Mr Grant, Please Be Gentle

Wilbert had just come back when Carrie babbled everything that had happened in the afternoon to him. She skimmed over the bad parts, and as he heard about the matter, Wilbert frowned.

He had a rough idea of what Carrie and Louise got up to, but if they didn’t go too far, he’d just let them be. Louise really had gone too far this time, though.

Still, Louise wasn’t his actual daughter, and if he mistreated her and word got out, they’d probably start talking about him behind his back about how he was cold and ruthless to a daughter he didn’t spawn.

“Since it’s Dad’s decision, he must have his own considerations. Don’t fret,” Wilbert said.

“Don’t fret? How am I supposed not to fret? Oh… Wilbert, back then when you married me, you swore up and down that you were going to treat Louise as your own daughter. She’s just made a small mistake, and you Grants are doing this to her, like you’re going to chase us out… oh… you horrid, horrid man!”

Carrie wailed, talking about Wilbert like he was some mustache twirling villain. Wilbert’s face turned livid.

He’d chosen Carrie in the beginning because she’d attracted him, but with her crying and wailing like this, all he felt was a headache. What had possessed him back then to take on such a difficult woman?

“All right, stop crying, I’ll go talk to Dad.”

As she heard what Wilbert said, Carrie feigned the act of wiping her tears away, all while a smile floated up on her lips.

It wasn’t completely dark outside and Wilbert was about to go plead for mercy with Alan. Then he found that Mr. Johnson had taken a shivering Louise outside.

“Mom, Dad, I’m freezing…”

Carrie hugged Louise’s trembling hand to her bosom. As she saw how her daughter was trembling, Carrie’s heart throbbed.

Her tears fell again. “Wilbert! Look at my poor Louise! She needs to marry out later on, and if she gets sick from this… what’s she supposed to do?”

Listening to her, Wilbert’s sharp brow furrowed.

He gestured. “What are you standing around for, then? Take her and put some clean clothes on! And get the family doctor over to check on her!”

Hearing the commotion outside, Blanca realized that Louise had been let out already, and she heaved a sigh of relief.

That might, she and Matthew decided to stay in the house. Alan had said it was fine if they wanted to leave at any time, but if they really left, Alan might feel the family’s not snug and cozy enough to keep the children around, so Blanca convinced Matthew to stay for the night.

Matthew had just showered and walked out of the bathroom when Blanca said, “I just heard that they let Louise out. I was worried Alan would keep her in there all night.”

Matthew chuckled. Indeed, Alan was strict with his kids, but knew his limits. He wasn’t really going to get Louise killed.

Still, with his wife gnashing her teeth with hatred at Louise one moment, then worried too badly to sit the next, he found it interesting. “What, are you guilty?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Blanca bit her lip. “How should I put it… she deserved what she got for shutting me in there, but… I didn’t want to get her killed…”

“Grandpa knows his limits.” Matthew smirked. “So you do have a soft side.”

Blanca glared at him. “Hey, what do you mean by that? Do you think I’m a bad girl?!”