Enduring Love Under Clear Skies

Sunny OConnell tossed her luggage outside the door, kicked off her high heels at the doorstep, and rushed into the living room like a gust of wind, as light and cheerful as a cat returning from a night outing. In fact, she wanted to surprise Jay Gatsby, to see the look of disbelief and ecstasy on his face.

"Ha, Gatsby," she whispered sweetly, not even noticing the strange expression on Mrs. Thompsons face as she saw her.

She shushed Mrs. Thompson with a "Shh," and quickly tiptoed to the bedroom door.

Suddenly, she seemed to be frozen. The sounds coming from the bedroom were unmistakable, interspersed with Jay Gatsbys heavy breathing.

She began to tremble slightly. After driving for six hours to get back, this was not the welcome she had expected. Was this some kind of soap opera?

Her legs buckled, and she stumbled into the door, the noise alerting the people inside. After a brief silence, the bedroom door opened, and everything inside suddenly came into Sunnys view—Linnea Price stared at her in shock, and Jay Gatsby stood before Sunny in his pajamas.

Jay said nothing. Sunny bit her lip hard, wanting to stand up but unable to muster any strength. She was looked down upon by Jay Gatsby.

A smile suddenly appeared on Sunnys pale face. She smiled weakly at Jay, "I drove for six hours, Im so tired and dizzy, I cant do this, Im going to wash my face first, this must be some kind of illusion..."

She struggled to stand up and tried to escape, but Jay grabbed her, "Sunny OConnell, this is not an illusion. As you can see, this is the reality." Jay Gatsbys calmness shattered Sunnys last illusion. She stepped back until her back was against the wall, cornered and crying out in despair, "No! Its not like this, its not!"

At that moment, Linnea wrapped in a light pink nightgown walked out, holding a tissue to hand to Sunny. Sunny trembled as if she had seen something terrible, mumbling, "Dr. Lin, how could it be you..."

She grabbed Linneas shoulders, and Linnea winced, "Ouch..."

Before Sunny could speak, Jay had stepped between the two, shielding Linnea tightly behind him, and sternly ordered, "Mrs. Thompson, take Miss OConnell to her room."

Sunny was stunned again: When had this place stopped being her room? She had only been gone for eight months, and now the room was no longer hers, replaced by her most trusted Dr. Lin?

Mrs. Thompson came over, silently supported Sunny, and took her to the guest room at the far north, settled her down, poured her a cup of tea, and then left.

"No, something must be wrong, Gatsby couldnt possibly treat me like this..."

At that moment, there was a commotion at the door. Sunny saw Linnea walk in, still casually wrapped in that nightgown, but without the previous vulnerability.

"Sunny OConnell, youve seen it all. Jay Gatsby loves me, its always been me, and in the end, he chose me too."

"Bitch!" Sunny found strength she didnt know she had and grabbed Linneas clothes: "Linnea, wheres your face? Gatsby is your patient, how can you say youve always liked him, what qualifications do you have to say that?" Sunny was trembling all over.

"Sunny OConnell, look clearly, hes not married, Im not married, why cant we be together?"

Sunny was stunned. What Linnea said was the truth. She and Jay Gatsby had been together for twenty years, had been talking about marriage, but Jays father suddenly passed away, and their wedding had to be postponed for three years.

Could it be that without that piece of paper, Linnea had taken the opportunity to step in?

Linnea forcefully broke free from Sunny, speaking in a low voice, "Miss OConnell, if you know whats good for you, youll know what to do. Or do you insist on staying here to watch us show our love?"

Before Sunny could speak, she continued with sarcasm, "I never expected that the gentle and refined Miss OConnell would actually use such language. Where did you learn this from? Its not like the Miss OConnell I knew!"

Sunny picked up the hot tea that Mrs. Thompson had just brought and splashed it onto Linneas face.

"Linnea, you deserve these two words. And remember, Garden Manor was left to me by my father, and I can make irrelevant people get out at any time!"