24. A Loving Husband

The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow on the garden. Mr. Montgomery was tending to his plants with care, his wrinkled hands expertly pruning the leaves. I approached him quietly, not wanting to startle him. He turned around and smiled when he saw me.

"Good morning," he said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "Did you sleep well?"

I nodded. "Yes, I did. Thank you for letting me stay here."

Mr. Montgomery waved a hand dismissively. "It's no trouble at all. I'm glad you're here. And I have to thank you, too."

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Thank me? For what?"

"For convincing my son to stay here for a while," he replied, his eyes twinkling. "He's been so busy with work lately that he hardly has time to stop by."

I smiled at the thought of Marco coming here often. It was nice to imagine him taking a break from his busy life and spending time with his father. "I'm glad I could help," I said, feeling a sense of pride.

Mr. Montgomery then turned to me and looked