Chapter 9

Sara arrived at the Tiernan residence by cab. Bruce told her Oswin was still resting upstairs, while Winnifred was preparing dinner. Sara headed to the kitchen to lend a hand. Upon seeing Winnifred prepping vegetables, she joined her without hesitation. Winnifred saw Sara and quickly said, "Mrs. Tiernan, please don't trouble yourself. Every time you visit, you end up helping in the kitchen. I feel awful about it." "It's no trouble at all, Winnifred. I don't have much else to do, and besides, I love cooking," Sara replied with a smile, all the while keeping her hands busy. Winnifred had been working at the Tiernan residence for many years. After Spencer married Sara, the house lost its cold, lifeless feel. Ever since Spencer's parents died in the plane crash, Oswin and Spencer had relied on each other. Now, with Sara here, the home finally regained its warmth and liveliness. Sara stayed behind even after helping with the vegetables, but Winnifred gently shooed her away. She insisted for Sara to get some rest and refused to let her lift another finger. Unable to argue further, Sara reluctantly left the kitchen. She had barely entered the living room when Bruce came downstairs with Oswin in tow. "Sara, you're here. Spencer's off working again," Oswin said. He'd just woken up and hurried downstairs when Bruce told him Sara had arrived. "Grandpa, Spencer left on a business trip today. He said he'll be away for at least a week, so I thought it would be a good time to visit my hometown. I wanted to say goodbye before I left," Sara replied. "Of course, you should visit your grandfather. Do you need anything taken care of? I can have someone arrange it for you." "It's fine, Grandpa. I've already picked up everything I need today. Spencer set up a ride for me tomorrow too." "Good. At least that rascal knows how to treat you right." Sara blushed at Oswin's remark. "Grandpa, I'll stay for dinner, then I'll be going back. All my things are at the house, and the driver will come first thing tomorrow morning." "Alright, but make sure you leave right after dinner. I don't like the thought of you traveling alone after dark." "I will, Grandpa," Sara replied, her voice soft and obedient. … Early the next morning, Sara set out for her hometown. Her driver was Ted Livingston, who usually worked for Spencer. He seemed to be a military veteran—a man of few words who answered questions directly but never initiated conversation. Still, he took care of everything without being asked. During the drive, Ted asked if she wanted to stop at a rest area, but Sara was eager to get home sooner and declined. Since it wasn't a holiday, the roads were clear. With no delays, they reached the village entrance by that evening. At the entrance, the car couldn't go any further, so Sara had Ted pull over there. She had planned to walk in and find help, but just as they stopped, Paul Gifford, a fellow villager, drove by in his pickup truck. Paul cheerfully helped Ted move Sara's things from the trunk of Spencer's luxury car to his truck. Sara then told Ted to head back since she now had a ride into the village with Paul. She promised to call when she needed a return ride. With that, Ted drove away. Sara then had Paul deliver the supplies to the village elder, Ernest Hammond, and asked him to distribute them among everyone. With her suitcase trailing behind her, Sara walked toward the house she'd once shared with Neil. She also clutched a package of dried goods and a box of fruit she'd separated from the larger bundle. Her next stop was her grandaunt Cora Peters' house, right next door. Cora had been living alone for years, and her children had all moved to the city. Sara often asked Cora to help tidy the little house she shared with Neil, and each time she returned, she'd leave some money as a token of appreciation. At first, Cora flat-out refused. That first time, Sara quietly tucked the money under her pillow. Cora knew it was from her, so when Sara returned, Cora gave it back untouched. Sara insisted that if Cora wouldn't take it, she couldn't ask her to help anymore. Only then did Cora finally relent and keep the money. When Cora saw that Sara was back, she immediately began boiling water for tea and urged her to take a seat. "Grandaunt Cora, don't trouble yourself. Get some rest. I brought you some food and fruit, so I'll just leave these here. I want to visit Grandpa up on the mountain." "Alright, go ahead. Your grandfather would rest easy knowing you've married well. But hurry. It'll be hard to climb once it gets dark." "Okay, I'll be going then." With that, Sara left Cora's house, set her suitcase by the front door, and headed straight up the mountain to Neil's grave. After a ten-minute walk, she reached his grave. The last time she'd been here was on his death anniversary. Now, weeds had overtaken the front, so she decided to come back the next morning to clear them away. Sara stood before Neil's grave and said, "I'm here, Grandpa. I came alone this time, but I'll be staying for a while. I'll visit every day and talk to you, just like we used to when we sat together in the courtyard. Spencer's been swamped with work, but he promised he'll come with me next time. "Grandpa, I'm pregnant. I haven't told Spencer yet. You're the first person I've told. I don't know if he wants kids, but I'll tell him when he gets back from his trip. I know he'll be a good father. "I want to be brave—just once—for the baby. You'd be on my side, wouldn't you? I'll come to see you again tomorrow, Grandpa." As dusk settled in, Sara made her way down the mountain. When she reached her doorstep, she spotted several bundles of vegetables, eggs, and a wrapped package of meat beside her suitcase. She figured Ernest must have distributed supplies to everyone, and in return, the villagers had left some food for her too. Sara carried her suitcase and the gifts inside. After making her bed, she whipped up a simple dinner—sautéed vegetables and scrambled eggs. The vegetables were grown without pesticides by the villagers and had a natural sweetness to it. The eggs were also from free-range chickens raised by local families. Sara knew eggs were considered a luxury, and it was usually reserved for children or expectant mothers. After dinner, Sara carried a chair outside and settled by the door. The autumn night had turned chilly, and the sky was dark. Yet, the moonlight spilled over the yard in a soft glow. In the countryside, people went to bed early. Now, everything was still except for the occasional bark of a dog. Sara pulled a blanket around her shoulders and felt the crisp and clean air. As she sat there, her thoughts wandered back to the days when Neil was still with her. For as long as she could remember, he had been her only family. The villagers said Neil had found her and taken her in, but he'd always treated her with nothing but kindness. He gave up even the simplest comforts to give her the best life he could. In Sara's heart, Neil was her true grandfather and the only family she'd ever known. Now, she had Oswin, Spencer—and soon, their baby. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly lucky and happy. At this point, Sara was starting to miss Spencer. She checked her phone, but there were no messages from him. However, she held back from texting, afraid that she might be a bother. Earlier that day, she'd asked Ted where Spencer was traveling for work. Ted told her he was in the Namzura region. She'd heard of the place before. It had a reputation for instability. After sitting by the doorway for a while, Sara began to feel drowsy. Ever since getting pregnant, she'd been especially prone to sleepiness. So, she got up, carried the chair inside, and got ready to wash up for bed. She needed to wake up early the next morning to clear the weeds from Neil's grave, so an early night was for the best.