"George, clean yourself up. The guests will be here soon. What kind of state are you in...?" Mary, who was preparing a grand meal in the kitchen, didn't forget to nag her husband.
Only half a year had passed, but George had aged a lot. His expanding waistline and almost completely white hair made him look not much younger than Connie.
Because of his heart problems, he was no longer able to work as a football coach and was essentially in a state of "eating and waiting to die" at home.
"Paige isn't an outsider..." George muttered softly when he heard his wife, but he still got up and went back to his room to trim his beard and change into normal clothes.
Yes, because of his health, George hadn't left the house in a long time. Staying cooped up at home, he hadn't paid attention to his appearance for a long time.
"And Missy, if you have nothing to do, tidy up the living room. Otherwise, what will Paige think when she sees such a mess...?" Perhaps it was her age, or perhaps the pressure of the family's current situation, but Mary had gradually become a chatterbox.
Here, we need to talk about the Cooper family's current situation. Due to George's worsening heart problems, his body no longer supported him working as a high school football coach, and naturally, he had no income.
Moreover, to stabilize his condition, the money Mike had helped the Cooper family earn from stock trading before had almost all been spent.
In other words, the Cooper family's expenses were now entirely supported by Mary's work at the church.
However, the charitable work at the church didn't pay much each month.
If it weren't for George taking Mike's advice to open a used tire shop in California and earning a bit of money, sending some home every month, Mary's temper would probably be even more volatile now.
...
At dinner time in the Cooper family's dining room, there was still a sumptuous meal, but with George, Mike, and Sheldon absent, the atmosphere felt a bit desolate.
George no longer needed anyone to persuade him; because of his health, he had voluntarily quit drinking beer.
"Uncle George, Mike, who has been through this, told me that if you want to go to New York for heart treatment, he will arrange a professional medical team for you..." Paige, after seeing George's condition with her own eyes, relayed Mike's instructions.
If nothing unexpected happened, George would pass away from heart problems within the next year or two. This would make the already struggling the Cooper family's situation even worse.
Although Mike was in New York, he didn't mind helping the Cooper family within his capabilities.
"This... wouldn't be good," George was a bit surprised at first and politely refused.
He knew his own body; it had reached the point of no return, so he didn't want to trouble others.
"Mike said he would cover all expenses during the treatment period. So you can discuss it with your family before giving him an answer..." Paige showed her high emotional intelligence, and at the end, she didn't forget to add, "Actually, Mike opened a company on Wall Street and made a lot of money."
It proved that people with high IQs generally don't have low EQs; it just depends on whether they are willing to show it.
Paige was clearly like this; her high emotional intelligence this time helped the Cooper family resolve their worries.
"George, I think we can accept Mike's kindness. You don't want Mary to be the only one left to take care of Sheldon and Missy, do you?" Connie didn't treat Mike as an outsider and was naturally willing to see him help the Cooper family.
Moreover, Sheldon and Missy were still young, and if they grew up without their father's companionship, who knows what problems might arise.
"I also think you should go to New York for treatment..." Although Mary had previously shown disdain for her husband, that was all due to the pressures of life.
If he could get better, she would definitely be the first to support him.
In just a few words, the Cooper family decided to have George go to New York for treatment.
The problem now was, who would accompany him.
After all, Sheldon and Missy still needed care at home.
Ultimately, Connie said she hadn't been to New York yet and could go with George to see it.
With their biggest family dilemma resolved and hope renewed, the Cooper family's atmosphere became much more harmonious.
As evening arrived, Paige declined Connie's invitation, saying she wanted to stay with her little sister Missy.
"How's life at Columbia University? Is it interesting?" Missy, wrapped in her blanket, carefully opened the conversation.
In less than half a year apart, the once carefree Missy had grown a lot.
With her naturally high emotional intelligence, she also realized the gap between herself, Paige, and Mike. This made her feel a bit inferior without realizing it, and she hadn't said much at the dinner table earlier.
"University life is just like that. If you're interested, you can visit New York later..." Paige deliberately skipped the specific questions and then chatted with her little sister about private matters.
Among them, they inevitably talked about Mike's current situation.
Perhaps girls develop earlier than boys; Missy's height had reached about 1.6 meters, and she was clearly a beauty in the making.
However, unlike Paige, who had been beautiful since childhood, Missy, who was in puberty, had some baby fat, which might also be the reason for her insecurity.
"If you have time, you can go to New York to play. Mike should be very happy to see you," Paige suggested after their sisterly bond was restored.
Without thinking, facing "hussies" like Regina and Tina, the girl was looking for "allies" for herself.
"Can I really? Will Mike welcome me?" Not knowing what she was thinking, Missy's small face in the blanket turned red.
Her expression was just too easy to read.
"Yes, he will," Paige gave a positive answer.
Although a little embarrassed, the girl knew Mike too well.
...
The next day, after a night of counseling, Missy had regained her vitality and was as close to Paige as real sisters.
"I'll be spending Christmas in New York. If you want to, you can come find me," Paige, who was about to leave, instructed her little sister outside the Cooper family's door.
"Okay, I'll come see you..." Missy replied with a smile. Of course, she silently added in her heart: And Mike.
"Grandma Connie and Uncle George, I'll come find you again the day after tomorrow, and we'll go to New York together," Paige also instructed those who were going to New York for medical treatment.
Yes, this time, Paige only planned to stay for one day after returning home with her father.
Furthermore, at Paige's family home, after no longer being fixated on raising a super "prodigy," her parents' relationship became very harmonious.
And just like that, in only half a year, they had another fruit of their love.
At the same time, while the girl was enjoying rare family bliss, Mike, who was in New York, also received news from her.
Two days later, George would come to New York for treatment.
Out of gratitude, Mike took this matter seriously. So he temporarily put aside his studies and took a car to see John and the medical team around him.
Yes, because of John's wife, Mike had entrusted all matters of forming the medical team to John.
Therefore, the person who had been in contact with Dr. House and Dr. Sean was John.
Mike's visit this time was to first see the quality of the medical team John had assembled.
"Oh? You mean that... the big boss who paid to open this private hospital, wants to come see us?" In a hospital that looked very well-equipped, Dr. House, leaning on a cane, showed no particular joy on his face.
Next to him stood several people with various appearances, none of them showing much expression.
These people, gathered together, formed Dr. House's small medical team.
And not far from here, on the other side, stood a group of relatively young-looking individuals, dressed in attire perfectly suited for doctors.
Their expressions looked much more serious.
Among them, standing in the very center, with his fists slightly clenched from nervousness, was Dr. Sean.
Clearly, this group of young doctors was the small medical team assembled around Sean.