Take My Breath Away

Megan looked youthful in her pink, cashmere overcoat and white casual shoes.

Tabitha was delighted to see her. "Oh, Megan! You've grown! Let me see you," she said as she gave her a warm welcome hug.

Tabitha was grateful because of what Megan's parents had done for Carlos. She loved her as if she were her own daughter.

"Tabitha, I'm already 18, remember? I'm an adult now and won't grow much taller," Megan said coyly.

Amused, Tabitha grinned from ear to ear. She took Megan's hand in hers and patted it lovingly. Their closeness saddened Debbie, who watched silently in Carlos' arms. "Oh, Debbie, do you and Megan know each other?" Tabitha asked her.

Holding back the bitterness in her heart, Debbie forced a smile and answered, "Yes, we've met before."

'They look like a family, ' Debbie thought.

Suddenly, Megan let go of Tabitha and ran towards Carlos happily. She took his left arm casually as if she had done it a million times before, and said with a smile, "Uncle Carlos, Aunt Debbie, I'm sorry for not greeting you right away. I was too excited to see Tabitha!"

Carlos politely pulled his arm free from her grip and stroked her hair dotingly. "Every time you see Tabitha, you ignore the rest of us," he said.

Megan made a face playfully and walked back to Tabitha. "Of course. Tabitha loves me the most in the whole world," she declared proudly.

Carlos held Debbie tighter and didn't respond.

Debbie stood there numbly, hands in her pockets. Feeling Carlos' tightened embrace, she squeezed the fabric hard, a choreographed smile stuck on her face.

It was never in her personality to be as amicable as Megan. Socials and flattery were not her strong suits. She wondered if Tabitha was disappointed in her already.

"Let's go inside," Tabitha said, turning.

But before she could take a second step, Megan grabbed her arm and exclaimed, "Ah! Tabitha, I'm sorry I forgot about my friend's son. He's in my car. His mom had a last-minute meeting. She asked me to babysit him, but I really wanted to see you so I brought him here ins

I'd like to talk to you." Carlos sensed the discomfort in his wife. He patted her hand to comfort her and then started walking over to Megan. Suddenly, he noticed the housemaid pouring tea for them. He quickly turned to her and ordered, "Go upstairs and watch the boy."

"Yes, Mr. Huo,"

she replied immediately as she went upstairs. Carlos returned to Debbie. Relieved, Debbie sat next to her mother-in-law.

"Debbie, I came in a rush, so I didn't have the time to get you a gift. These are heirlooms of the Huo family. I'd like to give them to you. Keep them safe, will you?" Tabitha said as she took off the pair of jade bracelets that she was wearing. She pulled Debbie close and put them in her hand.

Actually, Tabitha had prepared a gift, but that was before she knew that Debbie was her daughter-in-law. Now that she was aware, she didn't think that the gift she initially bought was a decent gift for her daughter-in-law, so she decided not to mention it at all and give her the jade bracelets instead.

Debbie was stunned. She knew how meaningful those bracelets were. Overwhelmed by the warmth and nervousness she felt, she didn't know what to do. She looked at her husband.

Carlos smiled, "Since Mom is giving them to you, take them."

Debbie took the jade bracelets, her eyes red. "Thank you, Mom. I'll treasure them and keep them safe," she promised.