Chapter 40 Are We Going to Sleep in the Same Room?
Matilda felt flattered—hadn't they said not to let her help with anything?
But thinking about it, feeding fish wasn't difficult. Just sprinkle some food down. She'd done it at lakeside parks before.
Holden spoke leisurely beside her. "Feeding fish actually has its techniques. Fish don't know when they're full—they'll eat however much you give them. If you're not careful, they could eat themselves to death. So feeding them once a day is enough."
Listening to his tone, Matilda couldn't help thinking of her own grandfather.
Her grandfather had been the same way—patiently teaching her various things from childhood, his voice filled with warmth.
While feeding the fish, Holden suddenly said, "Matty, Wentworth told me about your situation. I think you're a very strong girl. To maintain your independence and strength in that kind of environment—that quality isn't easy to come by."
Matilda's eyes nearly welled up.
However, after the praise, Holden smiled and said, "I've got some things planted on the roof that need tending. You and Wentworth can take a walk around the neighborhood."
Growing things on the roof?
Matilda almost laughed.
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Wentworth brought out two folding lounge chairs and placed them under an old oak tree in the courtyard. They sat side by side, enjoying the cool air.
Matilda suddenly thought how wonderful it would be if, when she grew old, she could sit in a courtyard like this watching the sunset and listening to cicadas.
Only now did she understand why many elderly people didn't want to move to city apartments—in small towns or the countryside, a person could live comfortably and busily. Why be trapped in concrete high-rises?
"What are you thinking about?" Wentworth asked.
"I'm thinking that when I'm old, I'd like to live like your grandfather."
Wentworth smiled. "Of course you could."
Matilda thought for a moment, then said, "I just don't know if your brother would agree."
"What does his agreement have to do with anything?" Wentworth was puzzled.
"Of course it matters. He has inheritance rights to this house too. What if he wants to come back when he retires?"
Wentworth was amused by her seriousness. "Then I'll have him sign a waiver of inheritance."
"No, no, no. Grandpa's still fine. Signing something like that would be unlucky. We'll figure it out when the time comes. I was just talking—I might not actually come back."
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After lunch, Matilda and Wentworth walked through the town's streets.
Almost everyone here knew Wentworth.
"Isn't this the Gonzaga family's second grandson? Back to visit Holden again? And he brought a girlfriend too."
"My homemade pickled cucumbers just finished marinating. Take some back for sandwiches—they're really fresh."
"Want to pick some peaches and plums? Come by the orchard later."
They'd left empty-handed but returned carrying armloads of things the neighbors had insisted they take.
Wentworth didn't refuse—these were all favors Holden had accumulated over the years. The wooden bridge at the town entrance, the community elementary school's basketball court, and the senior center—Holden had spearheaded all of them.
When evening fell, Matilda felt like the day here had been especially long.
In the city, she always felt time flew by, but here, it seemed like they'd enjoyed the cool air for ages, walked for ages, eaten lots of Pecan Pie and freshly picked fruit.
After dinner, Holden finally relaxed, watching the evening news in the living room with Tammy.
Tammy said to Wentworth, "If you don't want to watch this, you can go to your room and watch something else. There's a TV in the room too."
Matilda's heart tightened slightly.
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Wentworth led Matilda upstairs.
Though the old house's exterior walls were somewhat weathered, the interior had been renovated, especially the second floor—it had polished wooden floors and four rooms, with the guest room at the very back.
The room was large, containing a queen-size bed, plus a desk, nightstands, and a wardrobe, but no private bathroom.
Matilda stood in the doorway, looking at that bed, wondering how they'd sleep tonight. In the same bed? Would something happen?
Oh well, they'd been legally married all this time without making love. Tonight could be the night.
With a spirit of "sacrifice," she walked into the room and solemnly placed her backpack in the wardrobe.
Wentworth said, "Matty, why don't you shower first? This place uses a solar water heater—if you wait too long, the water gets cold."
Matilda thought to herself: Looks like he can't wait.
"Okay, I'll go first."
There was a bathroom at the end of the second-floor hallway.
She took a cotton athletic outfit from her backpack for after her shower—she chose athletic wear because wearing pajamas in someone else's house didn't seem appropriate, and athletic wear could serve as both sleepwear and loungewear.
When she returned to the room after showering, Wentworth was sitting on the bed watching an educational channel.
She said, "I'm done. Your turn."
Wentworth said "Oh" and took his clothes to shower.
When he returned, he was also wearing athletic wear—hers was white, his was black, like matching couple's outfits.
Matilda's heartbeat quickened. Feeling nervous made her hot, and she instinctively wanted to turn on the air conditioning.
The air conditioner was broken. Wentworth went downstairs to find Tammy, who was surprised. "It's broken? I didn't notice. That room hasn't been occupied for half a year—even when your brother visits, he doesn't stay overnight."
Tammy brought up a fan, saying, "Sorry for the inconvenience tonight. That room isn't usually hot—I sleep without air conditioning most of the time."
But for young people like Wentworth and Matilda, of course it was hot.
The deeper into night, the stuffier Matilda felt. Opening the window brought flying insects; keeping it closed was hot.
Seeing this, Wentworth said, "Matty, want to go up to the roof? It's cooler there."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course. There's even a small pavilion up there."
Around nine PM, Holden and Tammy had already gone to sleep. The two quietly made their way to the roof.
The night breeze was strong, and Matilda felt completely refreshed.
The moon was round and bright—they could see clearly without lights.
The roof was planted with everything—grapevines, roses, and various flowers and plants Matilda couldn't name.
Wentworth led her under the grape arbor and set up two lounge chairs, one for each of them.
The evening breeze on their faces was so comfortable they didn't want to move.
"Wentworth, could we sleep up here all night?"
"Of course."
"Will there be mosquitoes?"
"Maybe a few. We can spray some repellent later and bring up a couple of thin blankets."
"Did you ever sleep on the roof when you were little?"