Whispers Turn

Sherilyn froze, her eyes wide as saucers. Could it really be him?

Rebecca was just as visibly surprised as her. She glanced at the stunned Sherilyn and asked Ailie on her behalf, “For real? Are you sure you didn’t mix him up with someone else?”

“No mistake there.”

Ailie was confident. “Such a handsome guy, and he played the knight in shining armor. I’d remember him anywhere.”

Rebecca dropped the subject.

Sherilyn had her suspicions, and they were likely correct.

Gilbert was indeed in Crestwood at that time.

She remembered that he was injured, but she hadn’t cared enough to ask…

After saying goodbye to Ailie, Rebecca and Sherilyn headed back to their dance studio.

Rebecca mused, “Mr. Johnson is a real mystery. Is it his usual thing to do good deeds without taking credit?”

“I’m not sure.” Sherilyn shook her head.

Truth be told, she and Gilbert had known each other since they were kids, but she couldn’t say she truly knew him.

She recalled Gilbert being a quiet, introverted child, perhaps due to their limited interactions.

Later, after she was taken in by the Johnson family, the grown–up Gilbert seemed to have a quicker temper.

Maybe people are multifaceted after all.

This enigmatic Mr. Johnson, who could coldly send her abroad for four years without a word, was also capable of a righteous rescue.

Sherilyn wondered, if she brought up the past now, insisting she was innocent and hadn’t pushed Caroline, that there was more to the story.

Would he believe her? And could she trust him?

That afternoon, Sherilyn received a message from Gilbert

[I’ll pick you up around 6:30. Let’s have dinner with Grandma.]

[Okay.]

Sherilyn replied. She had finished early today, just before 5, so she took the chance to visit

14.25

the Sunset Ridge Community.

She had to keep playing along with Gilbert, stealing moments to spend with Jenna.

Fortunately, Jenna was an easy, well–behaved child.

When she returned to the dance studio and waited for five minutes, Gilbert arrived.

“Did you wait long?” Gilbert reached for her hand as he approached. “Sorry, got a bit held up.”

“It’s fine.”

As they drove off, Sherilyn turned her head to look at him.

Out of the blue, she said, “I remember you being quite reserved as a kid, quite different from

now.”

Gilbert’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his gaze flickered, but it was subtle. “Really?” He pressed his lips into a thin smile. “I don’t remember much from my childhood.” This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Yeah.” Sherilyn nodded affirmatively.

She didn’t visit the Johnson family often as a child, only accompanying her grandmother. She reminisced, “Back then, if you weren’t reading, you were daydreaming. You hardly spoke to me, like a little prince with your nose in the air”

Gilbert raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor objecting. “Did I have such an emo phase?” “Yes.” Sherilyn sighed. “You’ve changed… you’re different now.”

Gilbert shrugged nonchalantly. “People grow up, change is inevitable.”

He pointed out, “You’ve changed too, haven’t you?”

That was undeniably true.

Sherilyn was well aware of how much she had changed. After everything she’d been through, how could she not?

The Gilbert in front of her seemed different from the one she remembered four years ago

too.

“Gilbert…” Sherilyn opened her mouth to speak.

“What?” Gilbert glanced at her. “What’s on your mind?”