When fate plays its hand (Miranda)

Chapter 0002

At the dining table, Hansel didn’t seem eased with what had been served for breakfast. “Where’s my pumpkin soup?”

“You mean cream of vegetable soup?”

“Cream of vegetable soup?”

“Yes, I know that Ms. Sutton makes that all the time. It’s the one made with pumpkin, potatoes, onions, and celery, right? Um, I don’t have as much time to prepare all the ingredients for that.

“The pumpkin, potatoes, onions, and garlic have to be roasted and freshly puréed beforehand; it’s best if it’s slow cooked the night before. And then the soup has to be stewed and slowly brought to a simmer over open fire for hours after that..

“I don’t have the same amount of patience that Ms. Sutton has to always be checking on the fire every few minutes. Also, what I make will probably still taste different from what she makes. On top of that

“Bring me some marmalade,” Hansel interrupted.

“Coming right up, Mr. Johnson.”

”

“Why does this taste so different?” Hansel glanced at the bottle packaging The packaging is wrong.”

“That jar is empty now. We only have this brand left.”

“Go and get two jars of the other one at the supermarket, then.”

“It can’t be found anywhere, Mr. Johnson.”

Hansel wasn’t amused, “Why not?”

Martha smiled rather awkwardly. “Ms. Sutton made the marmalade herself. I don’t know how wait, Mr. Johnson! Aren’t you going to finish your breakfast

first?”

“No.”

Martha watched in bewilderment as Hansel stormed up the stairs. Why did he lose his temper all of a sudden?

“Hey, you lazy bum, it’s time to get out of bed!”

Miranda flipped over in bed and didn’t even bother opening her eyes. “Shut up. I want to sleep a while longer…”

Winter Jefferson, Miranda’s best friend, had already put on her makeup and was in the midst of choosing a purse to go with her outfit.

“It’s going to be 8:00 am. Don’t you need to rush home to make breakfast for your most beloved Mr. Johnson?”

Miranda used to stay the night at Winter’s place from time to time, but she’d always leave before the crack of dawn to make her usual cream of vegetable soup for Hansel, who was extremely prone to gastric problems.

The mere thought of it had always rendered Winter speechless. Was Hansel paralyzed? Or was he too dumb to order delivery on his own? Why did he have to go and make life difficult for Miranda?

words, he’d just

up from bed. She shook her hand

how long are you planning on staying

Miranda didn’t answer her.

now, and I won’t be back for dinner because I’ve got a date tonight. But you’ll probably be gone by then,

woke up

Winter had left for her and stared at the sun shining outside the windows. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept in and woken up without

2/6

+15. BONUS

was done with breakfast, she changed her clothes

she had to do was cash out the check for 50 million dollars. She wouldn’t be

went into the second bank next door and said, “I’d like to speak to your private

bank manager himself, who offered her a considerable annual

by a little

each of them, managing to get interest rates that

black cards with

worth it after all.” She’d become a millionaire

membership, which was worth 2,000 dollars. She

others.

down before the mirror and looked at her long brown hair and large curls. This was the first

you’ve taken such good care of your hair. You look exactly like

had always kept her hair like this because Hansel liked it. He said he liked how it felt. Every time they had sex, he’d always thread his fingers through her

always had to spend a lot of time grooming herself because of her long, brown

said, “Please cut it

pretty it was. She wouldn’t stop anyone. from looking like a doll, but

salon, feeling like a weight had

that had a sale on, so she walked in and bought herself

shop. They matched the sport shoes she was wearing

as the students rode their bicycles in and out of the gates as the sun set in the sky,

“Sol! We’re here!”

Miranda. “What are all

thought of visiting Dr.

Hall said.

Bioinformatics.”

Bioinformatics? Dr. Young?

of her reverie. She hurried forward and asked

lady talking to him. He was tongue–tied for a

“Dr. Christine Young?”

“Yes.”

hospital is

“Westerton Hospital.”

“Thank you.”

way, which faculty are you from? Are

answer Solomon’s question. Instead,

she reached Winter’s condo, she