Watching Mrs. Eriksen panic, I placed my handful of bayberries into the basket and chuckled, “It’s okay. There are only a few left. I’ll be done once I get them.”
After picking the fruits by the end of the branches, I uttered as I held onto Ashton’s head, “I’m done. Put me down.”
Beside us, Mrs. Eriksen was wracked with worry as she held onto the basket. “You young people are too daring. Don’t you know how dangerous this is?”
As Ashton was quite fit from his usual workout sessions, he held onto my waist and carried me down.
Once my foot touched the ground, I looked at the sweat beading on his forehead. After stiffening for a second, I laughed, “Why are you sweating? Am I that heavy?”
He gave me a small smile and spat out the bayberry in his mouth. “I have two people on my shoulders. What do you think?”
I froze for a second before touching my stomach. Recently, I had been feeling that the baby was growing by the day.
Just then, Ashton’s phone rang, and he walked aside as he accepted the call. Hence, I took the basket from Mrs. Eriksen and entered the living room.
As I soaked the bayberries in saltwater, my eyes could not help but drift toward the garden, feeling nervous.
The only call he would take while avoiding me was from Rebecca.
At a certain point in life, people would think of taking extreme actions. I couldn’t control myself and flip the bowl of saltwater.
I did it deliberately.
The noise was loud, and Mrs. Eriksen rushed in. Looking at the mess, she looked at me worriedly and asked, “What’s the matter? Are you injured?”
I shook my head before glancing at Ashton without any expressions on my face. He walked toward me and looked at me from head to toe. Realizing that I was fine, he sighed in relief. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I answered. Looking at the bayberries scattered on the floor, I suddenly lost interest in washing them. Thus, I turned and retreated to the bedroom.
Behind me, I heard Mrs. Eriksen’s murmur. “Mr. Ashton, if you’re free, I think you should bring Letty to the hospital. I think she’s not well.”
Am I not? Isn’t mental exhaustion an illness?
After returning to my room, I still felt upset, so I ended up calling Macy.
The call went through after a few rings. “Letty!”
“Hey. How are things on your side?” I did not know what else to say.
However, Macy seemed excited. “Yes, let me tell you, this place is beautiful! The plums around the house are all ripe, and they taste amazing. I’ll send some to you in a few days, so watch out for the mailman.”
She sounded happy.
Perhaps happiness was contagious, for I laughed, “How’s your morning sickness? Do you have any problems getting used to the place?”
“Not at all.” I guessed she must be in the mountains, as I could hear the sound of howling wind through the call. “The air is very fresh here, and I’ve planted some plants in the garden. I even got some wildflowers to plant in the garden. They’re really pretty, and if you have the time, you should come and see them. I’m sure you’ll love it here.”
I nodded before realizing she would not be able to see it. “Okay.”
She must have sensed that I was in a bad mood from how quiet I was, so she asked, “Letty, did something happen?”
For a moment, I did not know how I should word it for her. After a pause, I finally muttered, “Macy, I think I’ve hit a dead-end, and I can’t get out of it.”
Ashton was already minimizing his contact with Rebecca, but I would lose my calm every time I heard any news of him with her. It was as if a million ants were gnawing at my heart and that sensation overwhelmed me.
“Is it because of Ashton?” she queried before sighing. “Letty, it’s easy for pregnant women to get emotional. Maybe you’re overthinking it.”
She paused again. “Why don’t I get Jackson to come back to the country? Maybe he can help you.”
I hummed in response. Right then, the bedroom door swung open, and in came Ashton.
I returned my focus to the call and reminded, “You have to take care of yourself there.”
“Okay,” she responded. After a moment, she insisted, “Don’t tell Jared about me.”
By now, Ashton had reached me, and I could see him holding some bayberries in his hands.
I hummed in agreement before I ended the call.
Once I hung up the phone, he sat beside me and placed one by my lips. “Try them.”
I shook my head, not in the mood for it.
At that, instead of saying anything else, he quietly kept me company. After a while, he brought the documents over from his study room and started reading through them.
As I had nothing to do anyway, I found a book and sat by the side, and started reading it.
Macy was an efficient woman. When Jackson called, I was almost asleep from reading, so the ringing of my phone woke me up.
Ashton was still reading his documents, so when he heard the phone, he only spared me a glance before returning to the papers.
As I picked up the call, I stood up to head to the balcony.
“Jackson.”
“Oh my god, woman! If not for Macy contacting me, I’d have thought you were dead.” Jackson Kane would never change. He was a man, but he was talkative and fussy.
