Chapter 18 Four Years Later
Four years later, a woman in a cinched khaki trench coat, denim jeans, and black leather shoes appeared at the Horizon City Airport. She had a youthful and attractive look to her.
She pushed a suitcase, which a little girl sat atop. The girl had big eyes with long lashes that flickered like Barbie dolls. She wore a pink princess dress, white stockings, and princess shoes. She looked straight out of a movie.
Sitting on the suitcase, her little legs kicked back and forth. Next to the woman was a child with a rosy mouth and delicate features, wearing denim overalls, a plaid shirt, and carrying a small backpack. He had dark eyes and a distinguished nose. These were two adorable kids, like a prince and princess straight out of a storybook.
Three people walking through the airport resembled a strikingly beautiful scene, drawing the glances of passersby who would turn their heads to watch them pass. A few young girls whispered to one another, "Those two kids are so adorable."
"That must be their mom, right? She looks so young and stylish. She hardly seems like she would be the mother of two kids; more like an older sister."
"Yes, totally! And given how cute those munchkins are, I bet their dad is really handsome."
"You're telling me! It makes me want kids of my own, ugh..."
The two children appeared to be about the same age, leading onlookers to guess that they might be twins.
Their guess was indeed correct; the woman was Madison who had left Horizon City four years ago, and the babies that were once in her belly were now over three years old.
*
"Mommy, I need to go to the restroom," Hannah Johnson piped up from atop her suitcase, "Your aunt is about to be here. Can you hold it just a bit longer?" Madison asked her daughter with a gentle voice.
"I can't hold it anymore," the little girl complained, her cheeks flushed as she hopped off the suitcase and stomped her feet impatiently.
"Mommy, I'll take her, you wait here for Auntie. We'll come back after using the restroom," the boy chimed in helpfully.
That seemed to be the best option. Madison wasn't worried about her son's judgment. He was sharp. Back in Frostpine, the siblings took care of each other when she was too busy with her articles. The boy would even take his sister to preschool.
Back then, they were in the countryside with familiar faces everywhere. Even the school bus driver knew them. Now, they were in a busy airport in Horizon City. It was somewhat worrying.
"Alright, Quentin, keep your smartwatch on, and call me immediately if there's any trouble," Madison instructed Quentin Johnson with a hint of concern.
"Don't worry, Mommy, we'll be back soon."
With that, he took his little sister's hand, and they headed toward the restrooms. Quentin, being a boy, stopped at the door of the ladies' room.
"Hannah, can you go to the restroom by yourself? I'll wait right here for you."
"Okay, Matthew! I am not a baby anymore. I go to the restroom by myself at preschool all the time," Hannah proudly declared before rushing into the women's restroom.
After Hannah went in and was done, she came out to wash her hands. She realized that the sinks were higher than the ones at her preschool, and she could not reach them. Next to her stood a lovely young lady. Hannah put on her signature charming face and asked, "Miss, could you please lift me to wash my hands?" Her big, hopeful eyes stayed fixed on the woman.
Willow's grandpa and Matthew's grandpa were brothers, making their dads sort of cousins. Although cousins, the two families were close, lived near each other, and had good relations. Adding to that, each family had few children, so they treated one another's children as their grandchildren.
After graduating, Willow interned at Matthew's company. She meant to take advantage of her vacation to visit her parents but was surprised to receive a call from them early one morning telling her they were already at the airport about to board a flight to Horizon City. They were coming to see her and also visit William. This meant she no longer had to go back home. Ever since Matthew got divorced and Madison left, her eldest uncle and aunt passed away early, and Grandpa's health had deteriorated over the years.
Willow, seeing the little girl by her side asking for help, wondered who this child belonged to. With such sweet words, not to mention her adorable appearance, she believed no one could resist a little princess's humble request.
"Of course, I can," Willow said as she lifted Hannah, turned on the faucet for her to wash her hands, and handed her a paper towel to dry off.
"Thank you, beautiful lady," Hannah politely expressed her gratitude. Her mother had always told her to thank anyone who helped her.
"Don't mention it, little one. Are you here by yourself? Where are your folks?" Willow asked, concerned to see her alone and feeling strangely familiar with her, despite it being their first meeting.
"My brother is waiting for me at the door, and my Mom is waiting for my auntie, who will pick us up soon. Mom is worried that Auntie might not be able to find us, so she had my brother bring me to the restroom," Hannah explained clearly to the lovely lady before her.
"Hannah, are you done yet?" Quentin felt uneasy for not seeing his younger sister coming back and hearing her talking with someone else. He called out at the restroom entrance without going in.
"I'm done, Quentin. I'll be out in a second," responded Hannah upon hearing his voice, promptly saying goodbye to Willow.
"Miss, my brother is calling for me. I have to go now."
Willow followed Hannah outside and saw Hannah run over to a little boy, presumably her brother. Matthew hadn't come out yet, so Willow decided to wait at the door.
Seeing Willow come out as well, Hannah said, "Quentin, this beautiful lady helped me wash my hands just now."
"Did you say thank you?" asked the brother.
"I did. The lady said not to worry about it," Hannah replied.
"Okay, good girl," Quentin added, leading his younger sister back to find their mom before she and their auntie started worrying.
Willow, listening to the conversation, turned and felt a strong sense of familiarity when she saw Quentin. It was as if she had seen him somewhere before but couldn't recall.
When Matthew came out and saw Willow staring ahead, he asked, "What are you looking at?"
"Ah, you're here, Matthew. Nothing. I just met two kids. Did you see them? They're so cute and could be child stars at Liam's agency. And they somehow look familiar, like I've seen them before..."
Matthew looked back but only saw two figures walking away. "Let's go, your parents have arrived."
"Okay," Willow agreed. Matthew had become more robotic ever since the divorce, always so cold, making more money than he could ever spend, yet always buried in work.
Without much thought, Willow followed Matthew, eager to catch up with their parents, but she couldn't help looking back at Hannah and Quentin once more.
"I wish I could meet the mom of those two kids. I wonder how she had such beautiful children."
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