Salute To The General

Chapter 6 An Apology In Person

Nathan lifted Queenie into his arms and consoled the rest of them, “Let's not get upset over it. Who knows? Derek Harvey might turn up at our house all of a sudden and offer his apology.”

His words only aggravated them and elicited a slew of angry remarks.

"What nerve you have to say such a thing!” Leah vented all her rage on him, “Don't you know that it's all because of you? If you didn't beat up Mr. Harvey and May, Samuel wouldn't have come to our house and made a big fuss about it!”

Penny could not blame Nathan since she knew that he had done so because of her.

“You must be out of your mind to say such a thing, Nathan.” She heaved a frustrated sigh, “Why in the world would Mr. Harvey apologize to us? I'll be counting my blessings if he doesn't hold us responsible for beating him up, and it'll be a miracle if he continues his business relationship with Diva.”

“Just relax, everybody,” Nathan said with an air of nonchalance. “I am sure that he will turn up tomorrow to apologize. You can take my word for it.”

Penny and the rest knew better than to take his word. It was simply against Derek Harvey's insolent nature to apologize when he had been humiliated in such a devastating manner. Pigs could fly if that came true!

Even if he found his conscience and became repentant, it was practically impossible for him to show up at their house and apologize, at least from a physical standpoint.

That was because Derek Harvey was still lying in the hospital nursing his broken leg, all thanks to Nathan.

Would it be possible for Mr. Harvey to leave the hospital on crutches and drag himself here to offer an apology? It was simply inconceivable.

Benson's lips curled in disdain at Nathan's whimsical blabbers. “This is not the time for fantastical ideas,” he quipped soberly, “Let's get down to business and think about how we can offer an apology that would please Mr. Harvey.”

“Penny, we'll go to the hospital tomorrow to visit Mr. Harvey and seek his forgiveness. Nathan, you'd better come along with us.”

With those instructions, Benson hoped that they could appease Mr. Harvey when they visited him at the hospital tomorrow. Soon, he and Leah retired for the night.

Meanwhile, Penny brought Queenie to the bathroom for her bath. Nathan took this opportunity to step outside to the balcony and called Colin Dixon, “Colin, I want you to get hold of Thomas Dunn and make sure he..."

That night, Penny struggled to get accustomed to having Nathan sleep in her room with Queenie, even though he was only sleeping on the floor.

She briefed him on some house rules before she went to bed. “I've heard of the unsightly behaviours when men sleep. I'd appreciate it if you could behave yourself and show us some basic decency.”

"Oh?" Nathan was at a loss for words. “Sure!” He replied amusedly.

a mattress onto the floor. “Mama,

“What silly question is that?” She chastised, “What makes you

what they always do on television?” Queenie blinked her

are having a bad influence on you.” Penny admonished, “No TV for you

and sulked, wondering what she had done

morning, the Smiths woke up to

the scrumptious spread Nathan had prepared, the adults exchanged

Benson kept his composure as he sneaked a glimpse at Nathan. “Tuck in, everybody.” He pulled out a chair and sat down, “There's a long day ahead for us. We need to drop Queenie off at kindergarten and buy some fruits and flowers before we visit

at the door, “Hello, is anybody at

it be at this hour?” frowned

some water purifiers? Let me get it,” offered Penny as she headed for

eyes popped out when she opened the door, “W-what are you doing here?” She let

Penny?

hastily and

middle-aged man donning a white patient's robe was standing at their door. He was leaning on crutches with his

behind the bald man.

filled with confusion as they were still grappling

with a cheesy grin on his face, “I'm deeply sorry for having offended Mr. Cross and Ms. Smith yesterday. It has hit me with such terrible remorse that I could scarcely sleep or eat. That's why I'm here this morning to offer

What?

at him with unbelieving eyes. As if their brains were clogged and their throats stuck with

told them last night. His words had come

to look at Nathan, who was sitting at the side of the table feeding Queenie from her bowl of cereal. The same

pull herself together. She turned suspiciously to Derek Harvey, “Are

jerked with fear

“I am here today to express my deepest remorse for

It took every ounce of my strength and determination to take each step at a time on my crutches, until 1 finally reached your

words only made the Smiths feel as if an avalanche of shock waves were banging their heads. Yet it was evidently clear to them

it

behaved like he wore a halo

asking the sun to rise

compounded the anxiety and fear in Derek Harvey. He desperately needed her to forgive