Chapter 8- Promises and Farewells

As soon as Shawn opened the door, the familiar warmth of his home wrapped around them, and they both stepped out into the cool evening air. Mandy and Zeki were already at the door, eager to say goodbye. Shawn's grandmother was standing behind them, smiling warmly at Amber.

"Thank you for coming over, Amber," his grandmother said softly. "You're always welcome here."

Amber smiled back. "I had a wonderful time. Thank you for having me."

Before Amber could turn to leave, Mandy tugged on her sleeve, her face full of excitement. "Promise you'll come back soon?" she asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

Amber knelt down to Mandy's level, her heart melting at the little girl's request. "I promise I'll visit again soon," she said with a warm smile.

Mandy's face lit up like the sun, and she hugged Amber tightly. "Yay! I'm so happy!"

Shawn's grandmother chuckled softly at the scene, her eyes twinkling with fondness. "She doesn't make promises like that to just anyone," she said. "You must've made quite an impression."

Amber stood up and nodded. "I'm glad she liked me," she said, her smile softening. It was clear that she had made a connection with Shawn's family, and it felt nice. It felt real.

Shawn gave his siblings one last wave as they turned to head inside. "Take care, you two," he called.

With a final goodbye to his grandmother, Shawn and Amber walked down the steps to the street. As they reached the sidewalk, Amber turned to Shawn with a thoughtful expression.

"Thanks again for letting me join you for dinner. It was really nice to see how you are at home," she said, looking over at him with a smile. "I'm amazed at how different you are here—so relaxed and... well, just yourself."

Shawn smiled, his expression softening. "It's different when I'm with my family. I guess I don't have to pretend to be anything I'm not. At home, it's just... comfortable."

Amber nodded. "I can see that. It was nice."

They waited in silence for a few moments before a taxi pulled up to the curb. Amber glanced over at Shawn, her thoughts still swirling. She climbed into the taxi first, and Shawn followed.

Amber gave the driver her address, and as the taxi started moving, Shawn broke the silence. "So... what's your family like?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Amber turned toward him, surprised by the question. She hadn't expected him to ask so openly about her life, but the curiosity in his eyes made her feel comfortable. She leaned back against the seat and began to share.

"Well, I'm the middle child. I have an older sister who's a nurse abroad, and my older brother is an engineer, also abroad. I have also one younger sister. My mom's an engineer, and my dad is a seaman," Amber began, her tone casual. "It's a bit quiet around the house without my siblings, but it's nice. We're close."

Shawn nodded, listening intently. Amber continued, talking about her family dynamics, the occasional family gatherings, and how she managed to balance her studies and her dreams. The conversation flowed easily, and it was the first time in a while that Amber felt like she was talking to someone who genuinely cared to listen.

After about fifteen minutes, the taxi arrived at Amber's house. Shawn turned to the driver. "Can you wait for a moment?" he asked. The driver nodded, and Shawn turned back to Amber.

"I'll wait here until you get inside," he said.

Amber smiled and nodded, opening the door. "Thanks for everything, Shawn. Really."

"No problem," he said softly. "Take care, okay?"

Amber stepped out of the taxi, pausing to look at him one last time. "I'll see you again soon," she said, her voice warm.

"I'm looking forward to it," Shawn replied, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before the taxi pulled away.

As Amber walked to her front door, she couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth in her chest. It wasn't just the night—something had changed, something had started to bloom between them. She just didn't know yet where it would lead.