Chapter 52
By the time the Carter family returned home, it was around ten in the evening. To their surprise, Maria had already returned. She hadn’t mentioned her encounter at the coffee shop. Instead, she cheerfully shared that she had the next day off and planned to give the house a thorough cleaning.
Wesley and the others didn’t tell Maria about the incident at the restaurant either. They simply said they were sold out for the day, so they came home early. However, aside from Josie, everyone understood the situation.
Their address, the location of their restaurant, and their workplace had all been leaked. It was certain that many would swarm to gawk and pry. College recruiters might even show up, adding to the spectacle. They had no idea how they would handle it.
With these thoughts on their minds, they lost interest in watching TV. They finished their evening routine and went to bed early.
Wesley was sure he would have trouble sleeping that night, but after taking some supplements from Avery, he drifted off almost instantly. Claire also slept soundly, while Arthur and Maria had a restless night.
When Wesley and Claire woke up in the morning, Maria had already prepared breakfast. The spread included scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, ratatouille, fresh milk, and orange juice. Though the breakfast was delicious, everyone except Josie forced a smile, struggling to hide their concerns.
Arthur wondered if they were still serving tonight. Maria debated whether she should return to the coffee shop tomorrow. Claire considered if they should take a few days off until things cooled down. These questions plagued their minds.
Before Wesley could finish his breakfast, his phone rang. It was a call from Bard Property. He straightened up, put the call on speaker, and answered, "Hello, this is Wesley."
"Hello, Mr. Carter. This is Bard Property. I regret to inform you..."