Free Web NovelChapter 379: Chapter 379: Felix Thorne Thinks Too Far Ahead
"No way. Tristone is so far away, what would you even do there? You’ll get snatched by a kidnapper," Phoebe Huxley flatly refused.
Felix Thorne wasn’t happy about it either. The last time she went to Wraven for just one day, he’d felt empty not seeing her. A trip to Tristone would take several days at least. He wouldn’t even be able to enjoy his food.
"Uncle Goldie is going too! Please let me go, Daddy, Mommy... I really, really want to go..."
Tang Xiaonan climbed onto Felix Thorne’s lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and squirmed relentlessly. She shook him until he was dizzy, and all his principles and rules melted away. With Goldie Thorne tagging along, he knew she’d be safe, but he just couldn’t bear to be parted from his daughter.
"What’s your uncle going to Tristone for anyway? The peak harvest season is about to start," Phoebe Huxley grumbled, displeased.
"Uncle Goldie said he’ll definitely be back before the harvest starts. I want to see the City God Temple, and the Huangpu River..."
Tang Xiaonan poured on the charm, pulling out all the stops as if she were using up the cuteness from two lifetimes. She finally made Felix Thorne relent. "Just for a few days, then you come right back."
"Daddy’s the best! I love you the most!"
Tang Xiaonan planted a big kiss on Felix Thorne’s cheek. Seeing that Phoebe Huxley was looking unhappy, she scrambled down, hugged her, and gave her a kiss too. "I love Mommy the most too!"
"You little rascal. So now that we’re letting you go, we’re the ’best daddy and mommy,’ are we?"
Phoebe Huxley gently poked Tang Xiaonan on the forehead and couldn’t help but laugh. How could she have the heart to refuse such a sweet-talking, cuddly little thing? Besides, it was just a trip to Tristone. She’d be back in three or four days.
As for school, Tang Xiaonan had already asked Amanda Chapman to call in sick for her. No one paid much attention in the first grade anyway. She was more curious about how Jim Thorne was going to get away. They were supposed to leave tomorrow, but he hadn’t made a peep. ’Is Third Brother planning to just sneak off?’
At dinner, Jim Thorne finally spoke up. "I’m going to stay at Grandpa and Grandma’s for a few days."
Felix Thorne and Phoebe Huxley didn’t even bat an eye. Jim and his brothers had been staying over at Xavier Village since they were kids. Likewise, Armstrong Huxley and his brothers often came to stay with them. They were all used to it.
Tang Xiaonan’s eyes widened. ’That excuse is foolproof! If I’d known, I would’ve just said I was going to my grandparents’ house with Third Brother. With no telephones or cell phones, it’s not like Mom can check in with her family every day. Dad and Mom might not even have noticed we were gone by the time we got back from the south!’ freewebnoveℓ.com
The next morning, Tang Xiaonan woke up bright and early. She had been too excited to sleep well. Amanda Chapman was still fast asleep, snoring softly without a care in the world. Tang Xiaonan had spent the previous evening giving Amanda her instructions, entrusting Rosalind Green to her care. If anything happened, she was to go find Phoebe Huxley. ’Though Adrian Hawthorne has probably already made arrangements with the village chief, so nothing bad should happen.’
At the crack of dawn, Goldie Thorne was ready to set off. Phoebe Huxley had boiled over a dozen eggs for them to eat on the road and packed a water flask. You had to drink water while eating eggs, or you might choke.
"Goldie, you watch her carefully. If anything happens to my little girl, I’ll skin you alive!" Felix Thorne warned, his face grim. The thought of not seeing his daughter for days made his chest tighten. He had a sudden urge to kick Goldie Thorne.
"Don’t worry!"
Goldie Thorne slapped his chest in assurance and picked up Tang Xiaonan, his eyes darting around for Jim Thorne. ’Where did that kid run off to?’
After fussing for a good while longer, Felix Thorne finally let them go. As he watched Goldie Thorne and Tang Xiaonan recede into the distance, a strange melancholy washed over him. He suddenly thought about how, in a few years, his daughter would get married and leave home, which made him feel even worse.
"Maybe we should have our daughter’s future husband move in with us."
Felix Thorne muttered this out of the blue. Phoebe Huxley was baffled and shot him an exasperated glare. "She’s only six years old! What in the world are you thinking about?"
’What’s so great about a live-in son-in-law, anyway?’ Phoebe thought. ’It would be much better to have her marry someone who lives close by. We’ll prepare a generous dowry, and with me and Felix watching over things, and her three brothers to protect her, no one would ever dare to bully our daughter.’
