Chapter 132 The Last Tenderness Before Parting Ways (2)
It had been a long journey, and they finally arrived at their destination at noon.
The former residence of Nicholas’ grandparents was situated in a small town in Southlake. It was a bustling and
well-populated town, filled with vibrant signs of life. Nancy felt a surge of warmth and familiarity.
Their first stop was the old couple’s residence. As they stood outside the house, Nancy was taken aback. by what
she saw.
The old house, made of bricks, perfectly matched the quaint town. It was a simple structure that appeared to have
been built decades ago, showing signs of wear and tear.
Nicholas explained, “My grandparents used to live here. They got married and my dad was born in this house.”
“Even though they became wealthy later on, Grandma was nostalgic about this place. She believed it held the
memories of her and Grandpa’s lives, so she cherished it deeply. That’s why the old house has been preserved
without any renovations.”
“When Grandma was alive, we would come here for a holiday every year. After she passed away, we didn’t visit as
often because we were worried that Grandpa would be overwhelmed with grief. However, we still came a few
times.”
Nancy took a step forward.
She walked slowly, observing the old house. The wooden doorframes had lost their coating, revealing the wood
underneath.
Despite its age, she was captivated by the place.
As Nicholas shared stories about his grandparents’ lives in this house, Nancy felt as if she were stepping into those
memories herself.
Nicholas’ grandmother had passed away before Nancy joined the family.
She had never met his grandmother.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe had never even seen a photograph of his grandmother.
Beyond the main gate, there was a brick-laid courtyard. Though common in small towns, Nancy found it charming
in its own way.
To her surprise, there was a row of lush trees on the right side of the courtyard. On the left side, there was a small
garden filled with a variety of vibrant and colorful flowers. It was a delightful sight.
Nancy ran over to the garden in joy. “Oh, my! How beautiful! Why are there still flowers here? And they’re all
blooming so splendidly!
Nicholas explained, “Even though no one lives here now, we have hired people to maintain the place and keep it
clean. Taking care of the flowers you see is one of the most important tasks.”
Puzzled, Nancy looked at Nicholas with confusion.
He continued, “After they got married, Grandpa realized that Grandma loved flowers. At the time, they had limited
resources, so he created a small garden himself and planted all of Grandma’s favorite flowers from every season.
He wanted her to be able to see fresh flowers all year round because he knew it would make her happy.”
Nancy’s heart warmed. It was such a touching gesture.
In the past, she had only heard about the old couple’s love story. Others had told her that Jacob loved and
cherished his wife deeply.
Sometimes, Sarah would talk about her in-laws. She would say that her mother-in-law considered her marriage to
Jacob her greatest blessing in life.
At the time, Nancy didn’t fully understand, but now, after visiting the old couple’s home, she had a newfound
understanding.
She gazed at the old house and let out a gentle sigh. She was suddenly filled with affection and envy.
Nancy envied the people who had lived in this house, as well as the love and tenderness that filled its walls. It had
become a love story for the ages.
These were all things she longed for, but alas, she was not as fortunate as Nicholas’ grandmother. She would not
meet someone like Jacob.
Thus, her envy grew even stronger.
Nancy crouched by the flowerbed and examined the flowers closely. Then, she looked at Nicholas. “Can you help
me take a photo?”
“Of course.”
Nicholas took out his phone, and just as he was about to take the photo, Nancy’s face lit up with a dazzling smile.
It was the biggest and most beautiful smile she had shown in days.
Nicholas was captivated by it. He congratulated himself on making this trip. It was worth it.
He didn’t ask for much. Just this smile alone made the trip worthwhile to him.
After taking the photo, Nancy entered the living room. There was a large photo on the cabinet, catching her eye as
soon as she walked in.
When she saw the stunningly beautiful young woman with long hair and dated clothing, she asked hesitantly, “Is
this… Grandma?”
“Yes,” Nicholas nodded. “That’s a photo of Grandma when she was young.
“She was so beautiful,” Nancy couldn’t help but exclaim.
as nicked up the photo and gently wiped it. It was already clean, as someone would wipe it every
day to keep it dust-free. Still, he took the time to carefully clean the frame.
Then, he placed it back in its spot. “Grandma married Grandpa when she was eighteen and gave birth to my dad
when she was twenty. This photo was taken not long after they got married.”
“Grandma said they had agreed to take a portrait photo to capture their youth, but due to their financial difficulties,
Grandpa only pretended to agree. In reality, he only paid for one portrait, so in the end, Grandma was the only one
who had her photo taken. Grandpa didn’t have one himself.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Is this the only photo of Grandma from her youth then?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, knowing Grandpa, he would have kept the photo with him at all times after Grandma’s passing. Why
have I never seen this photo at Sallow Residence before?”
Nicholas nodded. “You’re right. Grandma knew that Grandpa would keep it with him always, so before she passed
away, she specifically requested for her photo to be kept here. She was worried that Grandpa would grieve even
more if he had the photo with him all the time.”
“Grandpa pretended to agree, but in reality…”
Nicholas chuckled and said sincerely, “The old man played a trick on us. He made a miniature version of Grandma’s
photo and kept it in his pocket.”
Nancy was even more touched. How deep was their love to do such a thing?
She was overwhelmed with envy.
Their love was truly beautiful.
“How did you find out about it?”
“Once, on Grandma’s death anniversary, Grandpa got a little drunk. He must have missed her so much that he
brought out her photo and told us about it.”
“However, none of us revealed that we already knew, and he didn’t realize that we did.”
“Grandma was so fortunate,” Nancy sighed.
Nicholas looked at her. “Do you envy Grandma?”
Nancy nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. Every woman desires to find a partner who wholeheartedly loves her and
envisions a lifetime together.”
Nicholas inquired, “And what about you?”
Nancy pointed to herself and let out a soft chuckle. “Me? I share the same sentiment. I am just an ordinary woman
who naturally dreams of experiencing a love of her own and…”