The Substitute Bride

Seeing Autumn so energetic, Amy felt excited and her eyes filled with tears. She couldn't help but tug Abby who was standing beside her and exclaimed,"It's her, Abby! It's her! Autumn is back!"

"Yes, it's Autumn," Abby replied, almost in a whisper. What she was seeing right now was like a dream. But Abby felt very happy too. Her life had been very tough and stressful in the past years. Aside from Rick's successful heart transplant, seeing Autumn come back was the second happiest thing that had happened to her during all these years.

"Mom, now that we've seen Autumn, shall we take our leave now?" Abby asked Amy. Abby felt more relaxed after she saw Autumn doing just fine. That was why she asked Amy to leave now. However, she didn't expect that Amy would refuse. "Abby, I wanted to spend more time with Autumn."

Amy was very desperate to tell Autumn about her real identity but she couldn't just do that in impulse so she controlled herself not to run after her. She just wanted to see her a little longer.

"Well then, I'll stay with you," said Abby. About forty minutes later, Sheryl and Sue came back from jogging. Sheryl looked happier and more energetic while Sue looked exhausted. Catching her breath, Sue said,"Sher, please, don't wake me up again tomorrow morning. Just go jogging on your own. I don't want to wake up early so please just let me stay on my bed." Sue looked terrible while whining to Sheryl.

Sheryl burst into laughter. She said,"No way. Can you still remember what you've told me few days ago? You said you wanted to lose weight by running. And you even told me that no matter what, I should wake you up every morning."

"Well, I just…" Obviously, Sue felt embarrassed. She didn't know what to say. "Now I'm taking my words back, okay?" was all she could say. Sheryl couldn't help but smile at Sue's behavior.

Sheryl checked the time on her wrist watch. Shirley would be up by this time. She regretted that she didn't buy anything for breakfast on their way back home.

She looked around and found a pancake stall so she walked towards there.

"Good morning. Can I get two pancakes with ham and egg, please? One spicy and one regular. Thank you," she ordered. Shirley couldn't eat spicy food so she ordered the regular one for her.

She then turned to Sue and asked,"What about you? Would you like to eat some pancakes?"

"No, thank you." Sue shook her head. "I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep if I eat breakfast now. Can I just go ahead? I really want to go back and sleep again now," she added.

But before she left, Sue patted Sheryl on the shoulder and said,"Remember to include me when you prepare lunch later, okay?"

"Fine," Sheryl replied shortly. She then gave Sue an assuring smile.

be?" Sue commented. Sue couldn't help but feel suspicious.

"Don't say things like that, young lady," Amy turned to Sue. Still smiling, she continued,"Yes, the breakfast wasn't expensive. However, I have my own principles in life. No matter how big or small the amount is, I never want to be indebted to anyone. I told her to consider the money yesterday as a borrowed one. So, since I borrowed it, of course, I must repay it. Otherwise, how could I feel relieved?"

After Amy's long explanation, Sheryl couldn't do anything but shrugged her shoulders and gave in. "How long have you been waiting for me?" The place where Amy waited for Sheryl was near the pancake stall. Although it was not that far from the apartment building and it was still morning, the sun was already very bright. Anyone who stood there under the sun, even just for one minute, would definitely be soaked in sweat. So Sheryl was worried about Amy.

"Well, not too long." Amy noticed the worry on Sheryl's face so she consoled her. Actually, Amy had been waiting for Sheryl since she started to go jogging. However, she didn't want to disturb them so she decided to approach her after she finished jogging.

Sheryl didn't buy Amy's alibi. Seeing her clothes soaking in sweat, she knew Amy had been waiting there for a long time. But Sheryl didn't want to embarrass her as well. Instead, she just offered,"Would you like to come to my apartment and have a glass of water?"

Sheryl felt very sorry and embarrassed. Amy was already an old woman and yet she waited for her under such a bright sun for a long time just to return the money.

"Sher..." Sue wanted to stop Sheryl from inviting Amy so she whispered to her ear,"What's wrong with you? You couldn't just invite people you don't know to your house! Aren't you afraid that she might be a bad person?"