While the father and daughter were having a private conversation, Annie and Hatti had also finished their chat and parted ways politely.
"So, Alice, are you having fun?"
The stepmother smiled at her somewhat anxious daughter, and then continued to leave with Adam on her arm.
Adam nodded calmly at Hatti and then, still a bit worried, glanced at his still clueless daughter, but ultimately indulged her and left with Annie.
Only after this absent-minded couple walked away did Dorothy toss the watermelon rind in her hand into the trash and stand up from the corner of the wall.
Sigh, sometimes she really admired her dad's openness and confidence; she just couldn't reach that level.
Next to her, Cassandra looked at her Fourth Aunt with some pity.
Although she was definitely on her Fourth Aunt's side, she had to admit that her Fourth Aunt seemed no match in the romantic arena against the handsome uncle they just met. His demeanor, his ease, it was overwhelming.
