Chapter 56
Henrietta couldn’t accept that the kind–hearted Anne had passed away in a car accident. Anne had lived a hard life. She never got to watch Henrietta and Angeline succeed and live better
lives.
Anne never got to hear Henrietta speak or call her “Mom“.
Angeline closed her eyes, but her tears streamed uncontrollably down her face as she held Henrietta tightly.
Early the next morning, Angeline took Henrietta to the funeral home to pay their last respects.
to Anne. They brought Anne’s body back from Oceanford for this moment.
Henrietta hadn’t slept all night from crying. She looked exhausted, and her eyes were so swollen that she couldn’t open them. However, she didn’t want to worry forced herself to put on a strong front and keep her spirits up.
Angeline. So, she
Henrietta broke down at the sight of Anne’s 6 che felt the urge to rush over to hug Anne,
but the staff stopped her.
Anne didn’t look as disheveled as she was that day. The staff had applied makeup to her. She looked neat, as though she were just sleeping.
Angeline held Henrietta, who was on the verge of falling. Henrietta opened her mouth desperately, trying to shout, “Mom“, but couldn’t make a sound.
Even when Anne’s body was pushed into the furnace for cremation, Henrietta still couldn’t cry
out.
They sat on the bench, waiting for the ashes. Henrietta’s tears had already soaked Angeline’s clothes. Angeline held Henrietta in her arms with a somewhat calm expression. Yet, she
couldn’t hide her sorrow, evident from the redness in her eyes.
Anne’s ashes were handed to Angeline in a small urn a while later.
Angeline said, “Let’s take Anne home!”
Henrietta nodded as she silently cried.
Anne and Henrietta lived above a small shop. After taking care of Anne’s ashes, they set up the enlarged memorial photo from yesterday afternoon and discussed their next steps at the dining table.
Angeline said softly, “This semester will end in about two or three weeks. Next semester, I’ll take you to a school in Cloudsville. You’ll live with me from now on.”
Henrietta nodded.
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Angeline continued, “I’ll sell the shop downstairs over the holidays! We’ll keep this apartment
under your name.‘
Upon hearing this, Henrietta quickly waved her hands and gestured with sign language: “Mom bought this apartment before adopting me. It’s for you! I don’t want it!“.
Angeline gently replied, “You’re familiar with the Emmerson family, right? If the house is under my name, we won’t be able to keep it. Anne worked hard for decades to buy this house. She said it was her home. We can’t let it fall into someone else’s hands.”
Henrietta nodded tearfully at Anb Angeline reached out and patted Hen a
head.
“You have school tomorrow. You didn’t sleep last night. Go take a nap. I’ll cook and call you when it’s ready.”
Henrietta pointed at the pink wound on Angeline’s head and gestured: “You rest instead. I’ll do it.”
“Listen to me!”
Angeline motioned to Henrietta to rest. Then, she got up to wash her hands before heading to the kitchen to cook.
However, soon after, Henrietta sneaked into the kitchen and stood beside Angeline, who was washing the vegetables. She rolled up her sleeves to help Angeline chop them.
Henrietta gestured before Angeline could chase her away: “I feel at ease when I’m with you.” Tears welled up in her eyes again as she signed. She quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand.
Angeline didn’t insist anymore and asked Henrietta to cook the pasta.
The two sisters bustled around in the kitchen. Angeline made tomato scrambled eggs and mushroom soup. Angeline cleaned up the kitchen after she had a bite of the meal. Meanwhile, Henrietta rested her head on the dining table while completing her homework. She wiped her tears away secretly.
