Chapter 82 A Companion Who Doesn't Spoil the Fun
North: [Got time this weekend? Let's go to Silverpeak City.]
Caroline's first thought upon receiving the message was that Silverpeak City was too far for a day trip.
Caroline: [What are we going to Silverpeak City for?]
North: [My mom lives in Silverpeak City. Let's go visit her this weekend.]
Caroline hesitated, then replied with an okay.
North: [We'll stay at a hotel.]
'Stay at a hotel? Her heart started racing again.'
North: [Bring a change of clothes.]
Caroline: [Okay, which day are we leaving?]
North: [I'll pick you up early Saturday morning. We can get to Silverpeak City by noon.]
Saturday.
Leopold sent Caroline a message as he approached her neighborhood.
North: [I'll be at the neighborhood entrance in five minutes.]
Caroline was already packed and ready. She typed: [I'm coming down now.]
She spotted Caroline standing by the roadside from a distance. Leopold pulled the car over.
Caroline got into the passenger seat and put her bag in the back. "Have you had breakfast?"
"I have. You?"
"Me too. I was worried you hadn't eaten, so I brought you a sandwich." Caroline emphasized, "I made it."
"I'm sure it's delicious. I'll save it for when I get hungry on the road."
Caroline asked, "Is Lily back?"
"She's back. Her dad was discharged the day before yesterday and is recovering at home now. I was planning to let her take another week off, but she said she'd hired a caregiver. With her mom and the caregiver looking after her dad, she felt comfortable coming back to work."
"She must be exhausted—taking care of a sick person and then coming to work. I know how hard it is to care for someone in the hospital."
"Who was hospitalized?"
"My mom. The summer of my sophomore year in college, she had her gallbladder removed. There were multiple leaks in a drainage channel, and my dad was on the frontlines directing flood control operations. He had no time to come back, so I was the only one taking care of my mom. You know what's hardest to wait for in the inpatient department?"
"Test results?"
"No," Caroline shook her head. "The hardest thing to wait for is the hospital elevators, especially during breakfast and dinner. Eight elevators total—one for the operating room, one for doctors only, leaving six. Three stop on odd floors, three on even floors. With thousands of patients in the inpatient department and elevators only so big, waiting for an elevator to go down and buy breakfast takes at least twenty minutes. I timed it once—from going to buy breakfast to getting back to the room took a full hour. By the time I got the food back to the room, the porridge I'd bought was almost cold."
Leopold patted her hand. "That must have been hard on you, Caroline."
He now understood why Caroline was so independent. She'd grown up in an environment that required her to be self-sufficient.
They arrived in Silverpeak City right at noon. Leopold drove straight to the hotel. As they entered the lobby, Leopold held out his hand to Caroline.
"Give me your driver's license."
"Driver's license?" Caroline paused, then took it out of her bag. "Aren't we going to see your mom first?"
"No need. We're meeting her for dinner at five. Getting there at five is fine."
"Okay." Caroline felt a bit uneasy.
They walked up to the front desk. Leopold pushed the license across. "Checking in."
Caroline had been thinking that since he'd come to this hotel on purpose, maybe he knew people here and was about to stage a little performance with the front desk: [Sir, I'm sorry, we only have rooms with one bed available. Would that work for you?]
In Leopold's dreams!
If he dared pull that stunt, she'd turn around and walk right out!
Just as Caroline was gearing up to grab her license and switch to a different hotel, the two front desk attendants addressed them.
"Mr. Wipere, both rooms are ready for you."
Caroline asked, "There are two rooms?"
The receptionist smiled, "Yes, Mr. Wipere made reservations in advance."
"Okay."
"Mr. Wipere, here are your license and room keys."
"Thank you."
Caroline took back her license and room key from the receptionist and pocketed them, her face turning bright red.
As they walked into the elevator, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the person next to her seemed to be smiling. She turned to see his eyes and eyebrows carrying a mischievous grin.
"What are you laughing at?"
Leopold swayed as she pushed him, keeping his eyes forward. "You seemed pretty disappointed just now when you heard there were two rooms?"
Caroline denied it. "No, who's disappointed?"
Leopold lowered his shoulder closer to her face, his voice tempting as he asked, "What were you hoping for?"
Caroline felt extremely embarrassed.
The elevator doors opened.
First came his amused laughter in her ear, and the next second, he'd already walked out of the elevator.
Embarrassed and annoyed, Caroline swiped open her door and didn't let Leopold in, just grabbed her bag and closed the door.
Leopold knocked on the door. Caroline said through it, "What?"
"I'm staying next door."
"Where you're staying is none of my business."
That annoying laugh again. Caroline really wanted to open the door and kick him.
She did some quick unpacking, then Leopold knocked again.
"Caroline, are you ready? Let's go downstairs for lunch."
Caroline grabbed her bag and replied, "Coming."
"Are we going to your mom's now?" Caroline asked.
Leopold said, "Not yet. Let's have something simple for lunch. We'll have a big meal tonight." After a few steps, he seemed to change his mind. "Actually, let's have a good lunch."
Caroline knew what he was worried about. He was afraid there might be an unpleasant scene.
"I'm on a diet lately. I eat light at dinner."
This was Caroline's first time in Silverpeak City. Her impression was that it was a very developed city with convenient transportation.
"I'll take you to a great place. You'll definitely love the food there."
Caroline raised her fist. "Let's go!"
Having a companion who didn't kill the mood really did make stressful situations better. Leopold also breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed.
Caroline noticed he drove in Silverpeak City without using GPS. He seemed very familiar with the place and must come here often.
When Quinlan was in Preston's good graces, Preston would still come to Silverpeak City to spend New Year's with them, though "spending New Year's" really just meant staying for two days before going back.
Later, Quinlan, emboldened by having given birth to a son, caused all sorts of trouble, always thinking that having a son would secure her position. Preston got tired of her antics and gradually distanced himself from Quinlan. Fortunately, Leopold was exceptional and excelled in his studies, which allowed Quinlan to get back into Preston's good graces because of Leopold.
Even though Leopold had more authority in the company than anyone except Preston and a few shareholders, people still used the fact that Leopold was an illegitimate son as gossip fodder over tea and after meals.
The restaurant Leopold brought Caroline to was called The Golden Palate, located in a prime spot in downtown Silverpeak City. He ordered almost all the signature dishes and the chef's specialties. Looking at the table full of food, Caroline said:
"We ordered so much, we can't finish all this."
Leopold poured her a drink. "Take your time eating, no rush."
The two were eating while enjoying the view outside the window when the restaurant door opened and a lavishly dressed, tall woman walked in. She noticed the two dining by the window and swayed her hips as she walked toward them.