this familiar face wasn't just from twenty-some years ago but also from somewhere in the past couple of years.
He had felt that strong sense of familiarity back then.
After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't remember when or where he had seen it.
Fred, worried Michael might get all caught up in his feels with those old photos and start binge-watching sad dramas again, quickly snatched the album and set it aside. "Wanna go for a walk or maybe catch some Z's?"
Michael was still deep in thought, so Fred, feeling kinda helpless, just set the album aside.
"What did Gabriel take with him just now?" Michael suddenly asked as he settled back into the recliner.
Fred hadn't gotten a good look. Just then, Sarah came in with some supplements for Michael. Hearing the question, she looked at him and shook her head, "I didn't see clearly."
Near Star Tower's public kindergarten...
The older kids had more class time these days and sometimes got to go outside with the teacher to play games.
The kids were running and jumping all over the colorful playground. One kid ran too fast and took a tumble—not seriously hurt but with a red face from the fall, sitting on the ground crying.
The teacher tried to comfort the kid but had other kids to watch too. So, she called Danielle over to keep the fallen kid company.
Danielle was now the class monitor of her kindergarten class.
When the kid started crying, Danielle had already wanted to come over. Now, being called by the teacher, she happily ran over, sat with the fallen kid, and started rubbing her face and blowing on the injured spot, saying like a little adult, "There, it doesn't hurt anymore. You're six years old and still can't tie your own shoelaces? You fell this time, and you'll fall again next time. Let me show you how to tie them."
The fallen kid, also a girl, looked at Danielle with tearful eyes and asked, "How do you tie them?"
Danielle's round eyes curved into a smile. She squatted down in front of the girl, her small hands working on the shoelaces. Though a bit clumsy, she tied them neatly in less than a minute.
"That's how I tie them. My mommy taught me," Danielle said, pointing to the girl's other shoelace, "Want me to tie that one too?"
"Yes! It's so pretty!" The girl stopped crying and shook her little shoes.
The two little girls sat on the colorful playground, tying shoelaces, whispering secrets, and then holding hands, jumping back into the group to find the teacher and play games with the others.
Four-year-old Danielle was mischievous and lively. At six, she had grown a bit, still mischievous and lively but much more mature than two years ago. Her little face, still childlike, showed a hint of maturity beyond her years.
The teacher particularly liked Danielle, seeing that she inherited her mother's beauty and cheerful personality, but it was unclear from whom she inherited her early maturity.
A black Bentley had parked in the empty space beside the kindergarten playground, its presence unnoticed.
Danielle, sweating from running around, ran back to the classroom to get disinfectant wipes for the teacher to clean the hands of another kid who had fallen.
Like a little adult, Danielle helped clean the kid's hands while asking the teacher various questions. Soon, the kids lined up again, ready to head back to the classroom.
Danielle, at the back of the line, checked the ground for any litter the kids might have dropped. She turned and noticed the car parked outside the kindergarten, blinking curiously.
