After she got back to the bedroom, Tristan was sleeping soundly. Kate left a note on the stand and changed her clothes. She called the driver to get the car ready.

Tristan's mother did not look as spiritual as the last time she saw her. Her cheeks were a little hollower.

The nurse explained that she had the flu lately and just recovered a couple of days ago.

Kate asked, "Does he know?"

"Mr. Fox came to see her twice. Aunty asked about you, but he told her that you could not risk being infected."

Tristan's mother said gloomily, "I am fine now. It is too stuffy here. I want to go out."

After getting permission from the nurse, the old lady dragged Kate to help her pick clothes from the wardrobe and got dressed up cheerfully.

Kate asked the driver to take them to a pedestrian street where there were restaurants, cafés, and boutiques.

The two of them sat at a table by the window and watched people walking past in a hurry. They were enjoying tea and delicate Chinese dim sum.

Watching the old lady struggling to transport a beef ball to her mouth with chopsticks, she understood why Tristan's mother liked her. And she could not reject her friendship. They were alike.

Thinking of Tristan, who was probably still in bed, and the things she had found in his apartment, Kate sighed and concluded that it was not so bad for her mother to change to what she was now.

It was only he who had become lonelier.

Tristan had lost the two women most important to him in his life. The two people who could have a good influence on him. So he walked farther and farther away on that road.

"What are you thinking?" Tristan's mother asked.

Kate had an illusion for a moment that the person in front of her had resumed her senses, but looking at her eyes again, she knew it was not true.

She smiled and said, "I am thinking about where we should go to have fun after this."

Tristan's mother finished the food on her plate hastily and said, "Let's go."

Kate had been in this city for four years, but she knew little about places to have fun. Today she had special company and felt the impulse to have fun too.

They shopped in the boutiques, and soon Kate had several bags in her hand. Tristan's mother had a cotton candy bar in her hand and smiled cheerfully.

They passed a photo studio and were attracted by the decoration outside. There were a few black and white artistic photos hung on the brick wall. The nostalgic door had a bell, and when one pushed the door, the bell rang.

The inside decoration was also antique, and even the camera was the kind from fifty years ago, with a cloth covering the photographic plate. The scenery and props and even a wooden horse rocking chair were the same as she had seen in the old movies.

The photographer asked the women what kind of theme they want to have. Tristan's mother said they had to wait for the gentleman she saw last time. Kate had to call Tristan.

The old lady touched everything in the shop with curiosity and called Kate, "Kate, come to see this…"

Kate was surprised, "You remember my name?"

She nodded.

They waited for half an hour, and through the window, they saw someone walking close. Tristan wore a black coat over a white shirt, looking more casual and genial than he usually was. After a good night's sleep, he was spiritual again.

Kate asked Tristan's mother, "Do you know his name?"

Tristan's mother looked at him bewilderedly.

The bell dinged, and the door was opened. Kate told her in a low voice, "His name is Tristan."

"Tristan." The old lady repeated.

Tristan just walked in to hear her calling. He paused, and happiness flashed in his eyes. Complicated emotions surged up and faded away.

He walked to his mother and hugged her, "Mom."

His mother was uncomfortable with his tight hug and looked to Kate for help.

Kate had tears in her eyes and nodded and smiled at her.

The old lady felt assured and raised her hand to hug and pat the back of the big guy.

The photographer said, "I thought you were mother and daughter. It is rare for mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to be best friends."

The two people embracing seemed not to hear what he said.

When Tristan released his mother, the photographer asked if they were ready.

The assistant pulled out a scenery board of beach and coconut trees and then moved an outdoor bench to place in front of it. The three sat on the bench and were ordered by the photographer to move their heads and hands and make their expressions more natural.

Kate was amused by Tristan's awkward expression when the photographer ordered him to smile more naturally.

The photographer had already put his head under the cloth and shouted, "One, two, say cheese."

Her hand was grabbed when the photographer shouted two.

A sudden flash was accompanied by smoke, and they got the shot.

"The photo will be ready in 3 days, framed. Leave your address with our assistant, and we will deliver it to you." The photographer instructed them. But Tristan's mother wanted to have the photo immediately.

The assistant came with a digital camera and took another one for them, printed it out, and gave it to Tristan's mother. The photographer shrugged and smiled helplessly.

"Customer satisfaction. Slow or fast, as you like." The assistant stuck her tongue out at the photographer.

Tristan's mother took the photo and pointed to it, "Kate, Tristan…"

Kate took a glance at it and found it looked like a family portrait. Everyone looked good in the photo. It was quite harmonious.

After they left the photo studio, Tristan checked his watch and said, "Let's go to have lunch. I haven't had breakfast today."

He turned to his mother, "Mom, what do you want to eat?"

Tristan's mother said, "Pizza."

That was probably what she always had in the sanatorium, Kate thought. "How about we go home and make it ourselves?"

Thinking of the mother spending all the year in the sanatorium and eating the cafeteria food, Kate felt sorry for her. Having a meal of homemade food would be much better than any food they could buy in the fancy restaurants Tristan usually frequented.

They called Laura and checked what materials she had at home, and then went to the supermarket to buy the other ingredients they needed. Tristan's mother was excited at the variety of products. She wandered around the aisles and loaded the cart with a lot of things with colorful packaging.

When they arrived at the villa, it was already midnight. Laura had asked Tristan's permission this morning to leave early today, so she told Kate where the materials were and left the kitchen to them.

Kate went into the kitchen while Tristan stayed in the living room watching TV with his mother. After a while, he snuck into the kitchen, offering to help.

Kate said, "There is nothing you can do here. Go stay with your mother."

He smirked and said, "Don't look down on others."

"OK, then peel the garlic and chop the onions for me."

He worked on the assignment immediately. Kate started to prepare the dough and gave Tristan a quick glance from time to time to see if he had trouble cutting the onions.

She saw him get a bowl with a lid ready by his side. After he washed the onion, he cut it into halves and then started to slice it. His action was so amazingly fast that he had finished slicing a half onion in just a few seconds.

He collected the slices into the bowl and covered it with the lid. Then he started to slice the next half. As the onion slices stayed open in the air for only a short time, they didn't cause his tears.

After he sliced them all, he put the bowl into the fridge to cool while he peeled the garlic. Ten minutes later, he took the onions out and chopped them into small pieces.

Kate was surprised that he knew about this trick. Cold onions do not give out a pungent smell.

When Tristan had finished, the dough Kate made had rested for ten minutes. So he started to roll the dough into a circle. They cooperated very well as a team.

Tristan's mother followed into the kitchen too. She picked fried bacon pieces from the plate to feed the cat.

Soon four courses, pizza, baked chicken, tomato bisque, and fruit salad, were ready. When they sat down at the table, the air felt like that of Christmas or Thanksgiving. Kate recalled last Christmas Eve when Tristan wasn't at home. And he had been talking business on Christmas Day.

Their dinner was warm and cheerful until a little episode happened. Tristan's mother was eating a piece of pizza when she suddenly took another piece and put it into her pocket.

They were astonished and said at the same time. "Mom!" "Auntie."

Tristan's mother reached her hand to the pizza again, "Charley likes this the most."

The fork in Tristan's hand dropped and made a clear sound when it collided with the plate.

Kate looked at him and saw him looking down at his plate, and the muscles on his cheeks were moving.

Tristan resumed his composure in a few seconds and held his mother's hand, "Mom. Don't."

His mother looked to him with disapproval, but after meeting his eyes, she had a little fear in her eyes. She stopped.

Tristan took his mother to the sink to wash her hands and came back. The dinner continued, and his mother forgot what happened soon and focused on her plate.

When it was getting late, Tristan wanted to send his mother back to the sanatorium. His mother showed some reluctance, and Kate felt for her.

This was her real home. Tristan explained, "Mom has some other health problems. It is safer to stay in the sanatorium where medical facilities are available. Besides, the nurse can take care of her at night."

He promised his mother they would take her here next weekend.

Before they left, the old lady grabbed Kate's wrist and frowned.

Kate came to understand her and said, "I put it away because I worry I might break it carelessly."

The old lady did not release her but clamped her wrist tighter. Her fingers set into her muscle, and it hurt.

Tristan stood there without moving.

Kate had to say, "OK, I will go get it."

She went upstairs and brought back the bracelet and put it on in the presence of Tristan's mother. The old lady smiled happily and went out with her son.

When Tristan got back, he said earnestly to Kate, "Thank you for today."

The air became strange again when they were left alone. Kate said, "I didn't do it for you."

He didn't mind. "Whatever. As long as she is happy, I appreciate it."