Chapter 237
That slight hesitation was all it took—Patti Reedshaw grabbed Josie’s hand.
“You must be Josie! I’ve heard so much about you and have been wanting to meet you. Today’s finally the day! Such a good girl–come on, let me pinch those cheeks!” Patti said.
Josie could not help but think, ‘Is this cheek-pinching thing hereditary? From Claire to Sean, and now Mrs. Reedshaw… Why does everyone love pinching my cheeks?’
Josie looked at Patti with wide eyes, obediently and sweetly allowing Patti to pinch her cheek.
“Oh dear, your face is so thin that there’s hardly any flesh to pinch. You really should put on a bit more weight,” Patti lightly patted Josie’s face.
“How remarkably well-behaved you are; you allowed your face to be pinched simply because I asked,” she added.
Josie’s face flushed slightly. “Not just anyone is allowed to pinch my cheeks!” she said.
Patti laughed heartily at Josie’s remark. She said, “Come, sit here and keep me company for a bit!”
Their conversation continued until the evening lights came on, at which point members of the Reedshaw family returned home in quick succession.
Patti held Josie’s hand and introduced the members of the Reedshaw family to Josie, one by one.
In the previous generation of the Reedshaw family, there were four siblings. The eldest child was Sean’s father, and he was also the most skilled practitioner of the Reedshaw Acupuncture Technique.
After Leo’s accident, Sean’s father left his hospital position to ensure Leo’s safety. He then moved abroad with his expecting wife, and Sean was born there.
Dolores, the second-born child, once had a fiancé with whom she was discussing marriage. After Leo encountered misfortune, Dolores did not want to implicate her fiancé, so she broke up with him. On her way home, she suffered a car accident that left her permanently disabled, confined to a wheelchair ever since.
The third child, whom Claire referred to as ‘Uncle Elliot‘, was originally a traditional medicine practitioner. After that incident, he ceased treating patients and devoted all his energy to business.
Elliot sold off the Aloville Traditional Medicine Hospital and built up the family’s pharmaceutical empire. He ended up managing all of the Reedshaw family’s industries and remained unmarried.
The youngest, Delilah, had never accepted the decline of the Reedshaw family’s medical legacy and had spent years trying to preserve the Reedshaw Acupuncture Technique.
Listening to Patti’s introduction, Josie felt a surge of emotion.
Patti had recounted everything she could, except for the details of that incident years ago.
It was clear that Patti did not treat Josie as an outsider. Josie’s heart warmed as she bowed respectfully to each of the elders and greeted them one by one, before being pulled toward the dining table by Claire.
By the end of the meal, Josie truly understood what Sean had meant about the Reedshaw family’s easygoing nature.
They treated her with genuine warmth–not the kind of politeness people put on for show, but a kindness that seemed to radiate from their very bones. They were naturally gentle and caring.
Josie’s eyes grew red with emotion. For the first time, she truly felt what it meant to have a home–a large family with elders and siblings.
It was comforting and intoxicating, a feeling she longed to stay in. Josie realized how greedy her heart was–wanting so much of this warmth for herself.
Josie suppressed her inner longing and responded to their kindness with equal goodwill until the meal ended.
Being advanced in years, Patti excused herself from the table early. It was her routine to walk through the garden after dinner, the garden alive with gardenias, and only the servants were allowed to accompany her.
After everyone had dispersed, Sean wanted to show Josie around the Reedshaw family home, but Claire beat him to it, leading Josie toward her room.
“The room my mom prepared for you is right next to mine,” Claire said. “Take a look and see if you like it. If there’s anything you don’t, just tell me—it can be changed.”
“I like anything that she has prepared!” Josie did not have many preferences and rarely fussed over food or belongings.
Chapter 238