A Healer’s Journey

Chapter 271 Casanova
“Everyone’s hard work is appreciated, but it’s just a birthday, after all. Nancy, let’s not do this again, okay? Everyone’s really
busy, and I’m not too fussed about birthdays!” Bennett remarked as he and Nancy joined the rest of the party at the riverside
pavilion.
Bennett looked resigned, gently chiding Nancy.
Rhiannon interjected, “Mr. Sanchez, Nancy’s gesture is her way of showing her respect and love. Please don’t be too hard on
her. Plus, we have to dine anyway. Getting to celebrate your birthday while enjoying the great meal you’ve prepared is a treat for
us all.”
Shaun and the others, despite this being their first encounter with Bennett, echoed this sentiment respectfully.
Bennett, with a reluctant smile, said, “Well, if everyone insists. Give me a moment, I’ll bring out my three- year-old pineapple
wine for you all to try.”
As Bennett turned and noticed Finnegan, he nodded in acknowledgment before walking away.
Finnegan, taking a seat, queried, “Nancy, is this the first time you’ve celebrated your dad’s birthday?”
Nancy explained, “Dad’s never told me his birthday, and he avoids the question whenever I ask. I’ve never celebrated it before! I
only found out today because I stumbled upon his ID while doing laundry. Otherwise, he probably would’ve never told me.”
This elicited a laughter from Shaun, who remarked, “It’s not unusual. I always forget my parents’ and grandparents’ birthdays
until the last minute.”
“That’s pretty cold, man. I always remember my family’s birthdays. It’s a good chance to act nice and score some extra pocket
money!” Zephyr chimed in.
Their banter continued until Bennett reappeared with a clay pot.
The chatter subsided as he placed the pot down and broke its wax seal. A tantalizing scent of pineapple and alcohol filled the air.
“Brewed this three years ago,” Bennett explained. “Used almost ripe pineapples and double-distilled corn wine. By now, it should
be smooth with a slightly sour, sweet undertone.”
Shaun sniffed the aroma. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was some kind of fruit juice.”

Bennett poured the wine, cautioning, “It’s mild and not too strong to taste. But it packs a punch later on, so go easy on it.”
Jaxon, brimming with confidence, declared, “Mr. Sanchez, don’t worry about us. You’re meeting us for the first time and probably
aren’t aware of how much we can drink. This batch of your wine might not suffice for me alone.”
“All right, stop showing off.” Witnessing Jaxon slipping back into his old ways of overconfidence and showboating, Finnegan
lightly tapped his head, reprimanding, “You should realize that Mr. Sanchez’s homemade wine isn’t something you can compare
to those mass-produced liquors.”
Chuckling, Jaxon rubbed his head and jested, “Go easy on me next time, Finnegan. It really hurt! And by the way, we all address
him respectfully as ‘Mr. Sanchez. When you call him ‘Bennett,’ it sort of diminishes
III
1/3
our generation gap. Doesn’t that seem a little disrespectful?”
Yuliana, on the sidelines, couldn’t help but giggle. “Considering Finnegan is my grandfather’s master, I think we should all stick to
our roles.”
Jaxon quickly agreed, “Absolutely, everyone should stick to their roles. I definitely don’t want to be called Finnegan’s grandchild.”
This comment caused uproarious laughter throughout the room, effectively marking the start of the
dinner.
Nancy, lifting her wine glass, stood and addressed the gathering. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Finnegan and everyone
present here tonight for joining us in celebrating my father’s birthday. Let’s raise a toast to this wonderful gathering!” She took the
lead, sipping her wine, and everyone followed suit.
Turning toward her father, Nancy continued, “Dad, although I only came to live with you when I was nine, and you weren’t a part
of my earliest childhood memories, you’ve always been the dad I cherished the most. After Mom passed away, you single-
handedly raised me for twelve years, sparing no effort to provide the best for me and shielding me from any hardships. You
assumed the roles of both father and mother, teaching me valuable life lessons, how to love, and to stand tall and confident
among others.”

Pausing momentarily, she added, “And that’s why I’m making this toast to you, Dad, as a gesture of my gratitude for all that
you’ve done for me!” With that, Nancy raised her glass and emptied it in one smooth motion.
Bennett’s eyes shimmered with a hint of moisture, noticeably redder than usual. “You, my dear, should drink less of this; it packs
a punch later on. And really, it’s me who owes you thanks. You’ve taught me so much about responsibility and the true meaning
of a fulfilling life.”
He then joined in the toast, emptying his glass in one swift motion.
Zephyr, dabbing at the corners of his slightly wet eyes, complained, “Do we have to get so emotional? Now you’ve got me
missing my parents. Can’t we just focus on enjoying our drinks?”
The mood lightened as everyone laughed.
Bennett gestured for Nancy to sit down and clapped his hands, signaling the start of the meal. “Let’s dig in. The pork chop and
duck confit are best when hot. They lose their charm once they cool down.”
The table’s atmosphere gradually shifted from the earlier sentimentality to a more jovial tone. Everyone picked up their wine
glasses or chopsticks, easing into a warmer, more convivial mood.
True to Bennett’s warning, the pineapple wine, though delightful to sip, had a potent kick.
Nancy, having downed a full glass, soon appeared slightly tipsy, on the verge of dozing off.
Even Shaun, usually a seasoned drinker, was visibly affected, his face flushed and sweating lightly, a testament to the strength of
Bennett’s fruit-infused brew.
Casper, clearly under the influence, slapped Finnegan’s shoulder and slurred, “Finnegan, remember when you were little? You
used to tag along after my sister, vowing to marry her. You even made her pinky swear not to change for a hundred years. Now
look at you, all grown up and changing your mind. You’re such a rascal! Thinking about what my sister has been going through
lately, it’s heartbreaking. Her genuine feelings for you, all wasted! And you know, I doubt I’d accept anyone else as my brother-in-
law. You’ve
2/3
really thrown a wrench into my sister’s life, affecting even my idea of a brother-in-law.”

Standing beside him, Shaun, also emboldened by the wine, wrapped an arm around Casper. “You’re spot on. Mandy has been
acting odd, often sneaking peeks at Finnegan’s photos.”
After a moment, he raised his hand, declaring, “In short, Finnegan has become quite the Casanova, a real old rascal.”
As Finnegan smiled wryly, Rhiannon, intrigued, asked, “A Casanova?”
Shaun, amused, remarked, “Ever heard the saying those who meet a Casanova are forever smitten? Now it’s ‘those who meet
Finnegan are forever smitten!”
As the conversation spiraled into more absurd territory. Finnegan intervened, half-jokingly threatening, “Keep it up, and I’ll toss
you into the river to cool off.”
Rhiannon. joining in the teasing, nodded in agreement. “They might be onto something. Finn. You are kind of becoming a jerk.”
Even his sister joined in the playful ribbing. Finnegan, realizing the futility of defending himself, chose to remain silent, though
internally, he was bemused by the whole situation.
Who did I even flirt with? Is it my fault for being too charming?
Jaxon, previously boasting about his alcohol tolerance, slapped his forehead, questioning. “Mr. Sanchez, what’s the proof on
this? Did you add something extra? I’m feeling woozy.”
Bennett, clear-eyed, answered, “It was initially sixty-two percent, but now it’s around forty-seven or forty- eight percent. I’ve
added some sleep-inducing herbs for relaxation.”
Finnegan sipped his drink quietly, his expression unchanging.
He knew exactly what herbs Bennett had added in there!