Chapter 48

Knock, knock, knock—

The moment the rapping sounded, Tommy bounded toward the door, his little face alight with excitement.

"Grandpa and Grandma are here! Mommy made lots of yummy food!"

John Stone Sr. and Mary Stone beamed at their lively grandson, letting him tug them toward the dining area.

"Dad, Mom, dinner’s almost ready," Emily Johnson called out, carrying a steaming pot of rice to the table.

Bowls and chopsticks were already set, alongside a fragrant pot of braised pork with potatoes. Golden cornbread cakes, a recipe Emily had learned from the villagers, lined the edges of the pot.

"My, what a feast!" Mary’s eyes sparkled as she took in the spread.

John Sr. swallowed hard—the rich aroma of the stew was even more tempting than he’d imagined.

"Try the pork, Dad, Mom. It’s so tender," Emily urged warmly.

The five of them gathered around the table, digging in with cheerful chatter.

"Mmm, this meat is perfectly seasoned." John Sr. picked a piece of well-marbled pork—it melted in his mouth, earning an approving nod.

"Mom, have some more." Emily served Mary a generous portion. "The kids are still too young for too much meat—it’ll upset their stomachs."

Before Mary could reply, David had already dutifully placed meat on both grandparents’ plates. "Grandpa, Grandma, eat up!"

The pot held at least three pounds of pork and potatoes. The cornbread, dipped in the savory broth, proved even more popular than plain rice.

After the satisfying meal, Mary began clearing the dishes. Emily moved to help, but John Sr. stopped her.

"Emily, let your mother handle this. I need to talk to you."

Puzzled, she sat back down.

"This Peter Wilson business isn’t over," John Sr. murmured. "His mother made a scene today—she’ll be back tomorrow or the next day. With Michael away, your mother will stay with you for a few days."

Emily opened her mouth to protest, but John Sr. pressed on. "The Wilsons have too many brothers. Who knows what they’ll try next? And that Sophia Green..."

At the mention of Sophia, his expression darkened.

"Peter confessed she put him up to stealing from you. Weren’t you two close?"

Emily’s chest tightened. She hadn’t realized Sophia hated her enough to conspire with Peter.

"We had a falling out," Emily admitted bitterly. "But I never thought she’d go this far."

John Sr. sighed. He’d seen his share of dirty schemes over the years, but for Emily’s reputation, this had to be treated as simple theft.

"Stay alert these next few days," he warned. "With Michael gone, you’ll need to watch your back."

Emily nodded, but unease prickled through her. Something told her this wasn’t the end.