Purple Summers brought her friends to the small western-style house for a brief visit, then took them to see the snake enclosure.
Zara Jameson had originally been afraid of pythons, but she had always heard Purple talk about Cleo, so curiosity prevailed. Seeing Cleo wearing a yarn ball hat on her tail made it all the more interesting.
Surprisingly, Max had no reaction to Cleo; instead, he barked incessantly at Tiny until Jane McCain scolded him several times to quiet him down.
âYou all have pets, which is really nice,â Zara couldnât help but remark.
Purple asked, âDoesnât your family have a myna bird?â
âBut that myna isnât mine,â Zara said melancholically. âIâd like to have a pet to keep me company, but when I think about it, I donât know what kind of pet I would like.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Purple thought for a moment and said, âMaybe the right opportunity just hasnât come yet. Actually, I never thought about having pets before either. Cleo was given to me to care for because my brother didnât have the time, and Tiny was one I picked up from the windowsill.â
Jane McCain said, âSuSu was a birthday present from my father when I turned ten.â
The girls sat in the living room chatting idly; Purple brought out fruits and pastries to serve them.
The banquet out front was still ongoing. After sitting and talking for a while, they prepared to go to the banquet hall.
âCan SuSu stay here?â Jane asked. âIâm afraid Mrs. Farrell wonât like him, and it would come across as if Iâm uncouth if itâs spread around.â
It was unconventional to bring a hunting dog to a banquet; it was only because Jane was close to Purple that it was not a big deal.
âMm,â Purple nodded. âLet him stay here; the front is noisy and chaotic, Max would definitely feel restrained there.â
Just before leaving, Purple remembered something. She asked Zara Jameson and Jane McCain to wait at the door while she hurried upstairs alone.
A short while later, she came down. Zara asked what she had gone to do.
Purple replied, âNothing much, I just locked up the snake enclosure. Cleo can open doors with her tail; we canât let her get out.â
They returned to the banquet hall where the atmosphere was even livelier than before. Many men and women were gathered around Mrs. Farrell; the men were trying to cozy up to the governorâs secretary, while the women admired Mrs. Farrell for making her own way in the world. Since Mrs. Farrell had brought a child, the topics of conversation often revolved around children.
A Summers Family aunt said, âThis child is so adorable, look at this nose, these little lips, ahh, sheâll surely grow up to be beautiful like a princess.â
Mrs. Farrell laughed, âEveryone says she looks like her father, which makes me relieved. Her dad was a famously handsome man when young, way better-looking than me.â
âNot at all, whether the child resembles the dad or the mom, thereâs absolutely no way their appearance will be flawed!â
Another person asked how old the child was, and Mrs. Farrell cheerfully answered that she was nearly one year old.
Atra Blanc loved children, and seeing the baby reminded her of Alexander Summers and Purple Summers when they were little, she couldnât help but say, âTen months of pregnancy isnât easy, but when you see the childâs smiling face, itâs all worth it.â
Mrs. Farrellâs expression turned slightly grim upon hearing this, and she coldly said, âIâm rather sturdy, it wasnât exactly a hardship.â
Atra was taken aback, not understanding which part of her comment had offended Mrs. Farrell.
By then, Mrs. Farrell was already smiling and exchanging pleasantries with others.
A Summers Family aunt pulled Atra aside and whispered a reminder, âDonât take it to heart. Midlife pregnancy carries significant risks, and she went through a lot of dangers to have this child. She dislikes it most when people mention her age or suggest sheâs physically unwell.â
âI seeâ¦â Atra realized; in fact, she hadnât meant to imply that the other woman was old at all. Perhaps she was just more sensitive after childbirth?
Atra was not one to hold a grudge with her gentle disposition; she didnât take Mrs. Farrellâs cold demeanor to heart.
But unbeknownst to her, in a spot she wasnât paying attention to, Jade Carlson glanced over and a triumphant smile tugged at the corner of her mouth..