They continued talking as they walked up to the villa’s front door. The siblings’ attention shifted from the cats and dogs to the house itself.
"Wow, this place is so beautiful!"
"It’s like a palace."
Inside, Renee Jennings found some slippers for them in the shoe cabinet by the entryway. Some were too big and others were too small, but she had the two of them make do.
"Big Sister," Willow called out to her, saying in a low voice, "You can go on in. Glenn and I will wait for you here."
"It’s okay. Come inside and hang out for a bit." A gentle smile touched Renee Jennings’s eyes. "I told my family about you. They’re very happy to have you and even prepared some snacks."
"Really?" Glenn, being more direct, asked bluntly, "My sister and I sold you rotten fruit to trick you out of your money. You still welcome us?"
"It’s all right," Renee Jennings said. "Your father forced you to sell that rotten fruit."
"You must be Willow and Glenn. Please, come in." Rhea Dempsey came out, a warm, enthusiastic smile on her face.
She had just seen Renee Jennings’s message on WeChat, and now her eyes were filled with love and pity as she looked at the siblings.
’It must be so hard for them at such a young age.’
Willow and Glenn grew embarrassed and nervous the moment they saw Rhea Dempsey.
Renee Jennings made the introduction. "This is my mother. You can just call her Aunt Rae."
Glenn obediently greeted her, "Hello, Aunt Rae."
Willow bowed deeply. "Aunt Rae, I’m sorry about last time."
"It’s all right, it’s all right." Rhea Dempsey stepped forward to help the little girl up. "Don’t worry about it. It’s not like you did it on purpose."
This made Willow feel even worse. "But I knew the fruit was bad..."
Rhea Dempsey chuckled, putting her arms around the two of them and leading them toward the living room. "There, there, let’s not bring up the past again. Come in and have a seat. I’ve cut up some fruit for you; I hope it’s to your liking."
The coffee table was laden with delicious treats, and Glenn’s mouth, betraying him once again, started to water.
"Have a seat," Rhea Dempsey urged. "Help yourselves to anything. Don’t be shy."
Willow didn’t move. Glenn, though his mouth was watering, glanced at his sister and stayed obediently in his seat.
A flash of helplessness and pity crossed Rhea Dempsey’s eyes. She picked up two egg tarts and offered them to the children. "Why don’t you have these first? How about with some juice?"
Willow said softly, "Thank you, Aunt Rae, but Big Sister just bought us some yogurt."
Glenn suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no!"
"What is it? What’s wrong?" Rhea Dempsey asked with concern.
A panicked look crossed Glenn’s little face. "My yogurt is gone!"
"It must be in my car," Renee Jennings reassured him. "Don’t worry, it’s not lost. I’ll get it for you in a bit."
Only then did Glenn let out a sigh of relief.
Rhea Dempsey looked at Glenn Zane. "Zane, bring out the yogurt and the juice."