Chapter 0123
After breaking the big news to Catherine, the three healed to dinner. But what Mary didn’t expect was the surprise awaiting her at the garden table. It had been more than five long years since she’d last seen him. As she stepped out of the mansion, the sound of her voice caught Albert Preston’s attention. He rose from his chair and turned toward her.
His eyes filled with tears as he saw the young woman energing. She was no longer the little girl he’d left behind in Valeria. She was now a stunning young woman, as beautiful as her mother had been. He noticed she was holding hands with a handsome man whom he assumed was her husband. There was so much to catch up on..
“My girl!” Albert cried, his voice full of emotion.
“Grandpa! You’re here!” Mary exclaimed, letting go of Peter’s hand and running to embrace the grandfather she had missed so dearly.
They hugged tightly. Despite his age, Albert was still tall and strong, towering over Mary as he held her close. He kissed the top of her head, stroked her hair, and then gently held her shoulders to look at her.
“Look at you, my girl! You’re all grown up. A beautiful woman!” Albert said, tears streaming down his
face.
“Grandpa, don’t cry. I’m okay. I’m okay,” Mary said/trying to hold back her own tears.
“I couldn’t wait to see this moment! Just a little while ago, your grandfather arrived, Mary, and that’s when I went to fetch you. And what a wonderful surprise I found!” Catherine said, tears glistening in her
eyes.
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“What surprise, Mother?” Leonard asked curiously, noting the way Mary and Peter were holding hands,
“Mary and Peter are in a relationship! They’re together! They’re a family! And I hope this family grows in the near future,” Catherine said with a knowing smile.
Peter felt a wave of nerves. Meeting Mary’s grandfather was a moment he’d never anticipated, and now that it was here, he didn’t know how to react.
“Grandpa, I want you to meet someone,” Mary said, pulling away from her grandfather’s embrace.
“Of course, my dear. Tell me,” Albert said, his eyes soft with love.
“This is Peter Palmer–the love of my life and the future father of my baby!” Mary declared, the words spilling out naturally, despite her earlier request to keep the pregnancy a secret.
A whirlwind of emotions had overtaken her. How could anything go wrong? She was with the man who loved her, her grandfather was finally by her side, and Catherine had embraced their relationship with open arms. She didn’t notice the reaction from Peter’s father, Leonard, who nearly choked on his coffee at her announcement.
“My girl! You’re going to be a mother? Well, well, you’re going to be parents?” Albert asked, astonished.
He hadn’t yet processed seeing his granddaughter as a grown woman, and now he was learning that she would make him a great–grandfather. The dashing man holding Mary’s hand–was he her husband?
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Chapter 0123
Albert wondered silently.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Preston,” Peter said, standing tall to hide the storm of nerves churning, inside him as he faced the man who was essentially a father figure to Mary.
“Young man!” Albert said, his voice booming
“Yes?” Peter replied, trying to remain calm.
“Come here! Give me a hug! If you’re the one making my girl happy, I have nothing but gratitude for you. And congratulations on the wonderful news!”
Albert wrapped Peter in a strong embrace, a gesture that left Peter both relieved and moved.
“My boy, I wasn’t expecting this news, but you’ve made me a very happy man,” Albert said, tears streaming freely now. “Mary, come here and give your old man a big hug too!”
Leonard and Catherine watched the heartfelt reunion from their seats. Leonard was still processing the situation. His youngest son was going to be a father. The years of emotional distance between them felt more pronounced in that moment. Now, with a baby on the way, he wondered how he might find a way to mend their relationship.
“Leonard, aren’t you going to congratulate your son?” Catherine asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Of course, Momr,” Leonard replied.
“Son, congratulations! This is wonderful news,” he said, his tone warm yet restrained.
“Thank you, Father,” Peter replied in a calm but distant manner.
“Alright, my dears. I know everyone is excited, but in Mary’s condition, she shouldn’t skip meals. Let’s head to the table–the baby must be hungry by now,” Catherine said, gesturing toward the beautifully set garden table.
For that evening, the five of them felt like one big, happy family. Laughter echoed around the garden as they shared the meal. The conversation was lively–joking about how Mary and Peter had both become lazy, how they indulged their cravings for sweets, and how neither seemed to have gained much weight despite their gluttonous tendencies.
Albert couldn’t take his eyes off the couple. It was clear that Peter adored his granddaughter. He admired how attentive Peter was to her, how he fussed over every detail of her pregnancy, and how he spoke knowledgeably about maternity and its symptoms. Albert was amused to see that Peter seemed to know more about pregnancy than Mary herself.
Peter’s love for Mary shone in the way he remembered her preferences–her fondness for strawberry cake and all her little quirks. Albert couldn’t have been happier. Despite the chaos that had surrounded their lives, his granddaughter had found true love.
