I packed up my mother's belongings. My mother had been frugal her entire life, so she didn't leave much behind. I packed them up quickly. But I didn't know what to do with a pair of blackened silver bracelets.
My mother had told me that these bracelets were passed down from my grandmother and would be passed down to Lucy after she died. I didn't want to go against my mother's wishes. After much hesitation, I finally called Lucy.
I called her over a dozen times before she finally answered. "Honey, what's up? I'm waiting to take a family photo."
I chuckled to myself, "Nothing, go ahead!"
She hung up immediately, refusing to ask another question.
I looked at the blackened silver bracelets in my hand and carefully wrapped them. I would keep these silver bracelets. Lucy wasn't worthy of wearing them.
That night, Lucy posted a photo on her Instagram. With a simple caption, [A Happy Family!]
She was smiling brightly in the photo. I couldn't remember how long it had been since I'd seen her smile so happily. My eyes vacant for a moment, then I calmly clicked "like."
I saw Lucy again three days later. She asked me to pick her up at the high-speed rail station. I was puzzled; she'd clearly driven there, so why did she need me to pick her up?
Only when I arrived did I realize she hadn't come back alone.
Lucy explained to me, "Honey, Charlie, his godmother and some of Charlie's elders are coming to town for a visit, so I came back with them."
She was standing next to Charlie and his mother and behind her were seven or eight elderly men and women looking around. I just glanced at them, not saying anything.
Charlie extended his hand to me, smiling, "Please come and pick him up."
I frowned, but didn't extend my hand.
Lucy complained, "Honey, Charlie is thanking you."
Before I could say anything, Charlie's mother took Lucy's hand and said, "Lucy, he only has one car and there's not enough room for all of us."
"I can call a taxi." Lucy pulled out her phone.
Charlie's mother tried to stop her, "Let him call. We'll just take the car and Charlie will drive."
Lucy looked at me with embarrassment. I smiled nonchalantly and handed the car keys to Charlie, "It's okay. You and the others can go first."
Lucy felt relieved. "Honey, thank you!"
I glanced at Charlie and his mother. They looked smug. But they had no idea. I didn't care. I called two cars and arranged for Charlie's seven or eight relatives to go to the hotel.
Lucy was waiting for me downstairs.
"Honey, Charlie and his mother are going to pay their respects to Mother and are getting changed. Let's wait a while."
I refused without hesitation, "No, mom doesn't like being disturbed."
"But I already promised them. If you don't let them go, I'm breaking my promise. You have to consider me," Lucy accused me.
