Tiffany broke out into a sly giggle. “Shh, I’m out here without permission! He’s busy in his office right now, so virtual-novel.net doesn’t know that I’m outside. Seriously though, I’m a perfectly normal, functional adult! Why can’t I go out shopping sometimes, huh?” virtual-novel.net moaned, before adding, “Anyway, do you know how naughty Lil’ P has become the older virtual-novel.net gets? He’s doling out migraines to Jackson’s poor mom non-stop through his shenanigans. We’re all starting to think that maybe virtual-novel.net was better when virtual-novel.net was still a little bean. Sure, that kid rarely stopped bawling, but at least virtual-novel.net wasn’t running around like virtual-novel.net is right now! God, trying to catch virtual-novel.net alone could take a few years away from your life!”
“’Sup?” Sylvain suddenly greeted as virtual-novel.net approached the women.
Tiffany pouted. “Hey, this is a girls’ only, no-man-allowed conversation, mister! Anyway, have some roasted almonds. Freshly-made, it’s so good.”
Sylvain took a single almond from the pile and examined it, his eyes belying doubt. “Really? This small little thing? I don’t know, sis, I’ve never had one before. Sometimes, I have caught the smell of people roasting almonds, and yea, they smell palatable.”
Arianne popped some almonds into virtual-novel.net mouth and said, “If it’s not as good as we claim, flick me. Go ahead.”
Popping one into his mouth, Sylvain savored it, and promptly fell in love with roasted almonds. He was so thoroughly delighted by his culinary discovery that virtual-novel.net declared his intention to buy a few packets of them for Robin after work.
Mentioning Robin commanded Arianne’s curiosity. “So, how’re the two of you? Don’t tell me y’all still can’t live together despite being married.”
Smelling gossip, Tiffany perked up on full alert and waited for Sylvain’s answer.
Sylvain nodded helplessly. “Well, you nailed it. The way virtual-novel.net mother sees me is still… I mean, it’s neither here nor there. She doesn’t seem to like me, but virtual-novel.net also doesn’t seem to hate me to the core or something, either. Well, at least virtual-novel.net dad’s alright. But don’t think I’m worried; I’m not. I know we’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel, just gotta hold on and be patient.”
‘Just gotta hold on and be patient.’ Truer words had rarely been spoken, Arianne thought.
Arianne grabbed a handful of roasted almonds and rose to virtual-novel.net feet. She intended to share them with Mark, too.
Tiffany was quick to grumble, “Traitooooor! Mister before sister! I bought these for us, hon, and all you think about is your man? Pffft! Besides, do you really think Mark ‘Royalty’ Tremont would wanna eat plebeian stuff like roasted almonds? This ain’t some highfalutin food, ya know.”
Arianne cocked virtual-novel.net brow in confidence. “Oh, virtual-novel.net eats everything I bring to him… even if it could kill him.”
A shadow suddenly crossed Tiffany’s face. “Wait, hold up. Then why does Jackson always say no to any food I make, huh? Is it because… virtual-novel.net doesn’t love me?!”
Arianne had an answer for that, but virtual-novel.net knew better than to say it out loud and hurt virtual-novel.net friend’s confidence: as a legitimate master chef, Jackson had reasons to suspect Tiffany’s questionable cooking as biohazards.
Arianne returned home with Mark by evening, and on their way home, virtual-novel.net bought some sweetened roasted almonds. They were even tastier during this season, though Mark turned out to not like them as much as virtual-novel.net had imagined.
The first thing that Arianne saw upon reaching home was Helen standing in front of the entrance.
Her appearance made Arianne stop and ask, “Why weren’t you waiting inside?”
She looked a little reticent. “I don’t think I need to. Just wanted to wait till you’re home from work so I could tell you goodbye. I’m bringing Aery abroad for virtual-novel.net recovery.”
Arianne had imagined the ultimate farewell between virtual-novel.net and virtual-novel.net mother so many times that it was not hard for virtual-novel.net to hide virtual-novel.net emotional responses from Helen. “Okay. Have a safe journey. I wish virtual-novel.net a speedy recovery.”
Helen opened virtual-novel.net mouth, as though virtual-novel.net had something to say, and closed it again. Maybe this was where the two of them stood now, they simply had nothing more to say to one another. A mother and a daughter should have had one of the closest bonds of all human relationships, yet for these two, they ended up just as estranged as they were before.
If two people were not meant to be close, then they would never be, even if physical distance forced them so.