Chapter 229 Dinner for Four
"I thought being best friends would mean no secrets between you two. It seems I was wrong... She doesn't seem to be that genuine with you either," Darwin heaved a sigh, apparently feeling pity for Fiona.
Fiona couldn't be bothered with his act.
Something must have possessed him in the past five years.
Playing the pity card now, of all things!
The viewing was over within an hour.
Fiona hadn't stood this long in ages; her calves were about to cramp.
Darwin was conversing with some elderly folks.
Likely friends who knew Mrs. Solomon well.
Finding a secluded corner, Fiona sat down to rub her waist and give her back a gentle pat.
Honestly, she'd rather slip off her heels and massage her calves.
A moment later,
After wrapping up the conversation, Darwin approached her.
"They were Grandma's classmates."
Without waiting for a response, he squatted down and slipped off her heels.
His warm hands gently massaged her calves.
"Darwin, you don’t have to—" she started, flustered.
"No one's watching. Just sit tight; don't want you to fall," he said assuredly.
Fiona paused, then resolved. If Darwin was the reason she was sore, could she not accept his care, just for now?
Before long.
The cremation was ready.
A staff member came to notify Darwin. After acknowledging, he fetched a pair of flats for Fiona without another word.
As she watched him, Fiona struggled to hold back a wave of emotion.
Today, not a soul from the Solomon family had shown up.
Darwin was tasked with the solemn duty of escorting Mrs. Solomon to her cremation by himself soon.
"Darwin's upstairs in the lounge," she said, noticing the faint redness tracing the corners of his eyes, revealing a vulnerable side seldom seen.
"Got it," Fiona replied.
Rising to leave, Darwin followed a staff member out when Fiona's voice stopped him. "I'll come too."
He paused, turning back toward her, his tall frame tense. "You sure?"
"Why wouldn’t it be okay? I owe it to a respected elder to see her off," she said, rising and approaching with a faint sense of guilt, recalling the leg massages he’d given her.
At the crematorium, Darwin tenderly adjusted his grandmother’s hair one last time. "Grandma, this is where I leave you," he spoke softly as her body was taken away, the family waiting outside.
Darwin and Fiona sat side by side on a bench, scarcely speaking as the cremation took place. The familiar figure they knew became a small collection of ashes and bones, now housed in a box.
The old lady had wished to be interred back in her hometown, alongside her parents — in keeping with her slightly superstitious beliefs. For the burial, Darwin had consulted for an auspicious day, but they had to postpone the interment for two week as there were no suitable days soon.
After securing his grandmother’s ashes, Darwin and Fiona went to find Ashton and Kenny, who had already left the funeral home. They all ended up meeting in a restaurant.
On the way, Darwin showed Fiona a message from Kenny.
"Bro, my wife's hungry, so I'm taking her to the eatery. You and the sister-in-law come join us for dinner once you're done," it read.
Fiona just stared at the message, finding countless oddities in it.
Wife? Sister-in-law?
In the restaurant’s private room, Ashton was a mix of anxious and upset. Anxious because the secret of his shotgun wedding had come out before he had a chance to explain, and upset at the thought that Fiona might have reignited something with Darwin behind everyone's back.
And why would she do that and still send away his godson and goddaughter, keeping him from their cherubic little cheeks?
As she sat down, Fiona snapped her sunglasses onto the table, which made Ashton flinch.
Kenny had just been briefed on Fiona's relationship with Ashton. In essence, they were best friends. Over the years, if Ashton ever felt slighted, Fiona would defend him like a protective sibling, what Ashton referred to as a parental-like figure in his life.
"Let me introduce myself," Kenny began, breaking the silence.
"I remember now," Fiona said, her mind foggy from endlessly revising plans recently, and besides, Kenny didn't seem quite the same as he had that day in the hospital—much more mature and composed. "You introduced yourself at the hospital that day."
"Yeah," Kenny nodded in confirmation.
"Got your marriage license already?" Fiona looked over at Ashton, who nodded.
Chicken.
But she quickly explained, "I didn't mean to keep it a secret, honestly. Mr. Kenny and I planned a dinner for tomorrow night to tell you all about it. He's been so thoughtful, asking about your preferences, and took down this really, really long list of notes..."
Darwin stayed silent.
Pulling out his phone, he shot a message to Kenny: "Notes, send them."
In a few seconds, Kenny crisply sent over the notes.
Darwin made sure to save them.
"I'll get someone to connect with your brother about that project he mentioned last time."
"Alright."
The two men, wordlessly, put away their phones.
"Bang!" Fiona slammed her hand on the table.
"Ashton, you're reaching for the stars, huh? A whirlwind wedding! Do you even know anything about him? His character? His family background?"
Ashton muttered, “It's already done. And why are you only talking about me? What about you? Aren’t you going to explain? Sister-in-law!"
The counterattack had begun.
Fiona fell silent.
"He's spreading rumors."
"Rumors? You stood there with him today thanking your guests. That's something only married couples do!"
Darwin nodded his head in agreement.
Fiona almost laughed in exasperation.
"I'm married with kids, how could I be married to him?" she asked Ashton, emphasizing each word.
Ashton caught Fiona's drift instantly.
"Right... Yeah! You're married with kids! Why are you still involved with him? At least Mr. Kenny and I... We're legally recognized as husband and wife!"
Kenny nodded, a touch of pride in his gesture.
"Mr. Solomon, it's been years, and you've got someone special too, your long-time childhood sweetheart. Leave us married men alone..." Ashton pleaded earnestly.
"What someone special? Even if you're Mrs. Walker now, you can't just say anything," Darwin said sharply.
"Ashton grumbled, "Lilian, ugh!" She used to be scared of Darwin, but now she was emboldened. "Honey, you have no idea. I ran into Lilian today, and she was fierce, I tell you. If Mr. Kenny hadn't arrived in time, there would've been trouble!"
She turned to Kenny, "Right?"
Kenny nodded in agreement.
Fiona was speechless.
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