Having lived with James for decades, Marilyn certainly understood what he meant by asking this question. She shook her head www.biquge.info and said, "I don't know. As you know, the communication system in New York is not working well these days. She seemed to be busy with other things when she called, and hung up after a few hurried words. I didn't have a chance to ask about it in detail. ”

James was silent for a few moments before he spoke again, "Children have their own lives, as long as they're happy...... What's more, things may not be the same as we think......"

Hearing him say this, Marilyn's hanging heart finally relaxed. She was most afraid that James would lash out over it. Although he is an excellent professor of American history, he is still a Chinese at heart, and after living in this country for decades, the imprint of Chinese culture on his body is still clearly recognizable. His attitude towards the marriage of his children is actually no different from that of traditional Chinese.

Marilyn returns to the kitchen and continues her unfinished business. After a while, James also walked in.

He opened the refrigerator as if looking for something. But after grinding for a while, he didn't take anything.

Marilyn watched all of James' actions and said, "Say what you have!" ”

James blushed slightly, he touched the wing of his nose, and said hesitantly, "What if...... I mean, if that kid is Lydia's, whose kid do you think it would be......"

"How do I know?" Marilyn replied casually.

As soon as the words fell, a thought flashed through her heart. She understood what James was worried about. But this kind of worry made her unbearable, and even thinking about it made her feel like she was falling into hell. She slammed the kitchen knife into the board, stared at James and asked, "What are you thinking about?!" ”

"Huh? Yes! I...... I'm just worried about ......" James was taken aback, his face flushed and his eyes dodged.

Before he could finish speaking, Marilyn forced her eyes on him and yelled word by word, "I! Target! Child! Child! No! Can! Yes! Dry! Go out! That! Shape! Target! Affair! ”

Perhaps intimidated by Marilyn's imposingness, or perhaps feeling that his unwarranted suspicions were too lewd, James retreated from the kitchen and nestled back to the sofa in the living room. He took off his hearing aids, but didn't turn up the volume of the TV, just staring at the TV in a daze like a wooden man.

In the kitchen, Marilyn took a few heavy breaths before she managed to even out her breath. But the panic in her heart could not be quelled.

Since Lydia joined the FBI, she hasn't been home in years. Although they usually have phone contact, the family is not very clear about how she is doing. If that really happened in the last few years......

The thought of that terrible assumption made Marilyn's heart beat wildly. She hurriedly comforted herself: "No! No, it won't! ”

She thought of Ness, her and James' only son, Lydia and Hannah's brother. How long has it been since he's been home? Does he know that Lydia is coming back with a child?

Marilyn picked up the phone she had in hand, trying to call Ness. But when the phone fell into her hands, she was depressed again.

"Alas......" Marilyn sighed and put the phone back in its place.

Why is this happening in our house? Marilyn lamented in her heart. At this moment, she suddenly resented James. If he hadn't made her unexpectedly pregnant, perhaps she would have become an excellent doctor and lived a different life.

"Nope! I can't think so! I'm the one responsible for all this! Marilyn turned to blame herself.

She remembered what had happened to Lydia when she was fifteen. This incident is still a taboo in the family, and every time I think about it, it makes Marilyn afraid. Had it not been for the timely discovery of Jack, the son of Dr. Jennifer Woolf next door, Lydia would have been fifteen years old forever......

There was a time when Marilyn thought Lydia would be with Jack. But who would have thought that the person she loved in her heart would be that person?

Marilyn reflects on the events that have taken place in the family since Lydia was fifteen. She was so preoccupied with her mind that a black Chevrolet SUV drove up to her door and didn't even catch her attention.

"Knock knock! Knock knock! Knock knock! It wasn't until there was a knock three times that Marilyn came to her senses.

Looking out of the kitchen window, you can clearly see the doorway - Lydia has returned, with a little Asian boy about 12 years old.

A twelve-year-old Asian boy?! Twelve?!

Marilyn suddenly felt like she was about to suffocate! Not because of shock, but because of joy!

Twelve years ago, Lydia hadn't even gone to college, and she was dangling in front of Marilyn's eyes every day! This means that the speculation that almost made her quarrel with James just now simply can't happen!

Marilyn was so overjoyed that she was going crazy!

"Aha!" Marilyn cheered and rushed from the kitchen to the door. The movement she made was so great that even James, who was behind his ear, was startled by him.

Marilyn was still thrilled to open the door and see her eldest daughter standing in front of her. She put her arms around Lydia and exclaimed, "Oh! Sweetheart! You're finally back! ”

Her mother's unusual enthusiasm left Lydia at a loss.

"Hey! Mom! ”

After a hurried hello, Lydia turned away slightly, letting go of the vertical standing behind her. She introduced her mother: "This is Nemo. ”

"Hello! Cute little guys! Marilyn bent down to touch her head.

But Vertical and Horizontal flashed his head to the side, avoiding Marilyn's hand.

This embarrassed Marilyn a little.

Lydia hurriedly said, "Mom! Nemo had just arrived in the United States, and he didn't speak English yet. ”

"I see!" Marilyn suddenly realized.

She said hello to Zongheng in Chinese. This time, she didn't reach out to touch his head again.

Zongheng clasped his fists and saluted back: "First meeting!" I'm Nemo. ”

Seeing Zongheng greet herself with such a traditional understanding, Marilyn couldn't help but be a little puzzled. She turned to look at Lydia, wanting to hear her explanation.

But Lydia said, "Mother! I drove all the way from New York and was so tired. Let's go inside the house and talk about it, okay? ”

"Oh! I'm sorry! Hearing her say this, Lydia realized that the three of them were not very good at the door, and hurriedly got out of the way so that Lydia and Zongheng, who were carrying large bags and small bags, could enter the house.

James stood a little farther away from the gate, quietly watching the comedy of mother-daughter reunion.

As a father, James was heartily happy about his daughter's return. But as a traditional Chinese, he didn't put this joy on his face.

So when Lydia greeted him, James just replied faintly, "Coming back?" ”

Lydia, who had become accustomed to James's very different way of treating people from white Americans, replied, "Yes! I am back! ”

To welcome her daughter's return, Marilyn prepares a very hearty dinner. The dishes are both Chinese and Western, and the food is addictive.

Marilyn was very happy about this, and kept making dishes for the vertical and horizontal dishes. Lydia tasted: "Mom! I'm your daughter! ”

Marilyn laughed: "You're almost thirty, why are you still like a child?" ”

The mother and daughter exchanged a few more words, and the atmosphere at the table was happy.

James looked at them with a smile and asked, "Lydia, how many days can you stay when you come back this time?" ”

Lydia wiped her mouth with a napkin and said, "I'll stay until the day after tomorrow at most." You know what's going on in New York. I can't stay here for long. ”

James exclaimed, "Why New York? After the attack, even here in Midwood, the atmosphere on the streets was tense. Many Arab students at the college try to avoid public appearances so as not to provoke others. But in this way, it makes people more nervous. I've heard that there are people who are planning to organize self-defense groups to spy on those Arabs together. ”

Lydia was taken aback and exclaimed, "But this is against the law!" ”

James smiled wryly: "We all know that this is a crime." But Midwood is a small town, and the old residents know each other. It would be too difficult for the police to enforce the law strictly and impartially between themselves and outsiders. As long as those people don't make too much trouble, the police station will pretend to be deaf and dumb and don't know. I guess they probably don't want so many immigrants in the city either. ”

"I looked when I went into town and Midwood didn't seem to have changed. How? Is there a lot of immigrants in Midwood right now? ”

James laughed and said, "You're coming from New York, no wonder you don't think much has changed in Midwood." Middlewood College has struggled to expand the number of international students over the years, and with it a rapid increase in immigration. The LC zone is largely unchanged. But if you look to the west of the city, it's a big change. Immigrants from various ethnic groups live together, and not only are there many people, but also law and order are very chaotic. Old local residents generally don't go there. ”

"I didn't expect ......this at all," Lydia muttered, "I remember that Midwood has always been a place of tranquility and seclusion. ”

James smiled: "There are more immigrants without harm, at least the economy is more dynamic." And over the years, there have been a lot of Chinese students and immigrants, and these people are much easier to get along with than those Latino, African and Albanian immigrants. Not only is he smart and law-abiding, but he also works diligently. They are loved by the locals. ”

Speaking of this, James glanced at the horizon.

Lydia followed James's gaze to look at the longitudinal sitting beside her, and asked, "Over there at the police station, who is the chief now?" ”

"Jack."

"Who?"

"Dr. Woolf's son. I remember you had a good relationship with him when you were a teenager. ”

"Is it him?" Lydia was so shocked that her eyes were about to fall.