Chapter 150 - Missing Jean (1/2)

After spending 3 days on Lauriel's farm, Finland finally felt a little better. The man kept her so busy with various activities on the farm that she had no time to be sad, from harvesting vegetables and cooking in the kitchen, to canoeing in the lake and exploring the valley to look for mushrooms and various medicinal plants.

Lauriel had a great deal of knowledge about various plants and he was like a botanist explaining the benefits of the various shrubs and trees they pass through. He could tell you exactly which ones could be eaten, and which ones are poisonous. He also told his world-exploring adventures and all his stories were very thrilling and awe-inspiring.

They returned to San Francisco feeling much better. When she returned to her office, Finland was able to control her feelings and work again. She then buried herself in work to forget her sadness due to Caspar's refusal to meet her.

Over the next few months Finland became like a robot who got up just to work and take care of Aleksis. The pattern of sleep – work – Aleksis was just on repeat.

Every month Lauriel took her and Aleksis to the farm for several days and only there Finland would feel a bit of relief. The beautiful nature slowly healed her broken heart. But when they returned to San Francisco, her robotic routine repeated and controlled her life.

Finland almost never smiled again.

***

”What are you thinking about?” Anne asked suddenly while they were having lunch together.

”Uhm... what?” Finland did not pay attention to Anne's words because she was busy with her own thoughts.

”See? You're not concentrating,” said Anne, shaking her head. ”Surely you have a problem...”

”Uhm...”

”Do you want to come with me and Lucia for a girls night tonight? Let us have fun.”

”You can have fun because you don't have children,” Finland said. ”I have to take care of Aleksis.”

”You can pay for a nanny. So far, when you go to work, who takes care of Aleksis? Maybe you can ask her nanny to take overtime for just this one day. Besides, Aleksis is almost two years old, so she should be able to be left longer.” Anne urged Finland. ”I mean... if you're happy, of course Aleksis will also be happy. Come on, when was the last time you watched a movie in the cinema?”

Finland hardly watched movies in the cinema except with Jean, so the last time she watched a movie was when Jean visited Singapore almost three years ago.

Suddenly she felt deep sorrow for Jean because she was missing him so much. She was still following Jean's career development and now her best friend had entered the movie industry in America. He shared his time between Los Angeles and Paris.

As she thought of Jean, Finland suddenly remembered that Jean's latest film had just aired in the cinema, and her longing became even greater. She wanted to watch Jean's movie and satisfy her longing for her friend because for two years she could not reach him.

”Hmm... okay, let's watch a movie. Have you seen 'The Thief' yet?” Finland asked them. Jean played as the best friend of the main character in the movie.

”Not yet, but the story is very interesting. We can watch that if you want,” replied Anne.