Chapter 696: A Subconscious Tremble
Chapter 696: Chapter 696: A Subconscious Tremble
Once in the car, Sylvia Brooks fastened her seatbelt and turned to Phoebe Sawyer. "So, what’s the plan for tonight? Want to come to my place?"
Phoebe Sawyer pulled out her phone, only to find it was dead.
She frowned, thought for a moment, and said softly, "Summer, I think I should go home. I’m afraid Mommy will worry about me."
"That’s true." Sylvia Brooks nodded. "I’ll take you home then."
She entered Imperial Bay Villas into the GPS.
The car sped through the night. Phoebe Sawyer leaned her head against the window, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
"Phoebe, that person up ahead looks like your mom."
Hearing this, Phoebe Sawyer’s vacant eyes finally focused. Through the windshield, she saw a familiar figure standing not far away.
"It’s my mommy." She quickly sat up straight, her voice growing agitated. "It’s so late. Why is Mommy here dressed so lightly?"
Sylvia Brooks said softly, "Is she here looking for you?"
They were three or four miles from Imperial Bay Villas. Wendy Lowe must have grown more and more worried after Phoebe Sawyer ran off and came out to find her.
At these words, Phoebe Sawyer’s heart instantly clenched with pain and self-blame.
"I was wrong." Her voice was suddenly choked with tears. "I shouldn’t have made Mommy worry about me."
The car slowed to a stop. Phoebe Sawyer threw open the door and rushed toward Wendy Lowe. "Mommy!"
Hearing her daughter’s voice, Wendy Lowe whipped her head around. Her eyes lit up with joy. "Phoebe!"
Phoebe Sawyer threw her arms around Wendy Lowe. "Mommy, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have run out and made you worry. I’m sorry..."
"Silly girl, there’s nothing to be sorry for." Wendy Lowe held her daughter, her voice gentle. "You did nothing wrong. It was Mommy who was wrong."
In fact, Rhea Dempsey had called her to put her mind at ease, telling her that Renee Jennings had already found Phoebe.
While she had breathed a sigh of relief, a tide of self-reproach had washed over her.
’Did I do the wrong thing?’ she wondered.
’Should I not have told Phoebe such a cruel truth...’
"Mommy, you weren’t wrong." Phoebe Sawyer shook her head vigorously. "Mommy, it was me. I wasn’t being understanding."
Sylvia Brooks walked over to them and gently reminded them, "Aunt Wendy, Phoebe, how about I take you two home first?"
"Yes, Mommy, let’s go home!" Phoebe Sawyer grasped Wendy Lowe’s hand and said, her heart aching, "Mommy, your hands are ice-cold."
"Mommy’s fine," Wendy Lowe said softly.
Ten minutes later, Sylvia Brooks got out and opened the car door for Wendy Lowe.
"Summer, thank you," Wendy Lowe said gratefully as she got out of the car.
"Aunt Wendy, don’t mention it." Sylvia Brooks gave a small laugh. "Phoebe and I are good friends."
Hearing this, a smile touched Phoebe Sawyer’s lips. "Summer, it’s getting late. Why don’t you stay over tonight?"
Normally, Sylvia Brooks would have agreed to stay the night, but tonight, Phoebe Sawyer and Wendy Lowe probably had things to talk about.
She shook her head gently. "It’s fine, it’s a quick drive back for me. You and Aunt Wendy should go take a hot shower."
"Alright then." Phoebe Sawyer reminded her, "Be careful on your way back, and text me when you get there."
"Okay, will do." Sylvia Brooks waved. "You two go on in. I’m heading out."
With that, she opened the driver’s side door, bent down, and slid into the car.
Phoebe Sawyer and Wendy Lowe watched the car disappear into the night before turning to enter the villa.
When Kitty saw the two of them return, it immediately trotted over, rubbing against their legs.
Phoebe Sawyer bent down, scooped Kitty up, and stroked its fluffy little head before turning to urge her mother, "Mommy, go take a shower."
Wendy Lowe had been about to sit on the sofa, but hearing her daughter, she quickly stood up straight. "Alright, I’m going now."
Phoebe Sawyer watched her go upstairs to shower before sitting on the sofa with Kitty in her arms, letting out a long sigh of relief.
’It seems the lack of a blood connection hasn’t created any distance between me and Mommy after all.’
’Mommy still cares about me so much.’
’And I still love Mommy very, very much.’
At this thought, the corners of Phoebe Sawyer’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.
She set Kitty down beside her. "I need to take a shower too, then I can talk with Mommy."
With that, Phoebe Sawyer hurried upstairs.
**
「Eastgate Villa.」
When Renee Jennings and Sawyer returned home, the main light in the living room was still on.
As they approached, they saw Rhea Dempsey sitting on the sofa, knitting a scarf.
"Mom, why aren’t you in bed yet?" Renee Jennings asked softly.
"Wasn’t tired. I was waiting for you two to get back." After speaking, Rhea Dempsey yawned. "See? Now that you’re back, I’m suddenly sleepy."
She set the basket on her lap aside and stood up. "I’m off to bed. You two get some rest soon, too."
Sawyer smiled. "Goodnight, Aunt Rae."
"Goodnight," Rhea Dempsey replied.
Renee Jennings was about to head upstairs when she suddenly heard the Slider in the terrarium clamoring that it was hungry.
She gave it some food and chatted with it for a bit before turning to Sawyer, who was sitting on the sofa. "Sleepy?"
Sawyer blinked. "Not really."
"Come on." Renee Jennings stood up. "Let’s go upstairs and wash up, then we can have a drink. It’s perfect since you don’t have to work for the next couple of days."
A smile touched Sawyer’s lips. "Okay."
Half an hour later, after showering, Renee Jennings and Sawyer came back downstairs.
"Michelle brought this bottle of red wine," Renee Jennings said as she opened it. "Michelle said it’s delicious without even needing to breathe, so let’s see if she’s right."
Sawyer pursed her lips, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "I don’t drink red wine very often. I’m afraid I won’t be able to appreciate it and waste such a good bottle."
"Don’t worry," Renee Jennings said with a grin. "I’m just winging it too."
POP—the cork came out.
Renee Jennings poured two glasses. She swirled one, handed it to Sawyer, and said, "Here, let’s give winging it a try."
Hearing that Renee Jennings was also just winging it, Sawyer finally felt relieved enough to tilt her head back and take a sip.
Although she rarely drank red wine, she had tried it before. She’d always found it more astringent and sour than beer.
But this wine wasn’t sour or astringent. It was smooth and rich, filling her mouth with a deep, fruity aroma. It was surprisingly delicious.
Sawyer’s eyes widened slightly in pleasant surprise. "This is nothing like the other red wines I’ve had. It’s so much better."
"Really?" Renee Jennings took a couple of sips and nodded. "I guess Michelle wasn’t lying."
Sawyer held out her glass, smiling. "Renee, cheers."
"Cheers." Renee Jennings clinked her glass against Sawyer’s, making a clear, crisp sound.
They both drained their glasses.
Renee Jennings was just reaching for the bottle when Sawyer beat her to it.
"Let me, let me," Sawyer said. "I’m actually better at pouring."
Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow. "Sheryl Sawyer, are you sure about that?"
Sawyer’s hand trembled as she poured, and some of the dark red liquid spilled onto her fingers.
"I’m sorry," she said in a fluster.
"It’s okay." Renee Jennings pulled out a couple of napkins and wiped the wine from her hand. "Sheryl Sawyer," she said softly, "you have nothing to be sorry for."