“I earn enough to support Lola even if she doesn’t work.”
Rylee gasped in admiration, her eyes sparkling.
“Actually, Lola lived with us for a while. I wonder if she told you about it.”
Lola knew her aunt’s intentions for bringing that up.
‘She must be trying to take advantage of me.’
Lola felt embarrassed and ashamed of her aunt’s attempts to gain something.
However, Dylan’s feelings were somewhat different from Lola’s. Every time he learned something new about Lola through her family, his emotions became complicated.
For some reason, he felt that Lola had lived a life quite different from his own.
She didn’t seem to have a special bond with her parents, and she was clearly uncomfortable in such situations.
Though he didn’t know for sure, Dylan could guess that Lola had not lived a smooth life.
******
After eating, it was already late, so Dylan and Lola had no choice but to stay the night. Lola didn’t want to, but she couldn’t show her reluctance outwardly, fearing Dylan might get tired from driving.
Dylan also couldn’t sleep well, whether it was due to the change in sleeping arrangements or his complicated feelings, and he woke up earlier than Lola the next day.
Looking very tired, he carefully got up to avoid waking her and went outside.
It was still only 4 AM, an early hour.
The day hadn’t brightened yet, and the dawn wind crept into his clothes, but Dylan didn’t feel cold; rather, he felt refreshed.
“Are you already awake?”
Suddenly, a deep voice came from beside him, and Dylan turned his head.
It was Lola’s father, Austin Dax.
Dylan greeted him respectfully.
“Did you sleep well, Father?”
“Why are you up so early? Is the bed uncomfortable?”
“No, not at all. I usually don’t sleep in.”
“Is that so?”
Austin seemed skeptical, but Dylan’s expression remained steady.
“Yes. But where are you going so early, Father?”
“I’m going to the dawn market.”
Having run a small restaurant, Austin had to wake up early to go to the dawn market, and he was quite surprised to see Dylan’s large silhouette.
He had been very curious when he first heard that Lola was seeing someone, but now that he saw his face, he found him to be perfect in every way.
Moreover, he seemed polite and very trustworthy.
Feeling that Lola had indeed met a good person, Austin couldn’t help but smile warmly.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“No, it’s fine. No need for that.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
Austin didn’t refuse. Walking side by side with his future son-in-law, he tried to learn more about him by occasionally striking up a conversation.
“What do you like about Lola?”
The sudden question caught Dylan off guard, but he didn’t show any signs of embarrassment.
It was hard to pinpoint exactly what he liked about Lola.
She was kind-hearted, easy to be with, considerate, pretty when she smiled, and she was a woman he liked more and more.
“Everything is good.”
It truly felt that way, so Dylan said so. Austin let out a rare laugh.
“Lola had a tough time when she was young. We couldn’t provide well for her back then.”
That remark opened the floodgates for Austin, who began to share feelings he had never expressed to his daughter, recounting long stories about Lola. Dylan listened silently. The longer Austin spoke, the more Dylan felt a whirlwind of emotions.
He felt a pang of sympathy for her and was proud of how she had grown up right despite the hardships.
“We, as parents, have not done enough for Lola.”
Austin’s voice, muttering bitterly, sounded sad and filled with self-reproach. Dylan, as if making a firm resolution, spoke decisively.
“I will take good care of Lola.”
*****
Bringham, a city about four hours by car from Lampard, was Lola’s hometown. However, Lola didn’t particularly like this city.
For her, this place held more painful memories than joyful ones.
When Lola was young, her parents, burdened with debt and poor living conditions, couldn’t take good care of her.
As a result, Lola had to wander from one relative’s house to another, living off their kindness.
Once her parents paid off some of their debts and gained some financial stability, Lola returned to them for a while, but soon after, her younger sister Rosaline was born.
Rosaline had frequent illnesses and was often hospitalized. With the need to care for Rosaline and earn money, their parents were very busy, so Lola was once again left with her aunt. By the time she entered high school, she had completely left Bringham and was living alone in a boarding house in Lampard.
Perhaps because of these reasons, Lola had no feelings for her parents, their relationship was awkward, and there was almost no communication.
Even though they were family, there were many times when they felt like strangers, so Lola rarely returned home during vacations or when the hospital was closed.
