Only Carter and I remained detached from the situation—he served me food, and I gave him soup. We remained silent, quietly watching the unfolding drama. After the meal, Nicholas and Bill stood up almost simultaneously. Bill's movements were exaggerated, as if he were making a noble sacrifice.
“I’ll wash the dishes,” he announced. “You all can go rest.”
Nicholas sneered coldly, mocking, “How many plates are you planning to break today, Mr. Gardner?” The two were once again poised for a showdown over the dishes. Mom shook her head helplessly; this seemed to be a daily occurrence.
Zoey timidly spoke up, “Maybe I should wash them!”
Mom took her hand and said, “You’re a guest. How could I let you wash dishes? Would you like to walk around the yard? The mountain air is nice, and sometimes you can see fireflies.”
“Sure,” Zoey smiled, agreeing.
Mom reached for me, but I didn’t want to interrupt their mother-daughter time, so I linked arms with Carter. “Carter and I will walk through the area,” I said, winking at her. She understood my intention without further explanation.
Bill, noticing Zoey was about to leave, immediately grabbed a woolen shawl and draped it over her shoulder. He urged, “It’s chilly at night; don’t catch a cold.”
Nicholas, who was clearing plates, thought, Shit! Missed my chance. That sycophant…
When Zoey looked at him and secretly laughed, Bill quickly threw Mom’s knitted cardigan over her, avoiding eye contact. “Go ahead,” he mumbled.
Zoey clutched the cardigan tightly. When she turned, I saw a glimmer of tears in her eyes. Carter and I stepped outside.
The area was quiet, with only a few houses and the farm’s staff quarters nearby. But the roads within several miles had all been newly equipped with streetlights, and especially near our house, there were whimsical, fairy-tale-themed lights. Little animals were hidden in the grass, and giant mushroom-shaped trees dotted the landscape. The lights weren’t too bright, just enough to illuminate the area. We felt like we had walked into a fairy tale. This was all clearly prepared by the duo.
The sound of crickets filled the air. When I looked up, the sky was full of stars. At that moment, I truly realized how beautiful and peaceful this world was. Here, there was no need to worry about schemes or danger; even the air we breathed felt gentle.
“Carter, look, it’s really fireflies!”
In the grass, the fireflies flitted around, their tails glowing with a soft green light. Even though their light was small, together it illuminated the darkness.
Carter pointed at a plant not far away. “Chloe, over there!”
“It’s a night-blooming cereus.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the closed flowers burst open, revealing soft, delicate petals. “It’s beautiful. They say that seeing a night-blooming cereus is good luck; I should make a wish.”
I clasped my hands together, closed my eyes, and made a sincere wish. Carter chuckled softly, and in the next moment, he pulled me into his embrace, a gentle smile curving on his lips. “What did you wish for?”
“I can’t tell you, or it won’t come true. Did you make a wish?”
“I didn’t. My wish has already come true.” His fingers intertwined with mine, his forehead resting against mine, his eyes full of soft affection. “Chloe, you being reborn is the greatest wish of my life come true.”