[Titanic] Dream Journey

Watching Jonah Benzie practice and I still get his autographed baseball!You can come with us too! "

"No, no, honey, I'm not going, and you can't either. Tickets are all bought. We have to get out of here today..."

Margaret struggled to close the lid of the suitcase—Carl took Flora to sweep the department store these days, and her original suitcases could no longer hold so many newly added messy things

Suddenly there was a slight sound at the door outside, as if the door had been pushed open.

Flora immediately jumped off the chair and rushed towards Karl who appeared at the door.

"Mr. Hockley, my mother said she must take me away today!" She cried with a small face, "But I don't want to go yet, I want to see Jonah Benzi! Can you help me talk to my mother Please? Please!"

Carl hugged Flora with one arm, nodded with Hannah who came out to say hello to him, then walked to the door of the room, stood by the door frame, and said to Margaret who was still busy packing her luggage with her head bowed: "You can't Would you like to stay another day?"

Margaret put down what she was holding and turned around.

"Sorry, I'm afraid we won't be able to stay. Tickets are booked," she said.

"The ticket can be refunded, or you can buy it again at that time, whatever you want!" Carl looked at her, "Flora doesn't want to leave yet! And I promised her that I will take her there today."

Margaret said calmly: "We really have to go back as soon as possible. I hope you understand."

Carl fell silent, with a slight look of helplessness on his brows, and finally looked at Flora with an apologetic expression: "Honey, I'm afraid I can't make your mother change her mind. I will take you to see Joe next time I have a chance. Na Benzi. I'll send you his autographed baseball first this time, okay?"

"Terrible, stubborn woman!" Flora leaned close to Karl's ear and complained in a voice so low that only he could hear it.

"Then I must say good-bye to you. Hope to see you again soon, Mr. Hockley."

In the end, she sighed, expressing that she had no choice but to accept the ending.

"Me too, honey. Now can you ask Hannah to play with you first, your mother and I have a few words to say."

"Okay." Flora nodded.

Carl put Flora down, watched her being taken away by Hannah, then walked slowly into the room, and closed the door behind him.

☆、Chapter 91

Margaret forced one of Flora's toys into the already full box, closed the lid, turned around, and looked at Karl behind the door.

He has been standing there looking at her since he came in.No sound was made either.

"I...maybe need to apologize to you."

She hesitated, then finally met his gaze and said: "... When I got to New York, I knew you had taken Flora. I was very worried. I chased to Pittsburgh, found your factory, and finally found your factory. Your residence, met Lovejoy, but he refused to tell me where you went, you should imagine what my mood was like at that time. Thought you were going to take Flora away from me. So When I first found here last night, my emotions were a little...sorry, a little out of control...It turned out that this was a misunderstanding..."

"It's not a misunderstanding, Margaret," Carl said, his expression still looking indifferent. "That's what I planned. It was Flora who made me change my mind. I don't want to see any sadness in her."

Margaret lowered her gaze.

"...Okay." After a few seconds, she raised her eyes again, "Thank you anyway. Don't worry, I will take her well..."

Carl was noncommittal.After walking a few steps, he walked to a chair next to him and sat down.

"What is your plan about Mr. Clarence?" he asked her.

Margaret stared blankly at him.

"Don't get me wrong. I don't mean your relationship, and it has nothing to do with me," he frowned slightly. "My concern is, what are you going to tell Flora about her father?"

"He...hasn't come back yet..."

"He'll be back sooner or later!"

Margaret was silent for a moment, and finally said: "Frankly speaking, I haven't figured out how to tell Flora... Please give me some time, I will think it through..."

"Since you haven't thought about it, let me help you make a decision."

Carl suddenly stood up from his chair and walked towards the door.

"What do you want to do?"

Margaret was taken aback, subconsciously ran after him, and when his hand reached the doorknob, she pressed it down.

His eyes fell on her hand on the back of his hand, and after a few seconds, he raised his eyelids and glanced at her.

Margaret let go of her hand slightly in embarrassment.

"What do you want, Carl?"

She lowered her voice and asked again.

Carl watched her.

Obviously, she was nervous at the moment.Although she was already trying her best to cover it up, her unconscious wide eyes and tight voice all revealed her emotions at the moment.She is nervous.

"Tell Flora I am her father," he said.

"No!" Margaret flatly refused.After a pause, he hurriedly added, "I mean, it's not enough yet."

"Why?" Carl's lips twitched slightly, showing a faint, half-smile expression, "Are you timid? I don't know how to explain it to her? Or did you plan to keep this matter from her forever and let her Recognize someone as your father?"

Margaret ignored the sarcasm in his words and said in a low voice: "She is still young. You can't tell her that directly..."

"If I don't say it now, I'm afraid she will soon regard someone else as her father!" Carl's tone turned cold, "Margaret, I know what I should say to her. My daughter is very smart, she will understand My word."

After the words fell, his hand rested on the doorknob again.

Margaret quickly leaned her entire back against the door, blocking his way in this way.

He glanced at her.

"Please, it doesn't have to be now!"

She looked up at him slightly, and begged him, her expression inadvertently showing a trace of tiredness and helplessness: "To be honest, the situation is messy enough now, and I don't want Flora to suffer any more because of this incident." Troubled. Carl, since you already know of her existence, how can I act as if nothing happened? Anyway, I assure you that when the time is right, I will tell her that you belong to her father."

"What happened?"

A few seconds later, Karl suddenly asked.

"...it's nothing." Margaret avoided his scrutinizing gaze, and turned her face slightly unnaturally, "...it's just that so many accidents have happened recently, I feel a little tired. If Flora If I'm affected by this news, I think it might be a little difficult for me to handle..."

"Never lie to me again!" Carl interrupted her, staring at her closely. "If you can be honest, Margaret, maybe I will consider your request as appropriate."

Margaret lowered her head and took a deep breath. After a while, she finally said: "There is something wrong between me and Charlie. When he joined the war, he encountered an unimaginable accident and suffered great trauma. So he I don't want to come back now."

Carl seemed a little surprised, and slowly withdrew the hand on the doorknob.

"As far as I know, the U.S. military has specially set up a psychological rehabilitation center for post-war soldiers. Maybe your husband can visit it," he said.

"Yes . . . so I assure you that I will think about Flora when this is over. Will you give me a moment, please?"

She looked at him and said in a pleading tone.

Carl hesitated for a moment.

"Alright." Finally, he let out a breath very reluctantly, "Then let's talk about it later."

"Thank you!" Margaret thanked.Realizing that he was still blocked behind the door, he hurriedly stepped back a little.

Carl put his hand back on the doorknob.Twist slightly, then suddenly stop and look back at her.

"Do you love him, Marguerite?" he asked.A little bit of a no-brainer.

Margaret was taken aback for a moment, then reacted immediately.I was stunned for a while.

"Since you chose to marry him, there is no doubt that he understands and respects you," his eyes fell on her face, with a little erratic taste, "but I still want to know, do you love me?" Him, Margaret? Or, how much do you love him?"

"Carl, isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to say this now..." Margaret reluctantly responded.

"What are you worried about? Out of unwillingness, I will try my best to destroy your marriage?" He twitched the corners of his mouth, as if he was smiling, but no matter how he looked at it, he had a strange feeling that seemed to be suppressed. "I'm not so bad. It's just that as a failed ex who was abandoned by you, I've always been curious about it. If you still appreciate that I didn't take Flora by force, then answer my question. "

"..."

"If you don't answer, it means you don't love him? Or do you not know at all?"

"No, he is my husband! How could I not love him!" Margaret said immediately, "Besides, he is such a good person. Any woman is lucky to marry such a man .”

Carl fell silent.Then he raised his eyebrows.

"Understood. He's a good man, and I'm a bad man. That's how you choose your husband. Thank you for your answer. Good-bye, Mrs. Clarence."

He lifted his hat towards her, then pushed down the brim of the hat, opened the door and went out.

------------

After Margaret returned to New York with Flora, she went to Brigadier General Hardenberg the next day, told him about Clarence's situation, and asked him for help.

The brigadier general was very surprised.But he quickly agreed, saying that he would immediately contact his friend in the British military to pick him up, and then give her the news as soon as possible.

Margaret is very grateful for that.

She has made up her mind.If Clarence couldn't be expected to pull himself together in a short time, she would have to force him to come back to therapy, whether he wanted to or not.Otherwise, the longer he stayed in that kind of backcountry that was almost isolated from the world, the worse his mental state would be.

Two days later, she received a message from the brigadier general.

The brigadier told her on the phone that Clarence himself had gone to report to the British Army.Considering his special experience of being captured and then disappeared for a long time, the British court-martial is now investigating him,

For this news, Margaret was both surprised and angry.

Surprisingly, since Clarence took the initiative to report to the military, this should mean that he has cheered up. At least, he no longer relies on drinking to escape reality like before she found him.What makes her angry is that he is still in court custody.

With the assistance of the Brigadier General, Margaret finally arrived in Washington, where she met the British envoy in Washington.

"...Your Excellency, Special Envoy! I will never accept this fact! My husband is a war hero. He not only saved the lives of countless comrades-in-arms, but also, for his country, he was seriously injured and almost died on the battlefield. His Being captured is not his personal subjective wish. As for him being included in your missing list, it just proves the military's disregard and inaction for the lives of countless soldiers who have fought bloodily for this country! He is just one of them That's all. How many other soldiers like him are still missing? As his wife, I implore you to convey my solemn protest to your military investigation committee on my behalf! If he is not released as soon as possible, but continue Being held there on all kinds of bloody charges, I tell you, I know a lot of famous journalists. Not only do I have to complain in the papers, calling for judgment from the masses, but I'm going to protest in person, even if they also arrest Me! Until my husband is acquitted!"

The special envoy hurriedly comforted Margaret, saying that this was just a necessary procedure.

"Mrs. Clarence, I assure you of the deep respect we have for every soldier who has served our country. Please rest assured that I will convey your opinion and urge the court to give you Husband a just sentence."

----

Half a month later, Margaret finally received a telegram.

The telegram was from Clarence.

He told her that he had been acquitted by a court-martial.Now, he was sending her this telegram.And two hours later, the ship carrying him back to the United States will also leave the pier.

He will be back soon.

☆、Chapter 92

Accompanied by the sound of deep ship whistles blazing over New York Harbor, the Queen Mary from Europe slowly shed waves of water layer by layer and began to dock slowly.

Margaret and Flora stood at the welcoming pier, looking at the increasingly clear ship in the distance.

Clarence was on this boat.

Flora kept on tiptoe looking into the distance.When the ship finally berthed and the crew began to lower the docking pedals to let the passengers disembark, she suddenly turned her face and looked at Margaret.

"Mom! How do I look today? Do you think Daddy would like me?"

She wore her favorite red cape today and a hat decorated with flowers.The whole person looks like a doll.

"Of course. Darling, you look very beautiful." Margaret praised.

Flora breathed a sigh of relief.

"You look beautiful too, Mom. You're always so pretty!" Finally she complimented Margaret sweetly.

Margaret smiled.

"Sir, you blocked me."

Flora suddenly took a few steps forward, came up behind a man who had just squeezed ahead of her, and gently tugged at the hem of his coat.

The other party turned his head, and found that standing behind him was a little girl who was not as tall as his legs, and was looking up at him.Startled.

"My dad is on that boat." She pointed to the Queen Mary with a very serious expression, "He went to war not long after I was born. He is a hero. He just came back now. You can leave me alone so that he can come down Will I be able to see him at first sight?"

"Oh! Sorry! Of course."

The man hastily stepped aside.

"Thank you, sir."

Flora made a standard curtsy to express her gratitude to the other party, then climbed onto the protective fence, and continued to stare at the passageway where people had already started to come out.

Margaret stared at her back, lost in thought for a while.

She thought again of their conversation about Flora when they met Carl that day in Cincinnati.

Obviously, it was impossible for her to hide the fact that Flora was Karl's daughter any longer.Carl would never allow her to do this.

But when to tell Flora about this matter, she struggled for a long time.

Just last night, she finally made a decision.She had to ask Clarence's permission first.Nothing will change until he nods.

This is the minimum respect for a husband.

……

"Mom, who's dad? Has he come down?"

As more and more passengers came out of the aisle, Flora also became excited, kept looking around, and turned back to ask Margaret.

Margaret regained her senses, grasped her hand tightly, and glanced at the oncoming faces.

After about ten minutes, a familiar figure finally appeared in her sight.

Clarence came out from the passage with a simple box in his hand.

He has cut his hair short, and his original beard has been shaved clean. His face looks very thin, but he looks in good spirits.

Margaret took a deep breath.

"Charlie!"

She yelped and waved to him.

Clarence turned his face in her direction, quickly saw her, looked slightly certain, then smiled, strode towards her, and finally stopped in front of her and Flora.

"Margaret!"

He called her, and then his eyes fell on Flora. After a few seconds, a smile appeared on his face.

"...Let me guess, this beautiful little princess should be Flora, isn't it?"

He knelt down, looked at Flora, and asked gently.

Flora suddenly became quiet.Holding Margaret's hand tightly, he looked at Clarence without blinking.

"You... are my father?"

Finally, she asked in a low voice.

Clarence seemed to be slightly taken aback, then raised his eyebrows and laughed.

"Yes, my sweet little princess. Finally meeting you. I'm so happy!"

He reached out and touched a lock of curly hair that fell to her shoulders, then opened his box, and took out a plush doll that could be worn on his hand.

"Honey, I brought you a little present. Do you like it?" He put the doll on his hand and manipulated the doll to make various movements towards Flora.

"I like it. Thanks."

Flora finally let go of Margaret's hand, walked in front of him, took the doll, lightly kissed Clarence's face, then stepped aside, and continued to look at him with curious eyes.

"Let's go." Margaret stepped forward and took his hand, "Flora and I have been staying with the Countess some time ago. If you don't mind, before we leave New York, we can continue to live with her for two God. The room is already made up."

"I'm fine." Clarence looked at her and smiled, "Margaret, thank you for bringing Flora to pick me up."

----

At the dinner table, the Countess invited Brigadier General Hardenberg.

It's the equivalent of a family dinner.

On the way back, Margaret had told Clarence that they would get married in May, so Clarence sent her blessings immediately.The brigadier general is very talkative, the topic is also pleasant, and the atmosphere at the table is very harmonious.When the dinner was almost over, the brigadier general looked at Flora and said with a smile, "Honey, why didn't I hear you tonight?"

Flora put down her fork and let out a slow oh.

"...That's because I'm not interested in your topic."

The Commodore laughed. "So what do you want to talk about, my little angel?"

Flora's eyes lit up slightly, and she looked at Clarence who was sitting diagonally across from her.

"Dad, can you tell me your battle story? I want to know."

The dining table suddenly fell silent.

Margaret put a piece of fish on the plate in front of Flora.

"Honey, let's eat first..."

"No, I want to hear Papa's story!" Flora pushed the plate away, and raised her chin. "Even Mr. Hockley told me you were a wonderful man. Tell me, I want to know." !” She looked at Clarence eagerly.

Margaret cast a quick glance at Clarence.Seeing a slightly astonished expression on his face.Coughed lightly, and was about to change the subject and take Flora away, Clarence had already put down the knife and fork, picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth, then smiled at Flora and said, "Honey, I'm just a Ordinary military doctor, not a hero, I'm afraid you will be disappointed. However, if you want to hear the story of a real hero in the field, I know a great sniper. I will tell you someday when I am free ,May I?"

"Okay." Flora nodded.

"Then it's time for dessert!" The Countess clapped her hands and motioned for the servant to serve. "Flora, I promise you have never eaten such a delicious dessert. Be careful not to swallow your tongue!"

Flora giggled, turned her head and looked expectantly at the dessert being served.

……

At nine o'clock Flora had gone to bed in her room.

Margaret came out of the bathroom after taking a shower.Clarence was found still in the study.Did not go back to the bedroom.

After waiting for a while, she put on a burqa, went to the study, and opened the door.

He was sitting behind the desk with a pen in his hand, probably writing a letter.But the pen didn't move.The expression looks like he's in a trance.

"Charlie, you should be very tired today. Don't you rest?" She leaned in and asked.

Clarence seemed to have recovered, stood up immediately, smiled apologetically at her, and said softly, "I'm sorry Maggie, I still have several important letters to write tonight. Go to bed first. I'm very sorry. Be quick."

"Okay. Don't be too tired." Margaret smiled back at him. "Then I'll go back to the bedroom."

Margaret returned to the room, and after reading more than a dozen pages of "Ivory Tower" by the bedside lamp, she turned off the bedside lamp, lay down, and closed her eyes.

It was about ten o'clock when Clarence finally returned to his bedroom.

After he came in lightly, he didn't go to bed immediately, but sat by the bed, as if lost in thought.

Margaret waited for a while, then stretched out her hand, and slowly took one of his.

His hands were cold to the touch.

"...Aren't you sleeping yet?" She asked in a low voice.

Clarence's body moved, and finally turned slowly, staring at Margaret in the dimness.

"Sorry, Margie, now I'm afraid..."

Finally, his voice died away.

Margaret paused and squeezed his hand even tighter.

"Yes. It's okay, I understand."

"Thank you, Margie."

His voice sounded a little dry.

Margaret turned on the lamp.The bedroom was immediately covered with a soft halo.

In the light, Clarence looked a little tired, not as energetic as he looked during the day.

"Charlie, there is one thing I need to explain to you," Margaret looked at him in a low voice, "I think it might surprise you that Flora mentioned Cal Hockley at the dinner table. I want to explain to you..."

"Maggie, the Countess has told me something." Clarence shook his head and interrupted her, "I just thanked you for everything you have done for me. That's why I decided to Come back, the reason for standing in front of you."

Margaret looked at him in surprise, "Did she tell you just now?"

"No, before you know I volunteered to report to the British Army," he said.

Margaret was taken aback.

"When the Commodore's people found me a month ago, they also brought me a telegram from the countess. This is the longest telegram I have ever seen. I just knew that you were looking for me Terrible accident that happened. Margaret, why didn't you tell me then? I'm ashamed to think that you almost died trying to find me, while I was hiding out there escaping reality. You cursed me so badly Yes. Even I hate myself. I shouldn't live like this."

"God! I didn't know that the Countess sent you a telegram... I didn't want you to worry, but it's over anyway." Margaret subconsciously covered her mouth, "But anyway, I can see you recovering Woke up, and I'm still very happy."

"The Countess is a very good mother. She loves you very much." Clarence smiled slightly. "And Karl Hockley. I am very grateful for his help. If because of me, you have been taken as other hostages. The terrible results, Margaret, I will never forgive myself in my life."

"It's all over!" Margaret smiled, "Now that the war is over and you are back, we can go back to Los Angeles and live like before the war."

Clarence watched her, shaking his head slowly.

"What's the matter?" Margaret asked.

"Maggie, I..."

He stood up from the bed, came to the window, and stood silently facing the window for a while, as if he had made up his mind, he turned around and continued: "Maggie, in fact, I came back this time to say goodbye to you, and to say goodbye to you. I beg your forgiveness. I'm sorry, I'm afraid I really can't fulfill the promise I made in front of the altar and take care of you for the rest of my life."

"What happened?" Margaret sat up from the bed in surprise, "Where are you going?"

"A Holy See missionary I know named John Vino is going to Australia next month. The medical conditions there are very poor. He needs a doctor's assistant. I think I will be a good candidate."

Because she was so shocked, Margaret couldn't speak at all for a while.

"Why such a sudden decision? It's ridiculous!"

She finally came to her senses, lifted the quilt excitedly, and jumped off the bed.

"I see! Is it because of Carl Hockley? Because he saved me and made you feel like I'm not in love with him, so you think you should give up the position? God! If you're because You choose to leave me for this reason, Charlie, I tell you, I will never agree! This is too ridiculous! This is irresponsible to yourself, and it is also a humiliation to me! Also, I think you probably know Did you know that Flora and Carl Hockley met? Listen, Flora is his daughter, yes, and he wants to recognize her, but it doesn't affect our relationship at all! Flora can have Two fathers who love her. She's so sweet, Charlie, wouldn't you like to be her father?"

"No, no, don't get me wrong." Clarence walked up to Margaret, grabbed her hand, pushed her to sit on the side of the bed, hugged her at last, and patted her on the back gently .

"Listen, Maggie," he said, releasing her when she had stabilized, "this decision of mine has nothing to do with Cal Hockley. It's my own decision."

His eyes fell on the night sky outside the window, and he was lost in thought for a moment.

"... Maggie, I also thought about continuing to act as if nothing happened, just like I promised you when I proposed to you. But I know that it is impossible for me to go back to the past."

He closed his eyes.

"My heart is suffering all the time. Every time I think of you, the scene of her death will appear in front of my eyes at the same time. Maggie, I am very grateful for your tolerance, but I cannot forgive myself. I'm sorry, until now, I didn't realize that I turned out to be such a weak person. Even if we go back to Los Angeles, Maggie, I can't get peace of mind. How can such a husband bring you happiness Maggie, please forgive my selfishness, forgive me..."

Margaret looked at him intently.

"So you decided to leave me and go to Australia? Where can you get peace of mind?"

"...Frankly speaking, I don't know..." Clarence shook his head, showing a slightly dazed expression, "But Missionary Vino said that the people there will need my help."

"I see! Going to a place where you are really needed may really change your mood!" Margaret held his hand tightly, "You can go there, Charlie, I won't stop you, but you are completely You don't have to break the promise you made to me because of this. I can wait for you to come back, it doesn't matter how long you wait!"

Clarence did not speak for a long time, and finally he raised his hand and stroked Margaret's face with his thumb.

"...Margaret," he looked at her with gentle eyes, and sighed softly, "it would be great if this war hadn't happened. We must be living happily now. Even if I have lost The qualification to love you, I also want to tell you that I still love you. But I can't stay by your side anymore. I don't even have the ability to make any promises about your future."

"Charlie!"

Margaret's voice cracked.

"Margaret, do you remember many years ago, when we first met, when we were eating, you asked Mr. Hockley about my judgment on him?"

He smiled slightly, "I said that I don't recognize people like him. Now I know how subjective and superficial I was at that time. I use my own morals and values ​​to judge a person I don't understand at all. The most ironic thing is that he is still the same. Today, many years later, the morals and values ​​​​that I used to judge him that belonged to me have been completely broken!"

Marguerite looked at him with tears in his eyes.

"...Flora is a very sweet child. I suppose she gets on very well with Mr. Hockley. She needs a real father. I think he'll be a good father."

Clarence hugged her.Pressed a light kiss on her forehead, then let go, turned and walked out of the bedroom.

☆、Chapter 93

After half a year.

In Orange County, not far from the outskirts of Los Angeles, the sun is as bright as roses blooming in the garden.From one of the windows facing the garden came the intermittent sound of a piano being played.

A postman rode his bicycle across neat walks until he stopped at a letter box erected by the fence and dropped an envelope into it.

"Mrs. Clarence! Your letter!"

He yelled at the window and then pedaled away, leaving behind a series of light and crisp bicycle bells.

"That's all for today. Go play."

Marguerite asked Flora to stop practicing the piano, went out to the letter box by herself, and took out an envelope from it.Go back to the room and open the letter.

The letter was from Clarence.

This was also the first letter she received from him half a year after he left.

In his letter, he said he had landed in a place called Murray near Queensland.There is a mixed area of ​​whites and aboriginals. The living conditions of the local aborigines are worrying, and the health and medical conditions are even worse.Last week he treated an Aboriginal boy who almost had to have his leg amputated because of a small wound infection on his lower leg that was not treated in time.Now the boy is able to walk slowly again on crutches.Just when he was writing this letter to her, the boy was lying in front of his window watching him write.His skin was brown, but his eyes were very bright, like the light of the sun above the place.

Margaret read the letter several times, and finally breathed out slowly, as if relieved, and suddenly became happier.

While she was in a trance, there was a sudden sound of tiptoe footsteps behind her.

Without looking back, she knew who was coming.

"Mom," Flora stopped beside her, looking at the papers that were still spread on the table.

"What is this? A letter from Charlie to you?"

"Yes."

"How is he doing?"

"Very good." Margaret smiled back and said, "Aren't you going to play with Hannah?"

"I don't want to go."

Flora hopped into the other chair beside her.

"He's not coming back anymore, is he?" she asked.

"Maybe one day, he will come back..." Margaret said.

"If you write to him, don't forget to tell him I will miss him."

Margaret leaned over and kissed her forehead, "I'll remember. You're a little angel."

"Mom, since Mr. Hockley is my father, and Charlie divorced you again, why don't you live with him now?" Flora then asked, "My friends Cindy, Mike, their parents They all live in the same house."

This was the nth time recently that she had asked herself such a question.

Margaret let out a deep breath, met her daughter's big eyes that were staring at her without blinking, and explained patiently: "Flora, didn't I tell you, Mom and Mr. Hockley..."

"My father!" Flora pouted and corrected her dissatisfied.

"...Okay, your dad. Mum and him had some differences, we separated a long time ago, so we didn't live together like Cyndi Mike and his parents did. But it doesn't matter that we both love you. Cindy Mack and they only have one home, but you have two, one more than them. Isn't that nice too?"

"Not good." Flora shook her head, "I like him!" She