Chapter 12 Timothy, Can We Get Back Together?
When the car arrived at the gate of the restaurant, Timothy and Queenie got out of the car and waited for Nathanael to park the car and come. They walked toward the restaurant together politely. Timothy asked Queenie to order first. Queenie ordered her favorite main courses and asked for Timothy's opinion. Timothy randomly ordered two dishes, and then handed the menu to Nathanael and asked, "Nathan, what do you want to eat?" Nathanael took the menu and said, "Is this enough, Mr. Carter? Let me order some more for you!"
"Don't order too much. It's a waste if we can't finish it," Timothy said gently. Although Nathanael nodded, he still ordered several more expensive dishes. He didn't expect to use this to pay Timothy back, but at least he was sincere. Queenie turned around and asked quietly, "Don't you need to go home and cook for your son?" Although Timothy went to cook dinner for her every day, he would go home to make dinner for his son as soon as Queenie's dinner was ready. Queenie didn't want to talk about his wife, but she couldn't help asking about his son.
"I asked him to come and join us," said Timothy. Queenie was a little embarrassed, but when she thought she and Timothy didn't have dinner alone, she was relieved. She quickly flipped through the menu and said, "Then order some of his favorites." Timothy hurriedly stopped her. "No, thanks. What we have ordered are absolutely enough for us. It's a waste of food if we can't finish them all."
"Okay, it's up to you." Queenie stopped. Nathanael kept looking at Timothy. After a while, he couldn't help but ask, "How have you been these years, Mr. Carter? Why didn't you contact me again?" Timothy smiled and said, "Since you have the ability to rely on your own, I don't ask you for anything in return. I just feel that there is no need to contact you anymore."
"But I always want to see you and say thank you to you. You don't ask for return, but I should give you back the money you gave me in the past years," Nathanael said hurriedly.
"I really don't need it. If you have to pay it back, you can sponsor a child who needs help and pass on kindness," Timothy said with a smile.
"I'll do it." Nathanael promised.
"In fact, it's not impossible for you to repay Timothy. Look at me. You should take good care of me to repay him.,Queenie said with a smile. Timothy nodded. "Yes, I heard that you are now Queenie's leader. Please take care of her at work. She is not familiar with the current world now."
"Don't worry. I will." Timothy's words was much more useful than Anthony's. As the leader of his industry, Nathanael didn't listen to his boss when he was unhappy, but he listened carefully to every word Timothy said.
Looking at the tender eyes of Timothy when he looked at Queenie, Nathanael couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Carter, is Miss Jackson your wife that you have been waiting for?" Hearing his question, Queenie blushed. But Timothy whispered, "Yes."
"Congratulations!" Nathanael felt happy for him from the bottom of his heart. Queenie knew that Nathanael had misunderstood them, so she interrupted him with embarrassment, "Hey, you two are so happy today. Would you like to have a drink?"
"Okay. Mr. Carter, what would you like to drink?" Nathanael asked happily.
"I won't drink today." Timothy refused, "I have some work to do tonight."
"Okay!" Nathanael said. Since Timothy refused, he asked Queenie, "How about you, Miss Jackson?"
"I'll have some white wine!" Girls from the North liked white wine. Timothy glanced at her and said nothing. Queenie was a little nervous under his gaze. In the past, Timothy hated her drinking the most, but she liked drinking. But now, he was no longer her husband, so he couldn't control her! Queenie smiled at Timothy and turned to Nathanael, "How about I have some yogurt?"
"Why not wine? I've ordered it. Don't let me drink alone!"
"Okay, you're my boss. I'll drink with you," Queenie found an excuse to drink and said happily. After a while, the dishes and wine were served. A little boy rushed in with his schoolbag on his back and greeted them. His youthful face looked so happy. "Hello, my name is Albert Carter."
The boy's voice was clear and bright, with a unique cheerfulness of his age, which made them like him. Queenie had prepared herself for this. She had thought about what expression she should wear or words she should say when she saw Timothy's son for the first time, but she didn't know how to react now.
"Here you are. Put down your schoolbag!" Timothy's voice was gentle and loving. Queenie clenched her fists, took a deep breath, raised her head, pursed her lips, and suppressed the bitterness in her heart. She forced a smile and gently greeted, "Hello, my name is Queenie Jackson."
"Hello, Ms. Jackson," Albert said briskly.
"Nathanael Foster." Nathanael briefly introduced himself and shook hands with him. Then he looked at Queenie and Timothy in surprise. He didn't expect that Timothy had a son of more than ten years, so Albert must not be Queenie's son.
But Nathanael said calmly, "It's my treat today. Order something you like. What kind of drink do you want?" Shaking his head, Albert said politely, "No, thanks. These dishes are enough. Thank you!"
"Hurry up. You have to go to English class later!" Timothy considerately distributed the forks and plates on the table to the three. Albert took his fork and smiled, "Thank you, Dad!" Queenie observed Albert in secret. He was 13 or 14 years old, fair skinned, cute, and had a temperament similar to that of Timothy now. Albert was introverted, gentle, obedient, and had great manners. He didn't only eat quietly during the meal, but also picked up food for Timothy. Timothy was also good at taking care of Albert. The father and son were on good terms, and there was no tension between the young boy and the adult father at all. Seeing that Queenie had been looking at him up and down, Albert raised his head and smiled at her friendly. The smile was exactly the same as that when Timothy was young, even the corners of his mouth curved up. Queenie was observing Albert, while Nathanael was observing the three people at the table. He didn't expect that Timothy had remarried and had such a big son. In his mind, Mr. Carter was an honest, kind, affectionate, pure and melancholy man. He had been looking for his missing wife hard. Nathanael could see his love for his wife even when Nathanael was very young at that time.
Nathanael still remembered that he had a deep impression of Timothy when he was a child. It seemed that the new year was just over that day. His father had been missing for twelve years. On that day, it was snowing. He and his grandmother had a good time in the past few days. The people in the North liked to stock up a pile of vegetables before the new year, and then they didn't replenish vegetables for the whole winter. So he and his grandmother had been resting at home during the winter. The room was warm with a heater on. Outside the window, snow was falling. And Timothy paid a visit at this time. He hadn't visited them for a long time, so Nathanael was surprised to hear the knock on the door. Timothy came in with snow on him. His good-looking brows were full of snow, and his face was becoming thin. He was much thinner than last time Nathanael saw him. His black hair was disheveled by the wind, and his cheeks and ears were red. He looked a little embarrassed. But even so, Timothy was still very good-looking, especially like a male star that every girl in Nathanael's class liked, but Nathanael couldn't remember that star's name. In fact, Timothy didn't look like that star very much if looked at closely, but his figure, temperament and melancholy eyes were very similar to that star.
"It's so cold outside. Why are you here?" Nathanael's grandmother opened the door and greeted Timothy politely.
"I came to see you on my way back from hometown." Timothy was always so kind. Every time he came, he would bring a lot of nutritious food and gifts. Nathanael's grandmother failed to refuse his gifts and took the cup to make a cup of hot tea for him. Timothy thanked her gently. Then Timothy patted Nathanael on the shoulder and praised, "Nathan, you've grown taller again!"
"Mr. Carter." Nathanael greeted him with an embarrassed smile on his face. Nathanael's grandmother said, "He's like his father. His father is also tall."
"Good. I heard that he got the first place in the class this year, didn't he?" Timothy asked with a smile.
"Well, he works hard and says that he must get the first place every time," Nathanael's grandmother said with a proud smile.
"It's good. After Nathan goes to a good university next year, you can enjoy yourself in the future."
"Alas, I don't know if I can wait for that dayto come." Nathanael's grandmother and Timothy chatted. Nathanael sat at the table and listened to them while writing test papers. He didn't know what they were talking about exactly, and one of them sighed suddenly. "It's so cold. Where are they?"
Nathanael stopped writing, and there was only the sound of water burning in the pot in the room. Nathanael secretly looked back and saw Timothy held the teacup and looked down at the cup in his hand without saying a word. Timothy was in the darkness of the room, as if invisible sadness was slowly spreading out of him. "Where are they..."
After he said that, the room fell into silence and sadness, which Nathanael had gotten used to at home. Nathanael's grandmother wiped her tears again. After persuading Nathanael's grandmother not to cry for a while, Timothy stood up and left after sitting for a while. Nathanael's grandmother walked him to the door. After a while, she hurriedly took out an umbrella and handed it to Nathanael, saying, "Mr. Carter doesn't have an umbrella with him. Hurry up and bring it to him."
"Alas." Nathanael took the umbrella and put on a cotton jacket. He hurried out to catch up with Timothy, only to see Timothy had walked far in the snow.
"Mr. Carter," Nathanael shouted. He wanted to run as fast as possible, but he was afraid that the he would slip, so he had to trot slowly for a long time before he caught up with Timothy. Hearing Nathanael's scream from afar, Timothy stopped, turned around and walked toward him. "Why did you come out? It's cold outside. Go back quickly!"
"Mr. Carter, here you are."
"No, thanks."
"Take it, Mr. Carter!" Nathanael stubbornly handed it to him.
"Thank you!" Timothy took it over, opened the umbrella and covered the two of them, forming a safe small space in the snow. "Let me drive you back!"
Although it was only a short distance, Timothy still didn't want a young man to go back in the snow. Nathanael followed Timothy step by step. After walking for a while, Nathanael took a look at Timothy and really wanted to know what kind of woman Timothy's wife was. She had disappeared for more than 10 years but such a gentle and good-looking man still missed her. "What kind of person is your wife, Mr. Carter?"
"Why do you suddenly ask that?" Timothy asked curiously.
"I just want to know," Nathanael answered.
"Well..." Timothy thought for a while and asked, "Do you feel cold today?"
"Cold." Nathanael nodded without hesitation.
"I also think so..." Timothy said in a low voice, "My wife is a person who won't make me feel cold.
"No matter how windy or snowy it is, I just think it's a beautiful view to be with her." Although Timothy said it flatly, Nathanael could still feel deep love and deep attachment from his words.
"But what if she can't come back?" Nathanael asked. Timothy bit his lips and didn't answer. Nathanael apologized, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."
"It doesn't matter. Many people have asked me that." Timothy smiled bitterly and said, "What if I can't find her? What if she died? What if she won't come back? Many people have asked me."
Nathanael raised his head. In the snow, Timothy's nose and ears were red and cold, and his melancholy eyes seemed to be blown red by the snow. His eyes were so sad and fragile. He said in a low voice, "In fact, I don't know what to do. I don't know how to stop waiting, stop looking for her, and stop looking forward to her coming back."
"In fact, I also want to ask others what to do. What should I do if I lose the one I love most? If only someone could teach me..."
Hearing what he said, Nathanael was so sad that he felt as if he had rolled on a sharp knife. He couldn't help but feel sad for Timothy and for himself. Although he had always said that he hated his father, only he knew how much he expected his father to come back. Nathanael, didn't know what to do. With mixed feelings, he could only tell himself over and over again that he didn't miss his father, he didn't love him, and he didn't need him anymore. All he needed was resentment. Resentment wouldn't make him sad, and resentment wouldn't make him miss him anymore.
Gritting his teeth, Nathanael clenched his fists and said stubbornly with red eyes, "Just don't love her anymore. She can't come back, and she won't come back any more. She's sorry for you. Just hate her! If you hate her, you won't miss her, and if you hate her, you won't expect her to come back!
"Do you understand? Don't love her. You should hate her!" Nathanael, roared and cried. Timothy looked at him, gently raised his hand and hugged him. Timothy had a broad shoulder. He gently patted Nathanael's head, and Nathanael burst into tears in his arms. Nathanael cried so hard that even Timothy's eyes turned red, but he still gently coaxed the young man in his arms, "They will come back. They will come back. Maybe they will come back when the snow stops."
Nathanael sobbed and shook his head hard. He didn't believe that. Only Timothy still believed that they would come back! Only a kind and stupid man like Timothy would believe it!
"Don't be silly. It's impossible! Stop dreaming. They are dead!" Nathanael pushed Timothy away, turned around and rushed into the snow stubbornly. He ran into his house and slammed the door, leaving Timothy alone in the white snow, absent-minded as he watched Nathanael leave. The snowflakes flew and fell on his black umbrella and his body. The snow on his head had already turned into water and then turned into ice dregs, hanging on his hair, eyebrows and even eyelashes. After a long time, he slowly and stiffly turned around and walked in the cold and snow step by step.