I handed the phone back to the owner and left from the other exit.
Back on the street, I stood among the crowd, pretending to be looking for Matthew. "Matthew, Matthew..."
Suddenly, a hand pressed itself on my shoulder. I turned my head, and Matthew's panicked face and the cotton candy in his hand came into view. "I'm here."
I breathed a sigh of relief. "There were too many people just now and I got swept away. I almost couldn't find you."
Matthew obviously believed my words. He handed me the cotton candy. "Here, eat it."
After accepting it, I pulled a piece and ate it. It was sweet, but it would get too cloying if I ate too much. I glanced at Matthew next to me and asked with a smile, "Do you want some?"
I tore a piece and handed it to him. Matthew was startled for a moment before accepting the piece of cotton candy and eating it.
Afraid that he would be suspicious, I continued, "Isn’t this the taste of childhood? I remember eating it when I was very young. I never thought I would have the opportunity to eat it today."
Judging Matthew's expression just now, he probably had some doubts about me. I was obviously pregnant but wanted to eat something sweet. Eating too much sweet stuff would definitely be cloying. I had to have an excuse considering he was unable to find me for a moment just now.
Hence, I talked about the taste of childhood in hopes to dispel some of his doubts about me.
I had nothing to worry about after having made the call, so I enjoyed it enthusiastically.
This temple fair was very grand. They really put their hearts into it.
"I heard from Aunt Nessa that the next-door village is their mortal enemy and that you guys spent a lot of money to beat their temple fair this year. Why is this, though?" I brought this up as I wanted Matthew to explain it.
When Matthew heard my question, he paused for a moment before answering, "There’s a well between our two villages. 20 years ago, someone found 30 bucks in the well. They said it should belong to them while we said it should belong to us since it was discovered by our people. A dispute arose."
"You guys butted heads over 30 bucks?" I could not believe it.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Scrambling to Be the Father of His Ex-Wife's Kid