Chapter 3872
Although her daughters-in-law were not born to her, Mrs. Lewis treated each one with the love of a mother. As long as they joined the Lewis family, supported their husbands, and brought children into the family, she cherished them as daughters. She gifted each daughter-in-law treasured jewelry, intending for these pieces to be passed down to her grandchildren one day.
The in-laws of the Lewis family were wealthy in their own right, and each daughter-in-law brought a considerable dowry. Jewelry was not something they lacked, yet they still valued Mrs. Lewis’s gifts and promised to pass them down within the family. The young wives of the Lewis family had already begun collecting jewelry for their own daughters, fostering a family culture that treated all children equally, regardless of gender.
Mrs. Lewis had a special fondness for her granddaughters, having had only sons herself. She had once worried that the Lewis home would resemble the York household, where sons greatly outnumbered daughters. Fortunately, her family was balanced, with both grandsons and granddaughters: four grandsons and three granddaughters. As for Duncan, whether he and Liberty would have a child remained uncertain, but Mrs. Lewis secretly hoped for a granddaughter with Liberty’s gentle features rather than Duncan’s rugged appearance.
Liberty accepted the set of jade jewelry from Mrs. Lewis with a heartfelt, “Thank you, Mom.” Mrs. Lewis beamed. “No need to thank me; these are for you, after all.” Following Mrs. Lewis’s gift, Duncan’s aunts and sisters-in-law also presented Liberty with gifts. She hadn’t expected to receive so many at a simple family dinner, but declining them would seem ungrateful. So, with a warm smile, she accepted them all graciously.
They graciously accepted all the gifts. Even Sonny received presents from the family when he returned from playing with Rocco, who was just as energetic and mischievous as ever. After dinner, Liberty went out for a walk with Sonny, Rocco, and Duncan.
As soon as the two boys left the house, they bolted off like wild horses, quickly disappearing around the corner. Liberty chuckled at the sight. “Now I see why Mom and Third Sister-in-law are always worried about Rocco. He’s a little whirlwind! No wonder Sonny talks about him so much. Rocco is even more of a handful than his uncle Rowan.”
Rowan, who was preparing for college, had matured significantly. Although he still had his spirited moments and enjoyed taking Sonny on little adventures, he was mostly a responsible companion, almost like a protective nanny to Sonny. In contrast, Rocco was at the perfect age for nonstop play. Whenever he took Sonny along, he would go full speed—climbing and running without ever slowing down.
Duncan chuckled and said, “Sonny’s still young. Kids should have the freedom to enjoy themselves while they can. Once he starts school, he’ll have a lot more on his plate, and he might not be able to play as freely as he does now.”
Duncan understood that as smart as Sonny was, his academic journey would inevitably bring additional pressures and responsibilities. In time, he would come to grasp the demands of learning, but Duncan also valued a joyful, carefree childhood—a foundation that would help Sonny thrive in whatever challenges lay ahead.