Lake did not stay in the town of Forks long.
After all, the Cullens are all vampires, and he is just an ordinary man. So, after staying in the small town of Forks with his little girl for about five or six days, Lake returned to New York.
He planned to save some money, and when he had enough, he would use up all the lottery draws in the first phase.
To this end, he also used his credit card to withdraw 120,000 US dollars and specifically improved his credit rating at a mainland hotel.
Tony Stark called because Lake used his Stark credit card to directly swipe $120,000 at a fried chicken restaurant. The risk control department of Stark Bank detected it, and Jarvis told Lake.
This is not.
Tony Stark called and teased Lake about whether he was planning to cash out and run away. Of course, it was a joke, but he asked Lake in a teasing tone whether there was any problem with cash flow.
Of course Lake said no.
In fact, Lake paid back the cash in one lump sum in the second month.
During that month, Lake took five orders from the Continental Hotel in one go. None of them were in New York, but all were near New York.
What?
in principle?
People are joking about whether they are short of money and still care about principles. Can principles be used to make a living?
The total amount of the five orders was about 670,000 US dollars. After paying back the 120,000 US dollars to Stark Bank, Lake estimated that, not counting the more than 100 million US dollars that were waiting to be recharged in a bank for the lottery, the money he could get was almost enough to cover Sky's tuition and training courses, so he stopped immediately.
The FBI and SHIELD, which pretended to be the FBI, came up empty-handed once.
soon.
Another new year has arrived.
2004!
Washington Airport.
Lake took Skye and returned to New York on January 4th, the same as last year, after spending Christmas with Karen, Betty and Ross.
It was Cassell and Alexis who came to pick us up at the airport.
Downstairs of Xingchen Building.
Cassell said to Lake: "By the way, Lake, don't forget, Owen is leaving at the 8867 bar tonight."
Lake nodded.
Owen, whose full name is Owen Strand, is the fire captain of the 252nd Precinct of the New York Fire Department. He is also a mutual friend of Lake and Cassel.
Tonight is Irving's last day in New York.
In the Lone Star State, also known as Texas, a fire company 126 there was unfortunately hit by an explosion half a month ago while fighting a fire. They had no time to react. Only one person survived, and the rest were all killed in the fire.
so...
At the invitation, Owen planned to take his son to the Lone Star State to rebuild the 126th Fire Department, so Owen planned to invite Lake and Cassel to have another drink before leaving.
Return home.
Skye, who is now fifteen years older this year, sank into the sofa and said, "I don't want to get up. When can I stay home alone?"
Lake walked to the bar and got a drink: "This one, when you get your license, so, next year?"
At sixteen, Skye was able to get a driver's license, which meant she could stay at home for a short period of time and would not be in trouble with the Child Welfare Agency.
Skye turned over on the sofa: "Did you know Betty is in a relationship?"
Lake took a sip of bourbon and looked at Skye: "I don't know."
Skye rolled her eyes, "You agreed not to run away this year, but you ended up staying home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Then you went to see your girlfriend and left me at home."
Lake laughed out loud.
Going back was not a choice before, after all, Lake didn't have an apartment in Washington, DC. But this year it was different. Lake spent most of his time living with his girlfriend Rachel in DC.
Of course.
Lake also saw Rachel's eight-year-old daughter, who was adopted by Rachel and her ex-husband Ray.
Rachel also seemed happy to see Lake and her daughter getting along well.
Lake didn't have any objection. Let's put it this way, as long as she was a girl, whether she was someone else's or his own, Lake liked her very much.
reason?
It's not his own child, so Lake doesn't care what he looks like or what kind of person he will become. Naturally, he doesn't care. How could he get angry about this?
Skye just lived at home with Karen and Betty.
Lake shrugged and said, "I think this is pretty good. After all, you are all girls."
Skye rolled over on the couch and sat up, "Are you serious about that Rachel?"
Lake laughed and said, "I refuse to answer this question."
He has already passed this problem.
I don't want to get married.
As long as Lake doesn't get married or fall in love, he is free, which perfectly solves the problems of two-timing or being a scumbag.
Skye shrugged, stood up and walked upstairs.
Lake raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't forget that you will start school in a few days. Don't stare at the computer too much. Protect your eyesight."
Skye waved without turning around.
Lake sipped the wine in his glass and smiled helplessly as he watched Skye walk up the spiral staircase.
Skye is different from Rachel's son. After all, Lake is legally Skye's adoptive father. Naturally, Lake still cares about Skye.
Probably...
Little cotton-padded jacket Catherine is older than Skye, older than the rebellious son David, and older than Rachel's daughter.
Um.
This is how it is arranged in Lake's mind.
Eight o'clock in the evening.
Lake put on his suit jacket, then his coat, then took out twenty dollars from his wallet and put them on the table. He said to Skye who was clearing the table, "I'm going out. Remember, don't run around."
Skye collected the twenty dollars she was paid for doing today's chores. "Got it. I'll go downstairs and watch some TV with Alexis after I'm done."
Lake hummed, said nothing more, turned around and left the house.
Even though two years have passed, Skye is still unwilling to accept the pocket money given by Lake. There is no way, Lake can only increase Skye's income from doing housework.
After all, last time Lake colluded with Mrs. Akali on the eighth floor. As a result, when Sky came back, he looked at Lake speechlessly with two hundred US dollars in his hand, and asked which babysitter could get two hundred US dollars for two hours of care.
so...
Lake was very happy. At least, Skye was not a fool. Moreover, she was very similar to him when it came to money. They were both very independent. Because of his adoption, she did not become like those beautiful and rich girls in the school who thought that one hundred dollars had low purchasing power.
8867 Bar.
As soon as Lake walked into the bar, he saw Cassell and Irving waving at him from a distance.
Come closer.
Lake hugged Owen who had stood up, then took off his coat, pulled out a chair and sat down: "Where's Taylor? Isn't he here?"
Owen, who was older than Lake and Cassell, spread his hands and said, "His proposal failed yesterday, and he's recovering at home."
"Oh, that's too bad," Lake said.
Owen's son Taylor is 23 years old this year. Like Owen, he follows in his father's footsteps and is also a firefighter. However, there is one difference between Taylor and his father Owen.
Well...
Owen is a man and likes women, while his son Taylor is a man and likes men.
It's a gay!
Lake has received good training on whether they are gay or not. After all, when he was in the army, there was a policy of not asking or talking, so Lake also maintained this attitude towards groups with different orientations from ordinary people.
Mind your own business.
Wine is served.
Cassel raised his glass: "Cheers."
Lake also raised his glass and said to Owen, "Have a safe trip. Once you're settled there, Cassel and I will go over there. Remember to treat us."
Owen smiled and said, "Of course, anytime."
The three wine glasses clinked together.
Drink it all in one gulp.
Owen clenched his fist into his mouth and coughed a few times.
Seeing this, Cassel smiled and said, "Man, this is just the first cup."
Owen waved his hand, put down his glass, and then said to Lake and Cassel after a moment of silence, "I went to the hospital for a checkup yesterday, and the doctor told me something not so good. Plus, Taylor overdosed on medication after a breakup, so I decided to go to the Lone Star State."
Cassell wiped his face and said, "God, Owen, Jesus Christ, what happened? Why didn't you tell us in the first place?"
Lake said, "What does the hospital say?"
Owen shook his head. "Lung cancer, fortunately, the doctor said it's only in stage 1B and hasn't spread to the lymph nodes. It's a blessing in disguise."
Cassel said in disbelief.
Lake was also a little surprised. After all, the people he had come into contact with were very healthy, or they had killed themselves, and no one around him had cancer.
Owen smiled and said, "It's okay. My doctor told me a very interesting story."
The story is that a person's good mood can eliminate cancer, just like a person with cancer who simply lets go of himself and does what he wants, sees many beautiful scenery, does many things he didn't have time to do before, and then goes back to the hospital for a follow-up visit. As a result, the tumor is gone.
This cannot be taken seriously. At most, it can only be used as a placebo to illustrate that maintaining a good and cheerful mood is the most important thing.
Lake nodded and said, "Technology is so advanced now, and your discovery is still in its early stages. Who knows, by the end of this year, there might be new medical results."
Living in this Marvel universe, there are many unfortunate things, but there are also fortunate things.
At least there are a lot of black technologies here.
Who knows when we'll wake up and see a company come out and say they've conquered cancer? It's not impossible.
Then we drank and talked.
Especially after knowing that Owen was ill, the farewell became even more sad, so the wine was poured glass by glass and the words were spoken sip by sip.
By the time the three of them walked out of the bar, it was almost eleven o'clock.
The three of them hailed a taxi and sent Owen home first. Then Lake and Richard returned to the Star Building.
Without a doubt.
Cassell was scolded and given a cold towel by Alexis.
Lake was also scolded by Skye for heating the towel.
Although Cassel was drunk, Lake was not.
but...
Sky looked at Alexis who was complaining about Cassell over there, and always felt that he had to do something. After all, he was his good friend and they needed to stand on the same front.
…
PS: Owen - from "S.R.I.E.: Lone Star"