Both her uncle and aunt had warmly welcomed Jordan during his first visit, treating him with care and not considering him as a mere guest. Irish understood the dynamics between Joseph and Jordan as brothers. If her aunt treated them with formality, it would make Joseph uneasy, and Jordan wouldn't know how to respond either.
That was how it should be. Everything was going well.
Perhaps Jordan had picked too much, as Mary shook her head and said, "You've done a great job, but there's a bit of waste."
Jordan smiled awkwardly and noticed Irish's presence.
"Do you need my help?" Irish asked.
Jordan showed her the vegetables in his hand and replied, "I can handle it."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIrish briefly thought of teasing Jordan by saying that a skilled cook could help him find a good wife, but before she could utter the words, Mary mysteriously pulled her into the kitchen and closed the door.
Irish was uncertain about Mary's intentions, and even Jordan looked at Mary with curiosity.
Mary posed a question, "How is she doing now?"
Irish took a moment to realize that Mary was referring to Lilith. "Oh, she's doing well," Irish replied. "The duration of her episodes has been shorter lately. Jay's efforts are paying off."
Mary let out a heavy sigh and removed her apron, setting it aside.
Confused, Irish glanced at Jordan and approached Mary to inquire. After pondering for a moment, Mary spoke, "I know it may not sound kind, but Jay is my son. Who wouldn't want their child to be well? I know he doesn't want to leave Lilith, and I also understand that it was because of Jay that Lilith ended up like this. But, Irish, I'm truly afraid of the two of them being together."
"Do you dislike Lilith's drug use?" Irish questioned.
"In reality, I actually quite like her. I feel sorry for her. I know Jay should take responsibility for this, but she's not to blame. What if the drugs have long-term effects on her health? What if their child is not healthy?" Mary expressed her concerns.
Irish felt a sense of helplessness. "Auntie, you're overthinking things. I believe this is Jay's own decision, and it's best if you don't interfere. He and Lilith have been through so much together, and they are destined to be together."
Mary was known for her strong and assertive personality, often speaking in a loud voice. However, she had firm principles when it came to important matters, which was one of the reasons why Steven respected and followed her. In the case of Lilith, her stance appeared particularly unwavering. Upon hearing Irish's response, Mary let out a deep sigh and said, "You mentioned that these two have gone through so much together, but in my eyes, those events are nothing but fate. If they had never met, none of these things would have happened. Therefore, it serves as a warning to them that they should stay away from each other. Moreover, they were together in the past, and looking at Kelly, it's evident that she holds a low opinion of Jay. If they were to marry, it would be difficult for them to get along."
Mary's strong persistence took Irish aback, as it was rare for her aunt to be so insistent. Irish contemplated how to persuade her, but Jordan, who was busy picking vegetables, spoke up before she could say anything.
"The mother of my sister-in-law's good friend's husband is a challenging person to get along with, but my sister-in-law's good friend has a good relationship with her," Jordan said.
Mary was confused by the complicated relationships mentioned by Jordan. She knew that Jordan's English skills were not very strong, and understanding such complex connections would be challenging for him. Mary looked at Irish, seeking a translation.
Irish herself was also perplexed by the intricate web of relationships mentioned by Jordan. After thinking for a while, she simply asked Jordan, "Are you referring to Shirley?" Jordan nodded in confirmation.
Irish felt an overwhelming urge to kick Jordan out as frustration built up within her. She gritted her teeth and exclaimed, "Just say Shirley or Roy's mother! Otherwise, you could have said Cassie's mother-in-law. No one would understand what you meant!"
Jordan blinked innocently and asked, "Was that wrong?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThis left Irish speechless, and she finally responded, "Focus on picking your vegetables. Children should not interrupt adult conversations."
Jordan shifted his gaze away, offering no further comment.
"Auntie," Irish continued her persuasion, "Sometimes, we have to observe and follow certain matters. Look, Lilith's parents haven't objected to them maintaining contact. Otherwise, why would they allow Lilith to live with Jay? There are many things in this world that we may not fully comprehend, but when it comes to their affection and love, we simply have to let it be. If you forcibly separate them, Jay will resent you. Do you really want Jay to marry someone casually?"
Mary pouted and responded, "Don't you understand? Lilith's parents haven't agreed to let them stay in contact, but they have no choice. If there were any way for them, they would definitely not allow Jay to come near their daughter. Can you imagine how they must feel when their child, who comes from such a wealthy family, suddenly faces such a situation? They may even want to harm Jay if they could. But they can't be too harsh on their own child, and since Jay is skilled in detoxification, what can they do? They have to compromise."
"This is Jay's responsibility, and for now, you don't need to worry too much. We just have to observe how things unfold in the future. And Auntie, I must criticize your belief. Who said that drug addicts would have fertility issues? Your perspective is too absolute. Lilith didn't have a long-standing drug addiction, and her physical health was good before that. So there shouldn't be any problems with her having children," Irish reasoned.
Mary sighed and proceeded to wash her hands. "Their child isn't even on the way yet, so I'm not in a rush. You're married now. When are you two planning to have children? It's been some time since you got married."
A flicker of sadness passed through Irish's eyes momentarily. Quickly, to prevent Mary from noticing anything unusual, she cleared her throat and replied, "We just recently got married."
"You may have just gotten married, but both you and Joseph aren't young anymore. Once you decide to have children, you'll bounce back quickly. Look at Cassie, she got married just a few days before you, and she's already pregnant," Mary commented, unaware of the situation that Irish was facing.
Irish was at a loss for words and chose to remain silent.
Mary noticed the difference and nudged her, saying, "Didn't you hear me?"
"Hmm..."
"And you..."