"Oh, oh, oh, speak of Alan Carpenter and here he comes! Canāt a person enjoy their lunch in peace?" Quincy Forest scooted her chair closer to Kane Forest. "Brother, as single dogs, letās stick together for warmth. Sheās just too much!"
Jane Sampson hadnāt even answered the call yet and was already grinning ear to ear, her laughter light and airy.
"Stop laughing! Just look at you, all dreamy-eyed and lovesick. Hurry up and answer your phone." Quincy Forest covered her face. "Honestly, you should see what you look like right now."
Only then did Jane Sampson pick up James Blackās call. After a cheerful "Hello," she teased, "Why are you calling me at this time?"
"Are you still at the studio or already back home?" James Black asked first before continuing, "Just wanted to remind youāitās time for lunch."
James Black was worried that if Jane Sampson was home alone, with no one there to accompany her, sheād forget to eat.
These past few days, it was obvious even to the naked eye that Jane Sampson had lost a lot of weight. James Black didnāt want to see her get any thinner.
"Iām already eating!"
Jane Sampson glanced over at Quincy Forest as she spoke. "Iāll hang up now and send you a WhatsApp video."
She promptly pressed the hang-up button, logged in to WhatsApp, and sent James Black a video message. He accepted it in mere seconds. As soon as the call connected, he saw Jane Sampson in the frame, beaming brightly, waving her free hand at him.
"I really am eating." To prove she wasnāt lying, Jane Sampson turned the camera toward Quincy Forest and Kane Forest. "Today, Mr. Forest is treating us to lunch. Weāre already in the dining hall. Here, say hello!"
Quincy Forest scooted her chair back beside Jane Sampson, smiled toward James Black on the mobile phone screen, and said, "Hi, Mr. Black from little Janeās home. Donāt worry, Iāll make sure your little Jane eats properly. Iām keeping an eye on her!"
James Black chuckled softly on the phone. It was subtle, but the warmth in his mood was unmistakable.
"Now, give a shout-out to our Mr. Forest here," Jane Sampson pointed to Kane Forest. "Today, Mr. Forestās wallet is taking a beating. Sometimes cousins can have quite the destructive powerāthank goodness I donāt have one, and thank goodness you donāt either."
"Thank you, Mr. Forest," James Black said, revealing his role as Jane Sampsonās husband with a simple sentence. "I appreciate you looking after my wife so well."
"Itās my pleasure," Kane Forest replied calmly. "After all, Jane and I have known each other for many years. Weāre good friends."
Jane Sampson chimed in, "Didnāt I tell you last time? Mr. Forest is my gaming buddy Mimi Wood from back in the dayānot related to Forest. When we went out last time, Mimi Wood wasnāt related to Forest even acted as my online guide. Weāve been old mates for ages."
James Black seemed deep in thought as he looked at Kane Forest through the mobile phone screen. After a moment, he let out an "Hmm." Since the screen was still aimed at Kane Forest, James Black couldnāt see Jane Sampson anymore, so he spoke up, "Can you turn the camera back now? I want to see you."
A few seconds later, Jane Sampsonās face reappeared onscreen, her sparkling eyes brimmed with vitality that even through the screen, James Black had an urge to kiss them.
"Iām really eating, so donāt worry about me. No more video calls for now; Iām waiting for the dishes!" Jane Sampson playfully flashed her teeth at James Black before pressing her delicate finger on the red button to end the call.