Chapter 44 Slipups
Learning that Eleanor moved next door solely for companionship and to alleviate boredom made Maggie even more astonished.
While they were talking, the moving company had finished bringing in the furniture, and Eleanor invited Maggie to come in and sit for a while.
"It's hard to refuse such hospitality," Maggie said. "Let me just put these groceries away first."
She had bought quite a bit of food, including a large watermelon.
After storing the groceries at her place, she cut half of the watermelon and brought it over to Eleanor.
Meanwhile, Eleanor was making a phone call next door, arranging for her housekeeper to come clean her new home.
Maggie stood behind him, careful not to disturb, and ended up overhearing some of the conversation.
Once she hung up, Maggie's curiosity piqued, and she asked, "Aunt, does your family know about you buying the house?"
To Maggie, purchasing real estate was a big deal, something you'd definitely discuss with your family.
Eleanor just laughed and waved it off, "No need to tell them. It's just buying a house, not a big hassle. Why would I need their opinion? I wanted it, so I bought it. It's not a big deal."
Maggie was speechless.
She thought back to the time Eleanor had given her an expensive ring as a housewarming gift. She knew she had money, but she hadn't realized just how wealthy she was.
Maggie offered a light smile. "Aunt, I just bought a watermelon and wanted to bring half over to you."
"Thank you," said Eleanor, accepting it with a grin. She then handed Maggie a set of keys, "Here's a spare key to my house. Take it just in case I have one of those days where I forget to bring my own keys and need to find you."
While forgetting her keys was a mere pretense, Eleanor's main intention was to foster a closer relationship with Maggie.
With such a reason, Maggie found herself unable to refuse the offer and took the keys.
Hesitating for a moment, Maggie then said, "All right, I'll hold onto the spare key for you, Aunt. I bought groceries, so why don't you come over for dinner tonight?"
"Sure," replied Eleanor without hesitation. "I'll show off my cooking skills for dinner."
Eleanor was so enthusiastic, and Maggie didn't have the heart to let her cook alone, so they ended up working together in the kitchen.
While Maggie was washing cilantro, Eleanor noticed and said, "Fiorello can't eat cilantro."
"Oh?" Maggie was genuinely unaware.
"He's allergic to it," Eleanor explained.
"I had no idea," Maggie admitted. She had never used cilantro in her cooking before, but she had thought to make a steamed dish with it as a garnish today.
Upon learning about Fiorello's allergy, Maggie promptly stopped washing it and put the cilantro away.
Maggie noticed something and asked, "Aunt, how do you know all this so well?"
It was unusual for a distant relative to know such specific likes and dislikes.
Concerned about revealing too much, Eleanor diverts. "Years ago, Fiorello had dinner at my place and ended up in the hospital because of the cilantro, so I remember it well. The poor kid, always working, and at thirty, no girlfriend in sight. It's a good thing he met you, or else he would be a bachelor all his life."
Arya didn't suspect a thing and laughed, "Aunt, Fiorello is such a catch. How could he remain single? Even if he hadn't met me, other girls would be interested."
Eleanor couldn't help but comment, "I've set him up with more than a dozen girls, and not one worked out. The odds of him finding a wife are slim."
Maggie was left speechless.
Maggie had only just learned that before Fiorello turned to online dating services, Eleanor had personally introduced him to a dozen potential matches.
Maggie said, "why didn’t he fancy any of those blind dates, then? You're telling me not one out of the dozen was to his liking?”
“He’s always been picky, that one,” Eleanor explained with an eye roll. “If they weren't too heavy, they were too skinny, or he'd find fault with their facial features and worry about compatibility issues.”
Eleanor’s storytelling was animated, almost theatrical, and it sent Maggie into peals of laughter.
Remembering her own blind date with Fiorello, Maggie thought he didn’t seem picky in the slightest. She didn’t consider herself a top-tier beauty, and her family was just average.
“Aunt, why don’t you tell me some more about Fiorello's past?” she asked, eager to learn more.
Eleanor was only too happy to oblige. “No problem at all! The stories about Fiorello could fill days and nights,” she chuckled.
Eleanor relayed the tales with zeal, even spilling the beans about Fiorello's bedwetting incidents as a child. She delved into stories from his preschool years all the way up to college.
Maggie initially listened with great interest, but something began to feel off.
'How comes Eleanor know so much about Fiorello’s childhood, considering she is just a distant relative?' Maggie thought.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
