Luke got up a bit later than usual.
With the case solved and no urgent work at the team, Luke could afford to be lazy and go in later.
Luke poured a cup of coffee and sat in the yard, enjoying the sunshine while sipping his coffee. Occasionally, someone would pass by, jogging or walking a dog.
Though most of them were Chinese, Luke didn't have much interaction with the neighbors. On one hand, he was busy, and on the other, he was renting the house and might move out any day.
Next door, a white man walked out of his house dragging a suitcase, greeting, "Good morning, Mr. Lee."
"Mr. Smith, are you going on a business trip?" Luke sized up the neighbor. Although he had moved in for a while, they hadn't had much interaction because the other was often away on business trips.
"I have some business to discuss in Hawaii and might spend Christmas there as well." Smith said while putting his luggage into the car trunk.
After a brief chat, Smith drove away in a gray Volvo.
Luke checked his watch, finished his coffee, and packed up to head out.
Last time, Luke bought Christmas decorations at the supermarket. Due to the case investigation, he hadn't managed to deliver them to his mom's and grandpa's houses yet.
There were three sizes of Christmas trees: large, medium, small. Luke bought three medium ones and one large one, leaving a medium tree at home to decorate later. It's important to have some holiday atmosphere.
The other three boxes of Christmas trees and decorations were put into the trunk, and he drove toward the Enoch community.
With the Christmas holiday already started, there were noticeably more cars and pedestrians on the road than usual, many of them families heading out since the long Christmas break is a great time for vacations.
Entering the Enoch community, Luke slowed down his car since he wasn't planning to stay long and parked by the roadside.
As soon as he got off, he saw a chubby kid with a backpack, pushing a mountain bike, walking out, "Bro, you on break yet?"
Where are you headed?"
"What a coincidence, I was just about to go borrow a book from the library too, maybe you could grab it for me on your way."
"I'm not going to the library."
Luke gave a knowing look, "Don't just blurt things out, next time you lie, I'll tell mom.
She'll probably be happy to use that as an excuse to cut your allowance."
The chubby kid seemed worried Linda would hear and quickly glanced towards the house, "Actually, I was planning to meet Maggie... but uncle came over just now, and I was afraid to upset him. I didn't mean to lie."
Luke noticed Val's car, "Why did uncle come today?"
"I don't know. He's in the living room talking to mom, looking kind of secretive, probably doesn't want me to hear and I'm not interested anyway." The chubby kid got on his bike, waved goodbye to Luke, and left.
Luke opened the car trunk, picked up the Christmas tree and decorations, and walked into the house…
The brother and sister were sitting on the sofa, and the atmosphere didn't look friendly.
Val ruffled his hair, looking helpless, "What am I supposed to do now?"
Linda complained, "What were you doing before?
You've agreed already, and now you come to ask me what to do?"
"I didn't want to agree..." Val sighed, "Yesterday afternoon, after getting off work at the supermarket, I saw her waiting at the door, and I was startled.
We hadn't said much when she took my arm to the restaurant for dinner.
Then she just said...
Linda asked, "I thought you two lost touch."
"We haven't been in contact for a while. A while back, I got a stable job, so I let her know…"
"Why didn't you tell me she contacted you?"
"It's not really a good thing, and I was afraid you two would argue... so I was planning to handle it myself."
"Then why come to me now if you intended to handle it yourself?"
"I couldn't think of a solution, so I'm coming to discuss it with you."
"Nonono, don't expect me to share the heat."
"Then at least give me some advice." Val looked like he was counting on her.
"Christmas is almost here…" Linda pinched her forehead, as if recalling something, "Is she short on money? Did she ask you for money?"
"I just bought a car, I don't have any money..."
"Creak…" At that moment, the door opened, and Luke came in carrying the decorations, "Mom, I brought the Christmas decorations.
If I finish work early, I'll come help decorate."
Linda asked, "Are you off for break?"
"Starting tomorrow, if nothing goes wrong…"
"Then you should go to work, let Jack handle it when he comes back. If you don't give him something to do, he might gain ten pounds over Christmas."
"Uncle, are you on break?"
"Yes, I start my days off today."
"I bought grandpa a Christmas tree, you can take it back with you."
"What were you guys talking about? Christmas stuff?"
Val opened his mouth to say something, but Linda quickly answered, "Yeah, we were discussing Christmas preparations."
"Still celebrating at grandpa's this year?"
Plan your work schedule properly, I don't want you missing Christmas Eve."
"Got it." Luke and Val left the house.
Luke loaded the Christmas tree onto Val's car, "Is something going on?"
Val took a deep breath, "It's better if you don't know."