Meeting You Was Fate

Mandy waited for Nathan's response but did not receive any.
At MC Garden
"Mand! Oh, grandpa's baby is here too!" Stanley's grin stretched from ear to ear when he saw Mandy arrived with Adrian.
"Hello, grandpa," Adrian called sweetly.
Madeline was in the middle of stirring the meal she was cooking when the adorable voice of the child reached her ears. She put
down the spatula at once and trotted out of the kitchen, a delighted look on her face. "Adrian!"
"Hello, grandma!"
Adrian was no stranger to the elderly couple. Nathan had often taken him for a visit and, from their very first meeting, asked him
to call them grandparents.
Nathan, however, did not tell them of the boy's true identity. Not that he was afraid that Madeline and Stanley would fight over the
boy, they could dote on their grandchild all they wanted. But, he was concerned that Adrian would remind them of their daughter.
After all, when Mandy had left him, she left her parents too.
"Father," Mandy greeted with a slight smile.
"Grandpa, have you been in good health these days?"
Stanley bent over and picked Adrian up. Cradling him in his arms, he walked towards the table by the French window. The boy's
question sent him roaring in laughter and, with a pat on his chubby thighs, he asked, "Who taught you to say that?"
"Mom and dad taught me this," Adrian declared proudly, sitting down with his legs crossed. His back was ramrod straight as he
readied himself to battle with his grandfather in a round of Go.
"Where's your father?" At the mention of the word dad, Stanley looked around and found that Nathan did not come.
"He has to work overtime tonight," Mandy piped in, a bit too hastily to pass for unconcerned.
Just then, Madeline came back from the kitchen, carrying a bowl of fish stew. She stopped mid-stride and deliberately took a
detour, stopping in front of Mandy. She scrutinized her daughter's expression, who was lounging on the sofa and playing with her
phone. "Did you fight with him?"

Noticing her mother's accusing gaze that was raking her from head to toe, Mandy grabbed the bag of chips in front of her in
protest. She ripped the packet open and said unhappily, "Mom, look at me. I'm an adult now. Why do you still take me as a
trouble maker? Nathan and I are fine."
Unconvinced, the older woman crossed her arms and stared at Mandy for a full three seconds before she conceded, "All right. I
know you're very stubborn and will never admit it. Just remember, be gentle to Nathan. Don't mess with him so often. Do you
understand?"
"I know," Mandy said with a deep sigh, offering little else by way of an answer. She was starting to get annoyed by the nagging.
"What? Do you find me annoying?" Madeline snapped, her eyes squinting.
As always, the woman saw through Mandy at a glance. Age had done nothing to blunt her mother's perceptiveness, and Mandy
could never hide her real thoughts from her. It was the main reason why, among all the family members, she feared Madeline the
most.
"No, mom. I dare not. I'm starving, can we eat now?" Mandy asked huffily and tossed her phone aside in a fit. On top of her
mother's inquisition, she did not know which client Nathan had gone to see earlier. The man had been ignoring her since this
afternoon, which kindled her fretful temper.
"Why are you being so childish? Look at your son. He is even more patient than you. Okay, if you are hungry, let's go and eat.
Come and wash your hands!" Madeline mumbled, unwilling to stop.
Mandy had regretted coming over. Her mother's yammering had extinguished her plans for a relaxing visit. She had not foreseen
that Madeline would grill her as soon as they came.
Meanwhile, the grandpa and grandson duo were silently engaged in their game, detached from the women's chatter. Adrian was
holding a white pawn and considering his next move carefully. When he heard Mandy call them for dinner, he put the piece down
quickly and said, "Grandpa, I'll leave it here. After dinner, we can continue playing."
"Okay, let's have dinner first," Stanley agreed and reached out to rub the boy's hair.
Throughout dinner, Mandy talked with Stanley. Between her parents, Mandy felt that she was more similar to her father. When he
was younger, Stanley was very polite and, with the handsome appearance of a modest son, attracted many female students. But
he only took a fancy to the stubborn and moody Madeline. A stark contrast from her husband's gentle demeanor, Madeline had

always been blunt and would say whatever she wanted to say. It was a good thing that as they matured, she mellowed and
became a tad more reserved.
Ever since they got married, the two had maintained a good relationship. It had been too long since they got caught in a conflict.
They had built such sturdy ground that picking a fight with each other had become their way of displaying affection.
The sky was already dark by the time dinner had finished. One after another, lamp posts along the streets lit up, illuminating the
night that had gradually shrouded the whole city.
Mandy and Madeline sat on the sofa. Madeline had just presented the two sweaters she made for Adrian, who squealed
delightfully in return. He held tightly onto the one designed with a panda in the middle and refused to let go, insisting on wearing
it.
"Why are you going to wear a sweater on such a hot day? You will not wear it today. Wait till the weather has turned colder,
okay?" Mandy said with a chuckle. Her motherly love and tenderness reflected in her eyes.
"No, mom! Please let me try it tonight," Adrian pleaded, too fond of the sweater.
Mandy's lips pursed in objection. She did not know where Adrian inherited his stubbornness. Whenever he liked something, it
was impossible to persuade him to change his mind. In the end, Mandy compromised and let him try on the sweater.
It was early autumn. Putting on a sweater was akin to drinking hot water under the scorching sun. But Adrian liked his grandma's
gift so much that he did not complain about the high temperature at all. He wore the fluffy knit and ran around the hall, the sound
of his merry laughter echoing in the living room.
Seeing Adrian's beaming face, a memory from one winter day three years ago resurfaced in Mandy's mind. She had also made
a scarf for Nathan herself.
When Nathan received the scarf, he was so excited to wear it and refused to take it off, just like his son. Perhaps it was true what
others said that men were just taller versions of children. Warmth filled inside Mandy at the thought of her husband and child,
and her soft lips curved into a delicate smile.
"Adrian, come here. I'll take a picture of you." Mandy pulled her son over, who was foolishly grinning as he walked closer.
His face turned red from running around, and a layer of sweat clung to his entire body.

Mandy took a picture with her phone and noticed that it was already half-past eight.
"It's getting late. We should go home now," Mandy said, reaching out to help the boy take off his little panda sweater.