• The Prouds 270

Chapter Forty

After Florrie’s attempt to seduce him, Jarvis went back to
his house and entered his bedroom to find his wife crying
loudly, with her eyes full of tears and sadness in her face.
Already knowing the answer, he asked, “Why are
you crying, Abigail?”
“I heard what happened,” she replied.
She paused then added, “What does this snake want
from us?”
Her confidence in him made him feel relieved. Not
asking him what happened and calling Florrie a snake
meant that she did not believe that woman’s allegations.
“Do not worry, Abigail,” he said. “As long as you
trust me, and as long as the Prouds, including Hammond,
trust me, there is nothing that woman can do to harm us.”
He put his hands on her shoulders, trying to comfort
her. “Please, do not cry. It is all right... it is all right.”

Days later, Reynold went to Jarvis’s house. He preferred to
wait for a few days before talking to Jarvis about what had
happened between him and Florrie because he wanted to
give him time to calm down as he must be angry.