"No problem, she can make an appointment anytime." Maureen pulled out her business card from her bag and handed it to John.
"I suggest you find a way to send her off. The atmosphere here is getting awkward, and Detective Grey should be here soon, right?" Jack suggested kindly.
If this situation escalates, the rare gathering could be ruined, and any rumors could negatively affect John.
Everyone agreed with Jack, and all eyes turned to John.
"I'll handle it... uh, where is she?" John turned around, confused. The blonde woman who had been speaking to him in the backyard just moments ago had vanished.
"I think I saw Denise sneak into your bedroom," Tyler pointed upstairs. His sharp observational skills as a journalist were spot on.
John's expression changed dramatically, and he hurried to his bedroom, with Carris following closely.
"Jack, call 911!"
A few minutes later, Carris' anxious voice echoed from the hallway, startling everyone. They all craned their necks to see what was happening.
Soon, John and Carris were helping the blonde woman into the living room, laying her down on the floor. As Carris began to check her, an empty pill bottle rolled across the floor.
"Paul, you promised to come home. You said you would come back. How can I go on without you?" Denise, in a daze, was muttering and caressing John's cheek.
"She swallowed a whole bottle of venlafaxine. I need to induce vomiting." Carris signaled for everyone to help.
"I'll do it."
Jack put down his phone and grabbed a washbasin. He turned the blonde woman over and, using his left hand, pressed his middle finger against her stomach...
---
"Can someone explain what just happened here?" Detective Grey asked, arriving with his wife and looking puzzled at the departing ambulance.
John, looking dejected, recounted the events while stealing glances at Carris to gauge her reaction.
Carris gently stroked John's cheek and reassured him, "This wasn't your fault. And I wouldn't mind if you made up for it with another romantic candlelight dinner."
Jack, observing, noted how the older generation often showed their care differently. He glanced over at another couple, Angela was venting her frustration on Wesley, who seemed clueless about what he had done wrong.
"Did Detective Calderon give you any trouble afterward?" Jack asked Angela while tending the grill.
"You won't believe it, but before we left work, she privately apologized and invited me to participate in interrogating the bank teller."
Angela accepted the lamb skewer Jack handed her, smiling broadly.
"After the guy confessed, Detective Calderon promised to help expedite my formal entry into the detective unit."
"Girls helping girls, huh? Looks like you've got a new bestie."
Reflecting on John's earlier comments, the complex relationships among women were indeed puzzling.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the gathering, four women—Zoe, Maureen, Tyler, and Kara—were chatting and laughing, despite their varied ages, jobs, and experiences. It was baffling how they connected so effortlessly.
Jack enjoyed these simple get-togethers with friends. Everyone relaxed, enjoying food and wine, chatting happily without any scheming or conflicts. Gossip remained harmless and light-hearted. This genuine warmth of life deeply attracted a soul from another world, making him feel more integrated into this fascinating place.
As the party wound down, Tyler had drunk a bit too much and had to take a cab home. Jack offered to drive young Kara.
Over the past few months, Jack's feelings toward Kara had shifted from sympathy and pity to admiration. Despite her previous unfortunate experiences, she had quickly readjusted to a normal life. Compared to some Americans who would turn to alcohol or drugs at the slightest setback, she stood out as truly remarkable.
Thanks to his advanced psychological skills, Jack could still notice small signs of discomfort when Kara interacted with men around John's or Detective Grey's age. But he was confident that with time, these memories would fade away completely.
"Have you decided on a university yet?" Jack asked casually, knowing that she had good grades.
"I've signed an early decision agreement with the University of Chicago Law School."
Kara looked up, her eyes sparkling with pride and anticipation.
"Wow, that's impressive! Planning to become a lawyer like Wesley?" Jack exaggerated his tone, knowing that the University of Chicago Law School ranked third in the nation.
Kara scrunched her nose and made a face, seemingly annoyed by Jack's patronizing tone, but the gesture only made her look more endearing.
"I want to become a police officer and work in crime prevention."
"Kara, you're the strongest girl I've ever met," Jack said sincerely.
"Do you want any gifts for your coming-of-age celebration?"
Kara tilted her head, thinking, looking adorable, "Could you get me one of those self-defense guns like Ginny had?"
Jack, slightly annoyed at the mention of an old incident, realized the women must have gossiped about it.
"If your parents agree, I can get you a Beretta BU9 Nano. You can even choose a color you like."
The Beretta BU9 Nano is a compact semi-automatic pistol, measuring 14.3 cm long and weighing less than 600 grams, about the size of an adult woman's hand. It's become a popular choice for self-defense among women in recent years. Considering that she was heading to Chicago, a city plagued by gun violence, a small handgun for protection seemed like a good idea.
"When Hannah returns, you can ask her to teach you shooting and self-defense."
After safely dropping Kara off and watching her enter her home, Jack felt relieved. Despite finding Kara's father a bit clueless, he recognized her mother as the real head of the household.
Not every mother would be so open-minded as to let her daughter, who had been through such traumatic experiences, attend gatherings and encourage visits to the police station. Kara's mother was indeed a formidable woman.
As Jack drove away, a call from Maureen saved him from his original plan of heading home to relax. Faced with a difficult choice, he had been hesitant to make a decision today.
Under the complex gaze of the flower shop clerk, who envied and resented him simultaneously, Jack picked out two bouquets of roses, one red and one pink, and took out two sets of necklaces he had prepared earlier. He cheerfully headed to Maureen's house.
___________________
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