The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 236 Call Me Grandma

"Autumn..."

Amy locked her tear-filled eyes on Autumn eagerly. But for Autumn, this was overwhelming as this old lady was simply a stranger. She withdrew her hand in one swift movement with embarrassment and greeted her, "Hello, Mrs. Zhao."

"Mom, you have scared Autumn by your over excitement, "Abby said to Amy. Abby was much younger than Bowen but she was still Autumn's aunt.

"Sorry, I'm just too excited and happy." Amy wiped her tears from her cheeks and told Autumn, "I heard that Cindy is very fond of you and you saved her life so I just got so overwhelmed when I saw you now. I hope you don't mind."

"It is alright." Autumn smiled. She didn't mind it at all but she felt a little shy and awkward to speak with a stranger.

After considering for a moment, Amy told Autumn, "You can call me grandma, child."

Although she hadn't told Autumn their relationship yet she still hoped Autumn would call her grandma.

Autumn was a little confused. As she was about the same age as Abby, she thought it would be weird to call Abby's mother "Grandma".

"My parents were quite old when I was born, so since then most of my friends preferred to call them grandma and grandpa instead of aunt and uncle out of respect and love. Besides, now that Cindy calls you 'sister', you can call Amy 'grandma' just like Cindy." Abby tried to explain to her with a smile.

"Oh, I understand." Autumn nodded her head slightly then greeted Amy, "Hello, grandma."

"Hello, Autumn." Amy couldn't contain her emotions, but Arthur stood up immediately and told her secretly, "How could you be so excited before Autumn? If you continue to speak like this, you will scare our visitors away. Didn't you say that you would prepare dinner all by yourself? Why don't you go to the kitchen and prepare now!"

"Okay. Autumn, wait a moment and I'll prepare dinner for you." Amy cast a glance of affection at Autumn and proceeded towards the kitchen.

"Sit here, Autumn." Abby asked Autumn to sit in the sofa and then Cindy climbed onto her shoulder immediately. Autumn secretly asked Abby with Cindy in her arms, "Is this a celebration for your new house? Are Charles and I the only guests you have invited?"

"We also invited Sam but he has some matter of more significance to deal with today. You know that Z City is our hometown but we almost cut all the connections with our relatives and old friends there. Now we have only two friends here, Sam and you. Therefore, you are the only guests we can invite." Abby added with a smile, "Don't worry. My parents are very kind and friendly. They just got a little overexcited when they saw you."

Autumn nodded her head and replied. "I see." Cindy told her she wanted to eat oranges so Autumn picked up one and started to peel it for her.

Abby frowned slightly and said, "Cindy, you are not a child any more. Don't bother Autumn with such trivial things. Get off from her now or else she will feel tired by carrying your weight."

Cindy was unwilling to let Autumn go and Autumn continued hugging her with a smile. Then Autumn said, "Don't worry. I really like Cindy. Just let her stay with me."

"But..." Abby felt a pinch of embarrassment. She wondered whether Cindy was doing this instinctively or not because Cindy had never been so close with a stranger before.

"It seems that you like kids very much?" Arthur looked at Autumn with mellow eyes.

Although Autumn didn't grow up in Zhao Family, she somehow had a strong connection with its family members. Arthur felt so happy to see this fact.

"Probably not." Autumn considered the thought for a moment. She realized she had never cared much for the children of her other friends but she had a special feeling for Cindy somehow. She couldn't help but give all her love to this little girl.

"It sounds ridiculous but I can feel an instinctive affection for Cindy." Autumn said with a smile while Charles was looking at her with adoration.

"You can sit for some more time while I'll help my mom prepare dinner." Abby said as she stood up and left.

At the kitchen's door, Abby spotted Amy wiping her tears secretly. She entered the kitchen and asked Amy, "What are you doing, Mom? Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm ecstatic." Amy wiped her tears, then she said, "I never expected to see Bowen's daughter one day. She is so beautiful and kind. She is the image of your brother."

She continued to wipe her tears as she said, "When we left the family many years ago, you were too young to remember what happened then. Your brother was in a bad health condition so your father and I never allowed him to screw around outside. We tried our best to protect him but he was fooled by a woman and lost his life because of her. I have always blamed myself for stopping him from marrying that woman. If I hadn't done that, maybe your brother wouldn't have..."

"Stop talking like that, Mom..." Abby felt the stinging pain. She had almost forgotten everything in those years, but Amy always spoke to her about it. She still remembered that her elder brother treated her well. Even after he left their family, Bowen would always send her gift on her birthday until the year he died.

"Don't cry, Mom. We are so lucky to find my brother's child, so please don't let Autumn know our secret, not yet please." Abby said as she wiped Amy's face for her.

"I understand and will be careful." Amy nodded her head and added, "I didn't agree with father's decision to drive your brother out of our home. We never in our wildest dreams expected what would happen after he was forced to leave. He has been gone for years and I have accepted the fact. Now the only thing I can do is to try my best to compensate with his daughter.