Chapter 730: Roy Henderson
Chapter 730: Chapter 730: Roy Henderson
After sitting by the lake for several hours, Evelyn Ford was getting sleepy. The other anglers around them started to head home one by one, so the two of them packed up, picked up their two buckets of fish, and returned to the small courtyard.
When their neighbors in the courtyard saw them return, they all gathered around to see the day’s catch.
"Ford, could I trade you for a fish?"
"Of course. Which one do you want?" They couldn’t eat them all anyway, so Evelyn Ford was happy to trade with her neighbors.
"This one. My daughter-in-law is in postpartum confinement, so I need to make her some crucian carp soup."
"No problem." Evelyn Ford got a bundle of straw rope, and after the neighbors made their picks, Ronan Kendrick strung the fish together and handed them over.
Evelyn Ford set aside the last five fish for an extra dish that evening. The neighbors who had traded for fish went home, but they soon returned bearing all sorts of gifts. One brought wild vegetables foraged from the plains. Another, knowing Evelyn Ford loved flowers, brought over a potted plant from their home. Over the past two years, she had grown close with her neighbors, and they all got along well. Besides, Evelyn Ford was a doctor, so whenever someone needed medical help, they would come and ask for her assistance.
The incident a few years ago where Evelyn Ford had gotten into a fight had also left a deep impression on the neighbors. At the time, they were all a little scared of her, but over the last two years, their opinion had completely changed. Some even wanted their children to study medicine under her, but she turned them all down.
To take it even further, some who knew Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick didn’t have children tried to forge a closer bond by having their kids acknowledge Evelyn Ford as their godmother. This sort of ridiculous proposal had come up several times.
Most of the neighbors were great, but with so many people living in the small courtyard, there were bound to be a few oddballs.
During dinner, Wendy returned from the hospital. She had the next day off and was planning to invite Jonas Lucas and his teammates over for a meal. A few days prior, a man had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Unable to accept the diagnosis, he had shown up at the hospital with a knife, demanding the doctors treat him. During the ensuing standoff, Wendy was nearly hurt, but Jonas Lucas and his team saved her life.
After the incident, everyone urged Wendy to transfer to a different department, but she was adamant about staying in the ER.
"You definitely should treat them to a meal. How many people will be coming? Do they have any dietary restrictions?"
"No restrictions. People who’ve known true hunger are never picky eaters. There will be seven of them, including two female instructors. Mr. Dawson, Mr. Owens, you two need to seize this opportunity! They’re both single and looking to date," Wendy said, winking at them.
"Wendy, are you trying to play matchmaker for them?"
Wendy smiled. "Might as well. My dad told me Mr. Dawson and Mr. Owens are becoming hopeless cases, so he asked me to keep an eye out for any suitable colleagues. Mr. Sterling already has his sights set on someone, so I’m not looking for him. You two have been single forever. If you don’t get some help, you probably still won’t be married ten years from now."
Peter Owens was about to say he planned on being single for life, but Wendy cut him off. "Mr. Owens, don’t be so quick to say no! The two women are gorgeous, accomplished, and incredible. You should at least meet them. Besides, they have high standards. Even though you two are pretty good catches, I can’t guarantee they’ll even be interested in you, you know."
Peter Owens was speechless. Ouch.
"Mr. Dawson, one of them has a face that would look perfect with yours. I feel like your vibes really match. I think it could be fate!"
Ethan Dawson found it impossible to refuse, so he had no choice but to agree to the blind date Wendy had arranged.
Since Ethan Dawson had agreed, there was no escape for Peter Owens either.
Early the next morning, Officer Graham and Taylor Vance were up cleaning the courtyard. They wiped everything down until it was spotless, even the doorframes, terrified that the slightest imperfection might ruin Ethan Dawson and Peter Owens’s blind date.
Evelyn Ford brought out her best ingredients, fruits, and melons. By the afternoon, such a rich aroma was wafting from the courtyard that anyone who didn’t know better would have thought it was the New Year celebration.
By the time Wendy returned with her guests, Officer Graham and the others had already prepared the meal. Beside Jonas Lucas stood four tall, handsome young men. The two female instructors stood next to Wendy, looking not only dashing and heroic but also possessing a remarkable presence.
Wendy explained that they were former special forces soldiers. They had returned to the base to work as instructors after being seriously injured on a mission. The base encouraged soldiers over the age of twenty-eight to attend social mixers, and both their families were pressuring them hard to find partners. Wendy had mentioned Ethan Dawson and Peter Owens to them, and they were intrigued, which led to this unique blind date.
"We’re so grateful for what you did at the hospital the other day. If you hadn’t stepped in to help, our Wendy would have certainly been injured."
"You’re too kind, sir. We were just doing our duty," Jonas Lucas said with a shy smile. Officer Graham urged everyone to come inside, but just then, one of the soldiers stood frozen outside. He stared at the group, his eyes wide with disbelief and astonishment.
"Are you... Mr. Graham?"
Officer Graham froze for a second. He walked over to the man, a look of confusion on his face. "I am. And you are...?"
"I..." The man’s eyes instantly reddened. He choked up for a long moment before saying, word by word, "I’m Roy Henderson."
Officer Graham grabbed the man’s arm, overcome with excitement. "You’re really Roy Henderson? Your eyes... they looked so familiar! Kid, how did you get so tall? We all thought we’d never see you again! Oh, and what about Owen Chapman? Is he with you?"
Roy Henderson nodded. Then, looking at the others, he began to call them out by name, one by one, from memory.
"I didn’t realize Wendy was the little sister I remembered. I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize her. She’s changed so much. Owen Chapman is at a desert training camp; we’ve been together this whole time."
Quincy and the others crowded around. Upon seeing Roy Henderson, everyone’s eyes started to well up. Wendy never imagined she would see him again. Back in Corinth and at Wyrmrest Base, she had been the most attached to him, and she couldn’t believe she hadn’t recognized him.
"All that matters is that you’re safe. All these years... you must have suffered so much." Officer Graham scrutinized Roy Henderson, and his heart ached when he saw the scar on his neck.
"How did you get this?"
"Back when the sea surged inland, Owen Chapman and I were swept apart by the floodwaters. A branch gashed my neck, and I nearly drowned. Owen Chapman was the one who found me and saved my life."
The mention of the sea surge brought everyone’s spirits down again. Yet, looking at Roy Henderson and learning that both he and Owen Chapman were alive and well, they couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness.
"Mr. Graham, what happened to your leg?"
Officer Graham waved a dismissive hand. "It’s nothing serious. It happened during the sea surge, too. I was washed onto a deserted island and injured my leg. It’s left me with a limp ever since."
Jonas Lucas was dumbfounded. He’d just come over for dinner and to help his two instructors with a blind date, but he never expected his captain to end up having a family reunion with Wendy’s relatives.
"We’re so lucky to see you again, Roy Henderson. When you see Owen Chapman again, you have to bring him home."
Roy Henderson nodded. "I will. I’ll go find him tomorrow. He’s missed everyone so much. All these years, we thought all of you..." He couldn’t finish the sentence as tears finally streamed down his face.
Officer Graham patted his shoulder. "That’s all in the past now. The important thing is, we’ve found each other again."