Chapter 22 Visit

While Joanne was having a highly animated conversation with Esme, she propped her head up on Esme's laps and let the window open. Even Esme had a difficult time responding to Joanne's inquiries because of the format in which they were asked. On the other hand, Esme thought it was fairly humorous that tiny Joanne was asking such questions.

"Mommy, what is it that grandfather enjoys doing? Does he favour kids who are cute or kids who are mature?" Joanne swung her legs about as she pretended to be perplexed while her legs dangled awkwardly between two chairs.

"Why do you insist on asking? Are you looking for different ways to make your grandparents happy?" Joanne inquired with a gleeful grin on her face.

"Yep! I don't want grandpa and grandma to detest me. I shall also be on my best behaviour today so that you won't treat me like a youngster even though grandfather says he prefers matured children." Joanne said while maintaining an earnest demeanour.

"Joanne..." "You don't need to worry about whether or not your grandfather likes matured kids," Esme roared with laughter as she addressed Joanne. "I am confident that he will take a liking to you regardless of the kind of child that you are, so just act as you typically would in that situation. If anything, I think he enjoys dealing with children that are up to no good." This final sentence was murmured under Joanne's breath, but Joanne still managed to hear it.

Joanne is aware, without a doubt, that Esme's grandfather enjoys the company of naughty children. This is owing to the fact that, in addition to Esme being the only girl in the family, he favoured her despite the fact that she was not as polite and mature as her older siblings. It is safe to assume that Esme's father enjoys the antics of his daughter because she cried with her mouth gaping open with snot coming out of her nose and when she laughs, she laughs in an unpretentious manner.

But the reason Joanne was asking such questions was because Esme appeared to be quite stiff, and she appeared to be little afraid. This was the reason why Joanne was asking such questions so that Esme would let down her guard a bit. Joanne was aware that the reason for this was due to the fact that she was about to confront her parents.

"So..." Joanne did not stop talking till they arrived at her grandparents' place; she did not stop talking the entire time they were travelling there.

They arrived at Esme's parents' house a few minutes later and exited the vehicle once they were there.

"You guys can head in first, and I'll come in a little bit later." Zachary addressed the two of them in a statement. After giving a small nod, Esme took Joanne's hands and followed her to the entrance. The security guard entered the room quickly while making only a faint and uncertain knocking sound.

"Miss... I mean Madam! We had been been expecting you!" The gates were promptly opened by him. Joanne couldn't help but laugh at him because of how clumsy he was. If this is how the security guard acts when he sees Esme, one can only imagine how Esme's own parents will respond when they see her.

"Little Miss, do you want me to assist you in carrying your bag? Should I carry you, or should I not?" At first, Joanne thought he was adorable, but after some time, she found that he was becoming increasingly irritating. His never-ending line of inquiry made it feel as though he was a fly buzzing about in her ears.

"There's no reason to do it. I am able to carry not just my suitcase but also myself! Mommy, come on in with us." Joanne huffed and pulled her mother in the direction of the door.

"Now do you see how annoying talking too much is? I can't believe you don't have any soreness in your throat."

"Well, I should thank you for that, mommy. I really appreciate that. You must be screaming your eyes out every single night. I believed the doors were soundproof; yet, I am able to hear your speech very well, particularly when you are in your father's bedroom. Why do you usually shout anyway? What is daddy always doing to you inside the room?"

Joanne had to have been lying all along. Joanne enjoyed seeing Esme become embarrassed who believed all what Joanne said, despite the fact that she knows that the doors provided excellent soundproofing and would not let any sounds from the room escape.

"Hear me when I tell you that you must never again expose your ears to information of that nature! Let's get out of here, we've squandered enough time already." This time, Esme was the one who was in a rush to get inside.

The answers were too profound for Joanne's questions, which she was asking, to be given.

"Okay, mommy." Joanne smiled with her eyes closed as she gave Esme permission to drag her inside.

Esme rang the doorbell eagerly, waiting for someone to answer it while she held her breath in anticipation. In a little while, the sound of deliberate and methodical footfalls could be picked up. The doorknob opened with a satisfying click.

After that, the weathered face of an elderly man was visible, and his eyes widened as he realised who was standing in front of him.

"E... Esme?" He stammered.

"Ding! You have succeeded in completing one of your sub-missions. Congratulations, there is only one more for you to go!" Joanne was alerted by the system. She nodded in acknowledgement but didn't say anything.

She didn't want to say anything that would ruin the occasion for them.

"Yes dad. It's me." Esme smiled a bitter smile as she responded to the question. Even though her father is now quite elderly, she has never visited him during all those time. Even if it was from afar, she never came.

"Oh, Esme! You are really here!" He left the sitting room and fully went outside where he grabbed Esme in his arms and gave her a bear hug. His eyes were filled with tears that flowed down like waterfalls and landed on the ground. Joanne turned around when she heard footsteps and saw Zachary resting against the wall as he was also watching them.

Before Joanne was finally discovered, Esme and the rest of her family, who had come out after hearing Esme's father shout out her name, sobbed for a little while longer.

"Esme... Is that...?" The question that Esme's mother was trying to ask was obvious to everyone even though her sentence was left unfinished.

"Hello, grandma, my name is Joanne!" Joanne greeted her grandmother. Joanne then signalled for a hug or for them to carry her up from any of them by raising her hands ups.