Chapter 234
Anthee sent back a cheerful “Merry Christmas!” and, getting into the festive spirit, shot over a virtual gift–a digital cash gift, tagged with the note: “A small Christmas gift
Sherman stared at his phone, a little taken aback.
Hed grown quite a bit since the last time he’d received Christmas gifts from anyone other than his parents or relatives.
And speaking of which, he hadn’t gotten any since he turned eighteen.
He tapped to accept the gift.
It wasn’t a lot–just $20.
Sherman chuckled and sent a Christmas gift in return, “As the saying goes, one good tum deserves another.”
Anthea opened her gift to find $120–a hundred more than she’d sent.
A sly smile played on her lips. For all the talk of the stinginess of the wealthy, it seemed Sherman was an exception.
Thanks, boss man, she texted back.
“Don’t mention it. What’s Ms. Yeager up to?” Sherman typed.
“Lighting fireworks, replied Anthea, attaching a video she’d just taken.
Her surroundings were bursting with excitement.
Sherman glanced at his stark office desk and walked over to the window.
In Capital City, fireworks were banned.
Christmas Eve was unusually quiet here, hardly any different from any other night.
Sherman snapped a photo and sent it over
“You in Capital City?”
“Yeah Heading back day after tomorrow.” As soon as Sherman hit send, he froze. Why was he reporting his travel plans to Anthea?
“Safe travels.*
“Thanks.”
After her firework display, Anthea went home and started her live stream.
No sooner had she begun than she received a challenge from Leisure Hermit for a virtual duel.
She raised an eyebrow. LeisureHermit was persistent, challenging her time and again despite numerous losses.
Elsewhere, Gerard and his friends arrived at their chosen spot for setting off fireworks.
The four lads had brought a generous stash.
“Merry Christmas, Gerard!”
“Merry Christmas, guys.”
They lit the fireworks and settled down to chat
“So, Gerard, now that you’re sure your mom’s in Cloudcrest, what’s your plan?” Healy asked.
The other two turned to Gerard, curious.
“I’m going to find her.”
“Alone?” George chimed in.
Gerard nodded.
“But Cloudcrest is thousands of miles away from here! Plus, it’s a huge place. Where will you even start?”
It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
“I’ve done my research. Cloudcrest is a direct–controlled municipality with twenty districts. The central area has ten, with a population of 31.26 million, including 12 million non–residents. I’ll search, bit by bit. If I don’t find her this year, or the next, I’ll keep looking the year after and the years following, until I do.”
The longing of a child who’d never known his mother was something perhaps others couldn’t fully grasp.
But one thing was certain: he would never give up the search until he found her.
The others stared at Gerard in surprise.
10-065
“But what if she’s moved on, remarried, and forgotten about you? Healy prodded.
Eighteen years is a long time. Anything could have happened
Ti just take a look from afat and not disturb her
Just a glance. Even if he said nothing at all.
“And what if she’s already left Cloudcrest?”
Gerard paused, clearly not having considered this.
After a moment, he said, “Then, I guess that’s just my fate. But until I go to Cloudcrest, I refuse to accept is
“Gerard,” Healy clapped him on the shoulder, “I believe you’ll find your mom.”
1 believe it too!” George added.
“Count me in!” Keamey jumped in. “Actually, I have a relative in Cloudcrest. I can ask her to keep an ear out for any news about you mom. Do you have any other info about her? Like what she looks like, any distinguishing festtres?”
