Those words made all the grievances and unwillingness buried in Jane Sampsonās heart over the past ten years instantly disappear into thin air.
Sometimes, a single "Iām sorry" really can conquer everything.
"Havenāt had a proper rest for several days. How about sleeping for a while now?" James Black gently touched Jane Sampsonās back of the head. "Have a sleep, and later join Grandma for a good dinner."
"Mm, Iāll sleep for a bit, then personally cook dinner for Grandma. The nannyās cooking doesnāt whet her appetite, so she ends up not eating. But something I make with my own handsāGrandma will at least eat a little because she appreciates my effort." Jane Sampsonās face rubbed against James Blackās chest briefly before she lifted her head, stood on tiptoes, and kissed him lightly.
"Thank you for staying by my side these few days," she said, and then she held onto James Blackās arm and lay down on the bed.
That sudden kiss softened James Blackās heart entirely.
He wasnāt sure what Granny Sampson had said to Jane Sampson when they spoke privately earlier today. But when Jane Sampson followed Granny out of the room, James Black could tell she seemed to have finally let go of the heavy burden sheād carried for many years.
Granny Sampson hadnāt rested yet. She stayed in the room upstairs for a while, sorting through Old Sir Sampsonās belongings. It wasnāt until evening, when Jane Sampson went upstairs to call her down for dinner, that she realized the three of them hadnāt left the house.
"Didnāt I ask your dad to tell all of you to head back first?" Granny Sampson signaled Jane Sampson to come closer. "Still here, huh? Thatās goodāI happen to have something I want to discuss with you."
Jane Sampson walked over, wearing her apron, and sat by Granny Sampsonās side. When she looked down, she noticed Granny was holding her and Grandpa Sampsonās wedding photo.
The wedding photo from back then wasnāt as colorful as it is nowadays. Old Sir Sampson and Granny Sampsonās wedding photo was in black-and-white. Yet, even with such simple colors, there was no hiding the charm of the two elders in their youth.
"Grandma was so beautiful when she was young." Jane Sampson reached out to touch the photo. "Grandpa must have fallen for your looks when he was courting you, right?"
Even Granny Sampson, who had been planning to bring up something not very cheerful, couldnāt help but laugh at Jane Sampsonās teasing.
"My Jane is also beautiful. When James Black married you, wasnāt it because of how pretty you are?" Granny Sampson teased Jane Sampson. "Our Jane is even more stunning than I was in my youth."
"Of course James married me because he thought I looked good back then!" Jane Sampson nodded straightforwardly. "Neither of us liked the other at the time. So back then, when he married me, wasnāt it just because of my looks?"
Even James Black had admitted to this himself, so Jane Sampson huffed smugly. "Menāso practical! They all want to marry someone as gorgeous as me."
"Donāt think I didnāt catch you shamelessly praising your own looks," Granny Sampson chuckled softly. "Your grandpa and I were different. He... back then, he likely carried himself all proud, thinking he was the most capable man in the world. He believed that among all the girls in the world, I was the only one worthy of him."
After saying that, Granny Sampson herself broke into a smile, her eyes crinkling. It was the first smile sheād shown since the incident with Old Sir Sampson.
Jane Sampson knew that during this time, the only topics capable of making Grandma smile were related to Old Sir Sampson.
"Enough about me and your grandfatherānow thereās something I need to discuss with you." Granny Sampson patted Jane Sampsonās hand gently, her laughter fading. "Bright Sampsonās dad came to me around noon today with something. Listen to what he shared."