Jennifer said, "I came here specifically to pick you up."
It was bizarre considering that when they called off the engagement, it felt like they couldn't stand the sight of each other. Tina never expected they'd still be in touch, much less that she'd end up staying at Phillip's place.
Jennifer had always been fond of Tina as a daughter-in-law, but now that the engagement was off, and she was seeing someone new, staying here was obviously inappropriate. "Huh?" Tina thought, dumbfounded.
"There's no need to trouble yourself, Jennifer, it's just a minor cold."
"Don't be shy with me," Jennifer insisted.
Tina would be provided better care at his family home, allowing her to recover more comfortably, and Phillip had no grounds to object.
Jennifer clearly didn't plan to give them an option, telling Phillip directly, "Pack up Tina's things. I'm taking her with me."
Tina's belongings were packed by the housekeeper, and Jennifer's expression subtly changed when she saw the suitcase being wheeled out of Phillip's bedroom.
She said nothing, but Tina could almost foresee the awkwardness that awaited her, feeling utterly despondent.
She sent a pleading look towards Phillip.
Phillip didn't come to her rescue; instead, he personally placed her suitcase in the car, while Tina's forlorn face was practically pressed against the glass.
And so, Tina found herself reluctantly moving into the Richardson Manor.
Life there wasn't too bad, actually. The Richardsons were all very kind to her, not holding any grudges for her stubborn decision to break off the engagement. Instead, they took care of her meticulously. She was fed nutritious meals daily, and Phillip's grandmother would often invite her to join in card games, so it wasn't too dull.
Phillip would return to the manor every evening after work, and as his grandmother sipped her yogurt, she'd throw down a winning hand in cards, chuckling, "Ah, my grandson has been coming home every day lately, missing his granny, are you?"
Phillip, never one to lie, would dodge the question, "Brought some cake, anyone wants some?"
"Did you get it just for me? If it wasn't just for me, I might not want it."
Phillip didn't know what to say.
Tina, holding her cards, didn't dare to join in.
During the day, in Jennifer's or his grandmother's presence, Tina and Phillip always kept their distance, not speaking, avoiding even eye contact. Strangers could not have been more distant.
Her room was on the same floor as Phillip's, and every night, he'd come knocking on her door under the guise of bringing her warm milk.
As Tina opened the door, she'd peek around suspiciously before trying to take the cup and retreat. Phillip wouldn't let her.
"Being this scared doesn't seem like you."
"This is your house, how can I overstep?" If it were her own home, Tina wouldn't have been so cautious.
Her voice was low, fearful of being overheard, "Let go, what if your parents see and get the wrong idea?"
"And what would they misunderstand?" Phillip teased.
"That I'm trying to seduce you?" Tina retorted, imagining his family's judgement of her.
"Are you not?" Phillip challenged.
Tina has nothing to say. She couldn't deny it.
"They won't come up here," Phillip finally released the milk cup.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Tina hesitated for a moment, just a moment.
"I need to be a better person," she concluded, then shut the door in Phillip's face.
The following afternoon, after Phillip's grandmother had woken from her nap, she summoned Tina for afternoon tea.
The garden's white round table was set with an array of delicate treats. Tina greeted her and took a seat.
Phillip's grandmother, wearing her reading glasses, was intently studying some photographs.
Tina glanced over them; they were all of young, attractive women.
"Our Phillip," she began, "is always buried in work, not giving a thought
to anything else. He's in his
and still single. It was such a
you,
challenge finding a good girl like but alas, you didn't like him. It's unfortunate, but we can't force these
things."
"I'm thinking of setting him up with someone. All these girls come from good families. Help me pick one, dear."
The lemon cakes tasted a bit sour. Tina paused, her gaze lingering a bit longer on one of the photos.
"They're alright," Tina commented, "but not quite up to par in looks."
"Phillip values personality over looks," she replied, showing her another photo. "This one's a beauty. A dancer, and what grace she has!"
Tina inspected the photo; indeed, the girl was stunning, with an exceptional figure: "A dancer, huh? He doesn't even like watching dance. They'd have nothing in common."
"What about this one? She works in banking, surely they'd have things to talk about."
"If they're in the same field, they'd just talk about work all the time. How dull."
Tina was exceptionally picky, finding fault with each one, until his grandmother presented the final photo.
"This one's perfect. We've known her
el.n
family for years, a lovely girl through and through, beautiful, gentle, well-read, and sensible, not to mention dutiful. Phillip would
definitely like her." Content belongs
Tina, though unable to find a flaw, still felt resistant: "He wouldn't like this type at all."
"And what type does he like, then?" his grandmother inquired.
Tina was at a loss. How would she know Phillip's type?
They had, after all, been entangled because of her own advances.
"I don't know." She sipped her tea. "He seems so proper; maybe he prefers someone bold and fiery."
"My grandson is not that shallow. I
think she's quite suitable, a good match for him." Phillip's
grandmother looked pleased, putting away the photo, "I'll have Jennifer arrange a dinner for them tonight."
Tina found the tea suddenly difficult to swallow.
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