Chapter 41 Put on Shows Together
This scene felt all too familiar to Liam.
<i>This </i><i>is </i><i>exactly </i><i>how </i><i>Tracy </i><i>used </i><i>to </i><i>be</i><i>–</i><i>right </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>middle</i><i>, </i><i>surrounded </i><i>by </i><i>the </i><i>family</i>.
Maybe sensing his stare, Erin suddenly turned and smiled warmly. “Liam, you’re
back.”
She waved gently. “Did you talk to Tracy? As long as she stops using Grandpa to put on a show and make Mom and Dad worry, I don’t mind feeling a little hurt—I don’t even need her to say sorry.”
Liam froze for a second, unintentionally remembering what Walter had said. “No one would risk their life for a show. If we hadn’t gotten there in time, the ashtray really would have hit Ms. Tracy’s head.”
The hospital room fell quiet.
Erin’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. “Liam’s right. Nobody would risk their life just for a show. I definitely misunderstood Tracy.”
That was when Liam realized he’d identally repeated Walter’s words.
He panicked, about to exin, but Andrew and Daphne gave him angry looks.
?
“Liam, think about what you’re saying! Do you really think Erin used Tracy wrongly?” Daphne red.
Andrew looked serious. “You shouldn’t me Erin like that. Say sorry to her!”
Liam stood there, stunned.
He’d never seen Daphne and Andrew look at him like that–as if he’d done something awful.
<i>But </i>I was just <i>repeating </i><i>something </i><i>someone </i>else said–a truth, even…
He looked at Erin silently, confused and helpless.
Erin seemed to notice and quickly spoke up. “Mom, Andrew, don’t me Liam. I
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Chapter 41 Put on Shows Together
<b>+5 </b>Free Coins
think he just saw how bad Grandpa’s health is and felt sorry, so he was trying to speak up for Tracy.”
She looked a little hurt but wanted to clear things up, and Liam felt a sharp pang of guilt, wishing he could p himself.
Erin <i>is </i>so kind, but I <i>even </i><i>med </i><i>her </i><i>a </i><i>little </i><i>because </i><i>of </i><i>Mom </i><i>and </i><i>Andrew’s </i><i>attitude</i>. <i>That’s </i>so wrong!
When Erin spoke, Liam nodded quickly in agreement. “Yeah, that’s right. I just saw how old Grandpa is and how much he’s been through–even fainting from stress- and I felt sorry. I wasn’t trying to defend Tracy.”
<i>Whether </i><i>or </i><i>not </i><i>Tracy </i><i>used </i><i>Grandpa </i><i>to </i><i>put </i><i>on </i><i>a </i><i>show</i><i>, </i><i>if </i><i>she </i><i>hadn’t </i><i>caused such </i><i>a </i><i>scene</i>, <i>Grandpa </i><i>wouldn’t </i><i>have </i><i>fainted</i><i>, </i><i>I </i><i>wouldn’t </i><i>have </i><i>been </i><i>hit</i><i>, </i><i>and </i><i>Erin </i><i>wouldn’t </i><i>have </i><i>gotten </i>so <i>scared </i><i>she </i><i>ended </i><i>up </i><i>in </i><i>the </i><i>hospital</i>.
It’s all <i>Tracy’s </i><i>fault</i><i>! </i>
Erin smiled more deeply, clearly happy with what Liam said.
But then worry crept onto her face. “Grandpa’s seen every storm in his youth. How could he suddenly faint, and right when Tracy was here?
“Does Grandpa have some hidden illness we don’t know about?” Erin asked anxiously. “Andrew, should we ask the doctor?”
Andrew’s <i>eyes </i>darkened. “The hospital sends us monthly reports on Grandpa’s health. There’s no hidden illness we don’t know about.”
He pushed up his gold–rimmed sses, his expression cold.
<i>Since </i>childhood, Grandpa has spoiled <i>Tracy </i><i>the </i><i>most</i><i>. </i><i>He </i><i>often </i>ys along with her little acts, fooling the <i>family</i><i>, </i>
<i>Tricking </i><i>Dad </i><i>into </i><iing </i>home for <i>dinner</i>, <i>making </i><i>Mom </i><i>go </i>see movies with her, having <i>me </i><i>bring </i><i>back </i>gifis, <i>making </i>Liamh <i>buy </i>cakes…
<i>Those </i><i>were </i><i>harmless </i>little things the <i>family </i><i>went </i><i>along </i><i>with</i>. But <i>this </i><i>time</i>, <i>Grandpa </i><i>really </i><i>got </i><i>caught </i><i>up </i><i>in </i><i>Tracy’s </i><i>crazy </i><i>stunts</i>, almost <i>fooling </i><i>all </i><i>of </i><i>us</i><i>! </i>
Daphne’s face darkened, remembering those times when Franklin and Tracy put
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Chapter 41 Put on Shows Together
on shows together.
“Erin, since your health isn’t good, don’t think about all this messy stuff.” She looked at Erin with gentleness and affection. “Just focus on getting better and getting ready for your graduation in a few days.”
Erin smiled and nodded happily. “Okay.”
After promising Franklin over and over that she was fine, Tracy finally left the hospital.
The first thing she did was rush back to work at the restaurant.
Her boss had been a little annoyed about her unexined absence and not being able to reach her.
But when he saw the clear handprint on her face, he softened and didn’t say much, even giving her some anti–inmmatory medicine at the end of his shift.
A few dayster, after getting her very first paycheck, Tracy paid back the butler what she owed, then bought a cheap used phone, got a new SIM card, and saved Franklin’s number first.
That was the only contact in her phone.
After that, Tracy went back to waking up early for work, carefully avoiding the Jackmans.
If something like the incident at Sometime Hotel happened again, she might not be so lucky.
That night, Tracy came home as usual after dark.
The usually quiet Jackman Vi was brightly lit and full of lively noise.
She immediately knew it/was a private dinner party.
Given the Jackmans‘ status, even a private dinner meant all the guests were important, well–known people in Cloudville.