Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

"Me...?" Gilbert waited for Francis to continue.

But Francis just stopped himself, shaking his head, "Nothing."

"Come on, bro." Gilbert's tone mixed curiosity with frustration. "You can't do that to me. What's going on? You're still keeping secrets from me?" Francis just smiled and said, "I'll tell you later. Right now, I'm off to see Caroline at the hospital. You'll have to keep grandma company for dinner." So, he was going to visit Caroline.

"Alright then."

Gilbert nodded, but he couldn't shake the feeling that his brother was hiding something serious.

What could it be that he found it so hard to talk about? Even to him?

Gilbert was so worried about Sherilyn that he barely slept that night.

The next morning, instead of heading straight to the office, he drove to the entrance of Sunset Ridge Community.

He knew Sherilyn usually didn't head to her dance troupe until the afternoon, but he wanted to check on her before work to see if she was feeling any better.

Hesitating, he wondered if it was too early to call Sherilyn.

He really wanted to go up and see her, but she had made it clear... it wasn't appropriate.

As he was debating with himself, he saw Sherilyn rushing out of the gate! She was in a hurry, backpack slung over her shoulder.

"Sherilyn!" Gilbert immediately drove over, pulling up beside her. "Where are you headed? Hop in, I'll give you a ride." "Sure, thanks!"

Seeing it was him, Sherilyn didn't hesitate and got into the car.

As they drove off, Gilbert noticed she still seemed a bit sleepy.

"Just wake up?" he guessed.

"Yeah." Sherilyn was taken aback, nodding. Did it show that much?

She had trouble falling asleep the night before and ended up waking late.

Sophia wasn't aware the dance troupe was on a break, so she hadn't woken her up either.

Sherilyn kept glancing at her phone, urging Gilbert, "Can you go any faster?"

Being late to the troupe meant a docked pay and missing out on a perfect attendance bonus. "Sure."

Gilbert stepped on the gas, although the morning rush hour traffic slowed them down a bit.

Glancing at the anxious girl beside him, he asked, "Skipped breakfast, huh?"

"Yeah." Sherilyn shook her head, too worried to even consider eating.

Immediately, Gilbert picked up his phone and made a call. "Hey, it's me. Swing by The Velvet Fork, grab a mix of their breakfast burritos for me, will you?... Yes, deliver them to Lightning Dance Troupe. Make it quick!"

Sherilyn listened to the whole exchange.

Was he ordering for her?

After hanging up, Gilbert looked at her, "Hang tight, you'll have

something to eat soon. Your favorite breakfast burritos, if I remember correctly?"

Yes, he was right. But why did he remember?

Feeling unexpectedly moved, Sherilyn's voice came out a bit hoarse as she said, "Yeah, that's right."

The rest of the drive passed in silence.

Upon arriving at the troupe, Sherilyn quickly thanked him, "Thanks a lot!"

Then she hurriedly got out of the car.

"Sherilyn!" Gilbert called after her. "Hold on, the burritos will be here any minute!"

"I can't wait!" Sherilyn, desperate not to be late, brushed him off. "I appreciate the thought, really!"

With that, she didn't look back, just waved and rushed inside.

"Why would I want your gratitude?" Gilbert muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Skipping breakfast is bad for you."

What he cared about was her well-being.

It took another ten minutes before the breakfast burritos from The Velvet Fork arrived.

"Mr. Gilbert!"

"Over here!"

Gilbert took the bag, instructing the

son, "Tell Mr. Charlest

be about forty minutes late. If there's anything urgent, he should handle it." Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"Will do, Mr. Gilbert."