Meanwhile, Carl had someone brought in shin guards and the attendants helped Abigail put them on.
Diarmuid helped her on the horse and instructed her since it was the first time, “Keep a firm hold on the reins and don’t go too fast. Always keep your hands firmly around the horse’s belly.”
Diarmuid got on her horse, and one of the attendants led his horse to the meadow.
After that, the attendants let them have the reins to themselves.
Carl was on a horse as well, personally escorting them for safety reasons since it was Abigail’s first ride.
Abigail took a deep breath and spurred the horse with a prod of her foot.
The horse started off with a trot and moved quicker when she prodded a little firmer.
Still, the horse was certainly docile and well-trained.
As Diarmuid slowly followed Abigail, she started to feel dissatisfied after a while.
Wanting to go fast, she held onto the reins and kicked firmly.
“Hyah!”
Diarmuid was caught off guard as Abigail’s horse broke into a gallop.
Surprised by their sudden acceleration, he quickly gave chase!
Still, Diarmuid was worrying for nothing—perhaps thanks to the discipline she honed from her job, Abigail rode with calmness and steadiness.
Her strong guts also allowed her to take to riding like a duck to water!
She certainly loved feeling the sensation of wind against her face as she sat on the horse’s back, blowing away all her worries.
“Hyah!”
She spurred her horse on whimsically, allowing it to dash over the near-boundless meadow to her heart’s content!
Diarmuid had been worried that she would fall off her horse, and he was therefore surprised to find her riding so well.
Trotting his horse to Diarmuid’s side, Carl asked, “Did the missus learn to ride before?”
Rarely was there a woman who could ride so quickly and steadily on their first try.
“It is her first time,” Diarmuid replied.
Carl was naturally astonished. “Woah, she has the gift.”
“Her gift is in saving people, actually.”
Despite his usual attitude, Diarmuid had always been proud about Abigail’s career as a doctor.
Even if this was the epoch of capitalism, medical professionals who saved lives and cured sickness were always worthy of respect!
That actually surprised Carl further—he did not expect Diarmuid to marry a doctor.
After all, Carl was of the impression that doctors were always the quiet types, just as their jobs were dull.
And Diarmuid could have got himself any woman he wanted, given who he was!
Still, it seemed that he should change his opinion about female doctors… to think that they could let loose in such fashion!
…
Martin York had already cooked dinner when Lulu Adams arrived home from work.
Still, he was bad at it and the food was bad.
“I think we should just eat out,” he said.
“Let’s just finish it, or it’d be a waste,” Lulu told him. “It’s not that bad—you just forgot the vinegar in the brined ribs, so the meat tasted a little bland. The mashed potatoes are a little salty but not inedible, so less salt next time… the veggies are too burned to be edible though.”
Martin scratched his head. “I overdid it.”
Still, Lulu’s gaze lingered on him—he could not cook, but he tried to do it anyway.
It was the sincerity that counted and the taste did not matter!
“Here, have a rib.” Lulu put one on his plate. “I’ll cook next time.”
Marint waved her off. “No, I’ll learn. Neither of us have parents, so someone would have to take care of you postpartum. I should learn while you’re still in early pregnancy!”
Then, he remembered something. “You should resign around the third trimester.”
Lulu paused then, and asked with a smile, “Oh? And I guess you’ll pay for everything?”
“Of course. I’m your man,” Martin said, nodding.
However, the air suddenly turned stiff at his words and silence ensued.
While there was nothing wrong with what he said, the problem was that they were married in name only!
And that was why things got so awkward after he said it.
While Lulu kept her head lowered, Martin found it awkward to linger and he rose to his feet. “Anyway, I’m on night duty.”
However, Lulu stopped him as he picked up his jacket. “How long do you think we’re going to do this?”
“But it’s work…”
“I know you’re avoiding me, but more than that, you’re caring for me. I don’t want you to have to stay away from your own home after you marry me and there’s more room, so why don’t we get another bed?”
Martin looked away, avoiding her gaze as he said flatly, “That would work.”
Even so, Lulu could sense his disappointment and she slowly clenched her fingers.
“Sorry, I…”
“Hey, we’re married. No apologies,” he said, and quickly changed the subject. “Let’s get a new bed!”
“Okay,” Lulu said.
They left together after dinner and headed straight up to the second floor of the furniture store to look at beds.
While they were picking one, however, Lulu heard a familiar voice!
She turned around and quickly pulled Martin further into the store.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Lulu told Martin very softly, “It’s Johnny.”
Johnny was one of their colleagues and gossip would be inevitable if they were caught as newlyweds coming out to get another new bed when they already got one for their wedding!
How could it not be weird? Johnny and the rest would certainly start gossiping or asking questions directly.
How would Martin and Lulu answer them when that happened?
Even if Martin was usually sharp and stern at his job, he was rather bumbling when it came to his own personal matters.
Nodding repeatedly then, they moved to hide behind a nearby wardrobe.
They waited a long while and only left when Johnny did.
With that, they continued to look for a bed and made an order.
However, when they were going to leave, someone called out, “Cap?”
Lulu was speechless.
They were seen despite all their effort, huh?
Martin then asked her, “Should I turn around?”
Lulu was even more speechless.
Everyone in the team knew him, and he would be recognized straight away if he did!
He was usually so sharp at work—when did he get so stupid?
Still, he soon said, “Getting spotted is bad, you said? I’ll just pretend not to hear him. Let’s go!”
He pulled Lulu along.
In reality, he had every reason to respond to Johnny. An excuse such as getting new furniture was acceptable, since they had already ordered a bed and they were nowhere near that department.
What a mess!
As they left the furniture store, Johnny seemed to be following them out.
Martin said quietly, “Let’s not go to the car. Let him leave first.”
Lulu nodded and they headed in the opposite direction from their car.
Johnny actually thought that he really did see Martin, but decided the man was not since he was not even turning around.
With that, he left.
Noticing that he was gone, Martin heaved a quiet sigh of relief.
Lulu watched his silly reaction and could not help giggling.
“What’s so funny?” Martin asked.
She composed herself. “Nothing.”
They waited a while longer, and he said then, “Let’s go home.”
“Yeah,” Lulu replied.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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