Chapter 141 If Only I Had Met Her Sooner
Although he hadn't asked, he was confident that with time, he would become unforgettable to her, a constant thought in her mind.
They made their way to the charming ground-floor restaurant. Vast floor-to-ceiling windows lined the space, while white tablecloths draped the tables adorned with vases filled with fresh flowers. It was evident that this was an exclusive dining area.
As they entered, a waitress in a black dress with a white apron welcomed them warmly. "Judson, right this way, please." They took their seats by the panoramic windows, granting them a view of the courtyard's bamboo grove and the stream hidden beyond.
The setting was impeccable, and Eula wondered how the lunch spot they'd been to earlier could even be part of the same place—it felt like an entirely different world.
Judson perused the menu and began to order, familiar with Eula's preferences. She never liked to order herself, often deterred by the daunting prices. Eventually, she'd surrender the menu to him, "Judson, you decide!"
Her frugality, born from hard times, was a trait not often seen in girls her age.
Eula rested her chin on her hand, gazing out at the stream and smiled faintly, "It's really beautiful here."
After giving the menu back to the smiling waitress, Judson turned to Eula with an expectant look, eager to hear her thoughts. "Eula, have you ever thought about the kind of life you want to lead?" There was so much more he yearned to understand about her.
Eula pondered briefly, "I don’t want much, just to raise three healthy, happy kids, and to afford a house—a real home for them."
"You have no idea how it feels to live in rentals. Sometimes, we'd have to move out because the landlord needed the house back. I remember sitting curbside with the kids in the middle of the night, feeling so guilty, yet they didn't mind, happily counting the stars." For Eula, her children were akin to little angels sent to her.
Judson could picture them, a family of four, perched on their luggage by the roadside. "And in the end? How did you handle it?" If only he had met her earlier, he could have been of help.
Eula chuckled softly, "In the end, Geoffrey came to pick us up. He took us to stay at a hotel."
The mention of Geoffrey made Judson glance reflexively at the sweater he was wearing underneath. It was his favorite piece, knitted by her, but originally crafted for Geoffrey.
"Eula, would you knit one for me as well?" he asked as the dishes arrived. In a calm voice, he continued the conversation, handing his fork.
She was stunned by the first bite, not having tasted food this delicious in a long time. Indeed, hanging out with the big boss came with its perks.
“Judson, with your kind of money, I bet you've got at least a hundred sweaters in your closet. My knitting's not the comfiest, nor the prettiest to look at.”
It was the harsh truth. Knitting didn't come easily to her; it took months to finish a single sweater. Buying one would certainly be smarter!
Judson's expression darkened, “I've been looking after your kid all day, and you wouldn't knit a sweater for me?”
Eula pursed her lips in irritation, suspecting that as soon as he did her a small favor, he'd expect a bigger one in return.
But considering how much fun the three kids had today, she would knit until her hands fell off if she had to.
“Fine, I'll pick up some yarn tomorrow and get started. Do you have a favorite color?”
