Chapter 100 ANTICIPATION
EAST ASIA
Shelley walked into the house, her footsteps heavy and her face clouded with frustration. She dropped her bag by the door with a sigh and made her way into the living room, where her mother sat comfortably on the couch, knitting.
The rhythmic click of needles filled the cozy room as her mother hummed softly to herself.
"Good evening, Mom," Shelley said, walking straight to the refrigerator to get herself a cold drink.
Her mother looked up from her knitting and smiled warmly at her daughter.
"You're home early," she noted, her fingers still working skillfully through the yarn.
Shelley said nothing and kept gulping down the water like she had been deprived of fluids for a lifetime.
"What's wrong, Shelley? You look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders," her mother asked again.
Shelley stopped drinking and sighed. She put the bottle of water back into the fridge and walked to the couch, her shoulders slumping as she sat down beside her mother.
"The meeting with Mr. Bruno of F&F Fashion got postponed," she said, frustration clear in her voice. "Our manager just told us this afternoon. I've been looking forward to it for weeks, and now it's just... delayed."
She waved her hands in frustration. "Again!"
Her mother paused her knitting, setting the needles down gently in her lap.
"Oh, sweetheart, I know how much you were looking forward to that. But these things happen. Postponing a meeting doesn't mean the opportunity is gone."
Shelley rubbed her forehead in frustration.
"I know. I just... I really wanted to meet Mr. Bruno in person. You know I've been dying to meet him for so long. Now I have to wait even longer. Who knows if it's even going to happen? The company management is just playing us so we can put in more effort."
Her mother smiled and resumed her knitting.
"Well, if you're so eager to meet Mr. Bruno," she said with a hint of sadness in her eyes, "why not go to America? You could visit him there. It would be a double blessing—a business trip and a family reunion. Your family lives in America too."
Shelley blinked, the idea taking root in her mind. Slowly, a smile began to spread across her face.
"That's... actually a really good idea, Mom. I could visit my sister and my parents, and maybe even get an in-person meeting with Mr. Bruno if I go to F&F headquarters."
Her mother nodded, a satisfied look on her face as she tried to hide her sadness, pulling more yarn through her fingers.
Shelley sighed. "The doctor said I have to take care of you. I don't want to lose you like we lost Dad. I don't want to be far away from you."
She looked away sadly, trying to keep her emotions in check.
Her mother forced a smile.
"Come on, honey, it's just cancer. We're talking about your real family here. You've been anticipating a reunion. I'll be fine."
Shelley didn't say anything.
"Would you like to learn knitting, dear? My hands are getting a little tired. Maybe if you learn, you can help me at times like this," her mother suggested, trying to ease the tension.
Shelley's eyes went to the sweater her mother was knitting, clearly the work of gifted hands.
She smiled at her mom.
"Sure, I'd love to learn."