Falling for the Goddess

Candy Bar

Kyle Thorne plopped down on the sofa, tossing the persimmons in his arms onto the table with a huff. "Adrian was the first to jump in and pull Jimmy out of the water, but Aunt just gave him that look - like she wanted to eat him alive! It's not like it was my brother's fault that Jimmy fell in!"

"Kyle!" Blake Zelda’s voice sharpened. "Watch your tone!"

"But it’s the truth!"

"Even if it’s true, you shouldn’t speak ill of your elders behind their back!"

"Fine, I get it," Kyle Thorne muttered, clearly still not convinced.

"What exactly happened?" Grandma Blake asked.

"We were picking persimmons, and Jimmy was playing by the pond, teasing the fish. I handed him a big persimmon, and he was so excited that he jumped up and accidentally fell into the water."

"It was clearly just an accident! And Adrian reacted so quickly - he jumped in and got Jimmy out before I even realized what was happening. You all saw how soaked he got…”

Grandma Blake glanced toward the upstairs room and sighed softly. "Karen is a good person in every way, but when it comes to Jimmy, she’s especially cautious..."

Adrian Blake wasn’t her biological son, so it was natural for her to have doubts and lingering unease.

Sara Hart had been quietly watching the direction of the stairs. Noticing this, Grandma Blake spoke softly, "Sara, why don’t you go check on Adrian?"

Sara Hart hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright."

Standing outside Adrian Blake’s bedroom, Sara Hart gently knocked twice. From inside, a cool voice responded.

"Come in."

Sara Hart pushed the door open. Adrian Blake was seated by the floor-to-ceiling window. Although sunlight poured over him, he seemed to be enveloped in a sense of solitude and gloom.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

Adrian Blake looked at her, remaining silent. He didn’t need pity or sympathy.

Sara Hart pressed on. "You jumped into the water earlier. Are you hurt anywhere?"

The pond had sharp stones along the edges - it would be easy to get hurt.

Adrian Blake paused for a second before replying, "No."

"That’s good."

Sara Hart walked over and sat beside him. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of candy, offering it to him.

Adrian Blake looked at her, puzzled, and didn’t take it.

"My grandmother used to say that when you’re feeling down, a little sweetness can lift your spirits. Candy can make people feel better."

Adrian Blake glanced down at the candy resting in Sara’s pale palm. It was a chocolate candy bar.

But he hadn’t eaten candy since he was five.

Seeing that Adrian wasn’t accepting it, Sara, mustering some unexpected courage, quickly unwrapped the candy and, before Adrian could react, popped it into his mouth.

"Well, I’ll be heading downstairs now."

Leaving that sentence behind, Sara darted out of the room.

Outside, she leaned against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt a wave of regret. Why had she been so bold? What if Adrian got angry?

But there was no turning back. She’d already done it - there was no use in dwelling on it.

Inside the room, Adrian remained still, frozen in the same position, though Sara had long disappeared. The sweetness of the candy slowly spread in his mouth. He glanced toward the door, left slightly ajar from her quick exit.

The sugary flavor lingered on his tongue as Adrian Blake lowered his gaze. His deep, dark eyes flickered with an emotion he couldn’t quite place before returning to their usual calm.

It was as if a stone had been thrown into the icy stillness of his heart, sending ripples through the water’s surface.

---

After the family doctor checked on Jimmy, it was confirmed that he was fine. The young boy had been frightened, but as long as they monitored him for a fever, he’d be okay.

Karen Carter, now calm, asked Jimmy what had happened. Realizing she might have overreacted earlier, she approached Adrian Blake with a somewhat guilty expression. "Adrian, I was just so worried about Jimmy earlier. I’m sorry if I spoke harshly. Please don’t take it to heart."

Adrian Blake had changed out of his wet clothes, now dressed in a white t-shirt with a gray zip-up hoodie. The casual look made him appear much younger. Sara Hart wondered briefly - was this one of his old college outfits?

Adrian Blake didn’t look at Karen Carter. Instead, his lips curled into a subtle, sarcastic smile, and he responded indifferently, "It’s alright. As long as Jimmy is okay."

The atmosphere grew slightly awkward after that.

Jimmy, now recovering from his fright, lay resting on the bed, while Karen Carter kept him close, monitoring his every move.

Sara Hart watched the mother and son. No matter what, Karen Carter truly was a dedicated mother to Jimmy.

Since Adrian Blake had come back downstairs, Sara Hart only dared to glance at him discreetly, avoiding his gaze entirely. She was worried that her actions earlier - feeding him the candy - might have crossed a line.

Grandma Blake, holding Sara Hart’s hand, said kindly, "It’s rare for you two to have a break. Why don’t you and Adrian stay with me for a few days?"

Sara Hart blinked in surprise and glanced toward Adrian Blake.

"Sure, whatever Grandma wants," Adrian Blake responded without even looking at Sara Hart.

Grandma Blake was caught off guard by how readily Adrian Blake agreed. "That easily?"

Sara Hart was equally surprised.

"I want to stay with Grandma too!" Kyle Thorne quickly chimed in. Afraid his mother might object, he added, "I haven’t seen Grandma for a while. I want to spend more time with her!"

"Alright Kyle can stay too," Grandma Blake replied, her heart warmed by the idea of her grandchildren staying close.

Looking at the photos Kyle Thorne had shown her earlier, Grandma Blake couldn’t help but smile to herself. She felt that hope was on the horizon.

Zelda Blake had no objections. Though she didn’t visit often, she knew that having the younger generation around would bring joy to her mother.

"Only stay at here, but don’t even think about sneaking off somewhere!" Zelda Blake warned Kyle Thorne.

"I know, I know," Kyle Thorne mumbled.

"I want to stay with Grandma too!" Jimmy Blake, now feeling much better, tugged on his mother’s sleeve, begging to stay.

"How about we wait until you’re feeling completely better, and then we’ll come back to visit Grandma?" Karen Carter suggested.

"I’m fine already, Mom. I’m all better!" Jimmy Blake pouted, clinging to his mother’s clothes.

Karen Carter hesitated, feeling a bit uneasy after her earlier outburst toward Adrian Blake. Leaving Jimmy here after that...

"Please, Mom, please?" Jimmy Blake pleaded, his eyes wide with hope. "I want to play with Adrian, Kyle, and Sara."

Seeing how much the child wanted to stay, Grandma Blake couldn’t help but intervene. "If he wants to stay, let him. I’ll take good care of him. Are you worried I won’t?"

"Of course not, that’s not what I meant…" Karen Carter quickly explained, while Jimmy Blake stared at her with wide, hopeful eyes.

"Alright, you can stay, but you must promise not to cause any trouble," Karen Carter finally relented, sighing in defeat.

"I won’t!" Jimmy Blake promised, flashing a bright smile, showing off his small, pearly teeth.

Once that matter was settled, the kitchen announced that the meal was ready.

"Call Thomas and ask when he’ll be here," Grandma Blake instructed Karen Carter.

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the doorway.