Thanksgiving, an important holiday in Arica, and the Carter siblings had sent out formal invitations early, with Martin specifically ordering a roast turkey.
In the afternoon, Elena began preparing dinner ahead of ti.
Martin called Harris to pick up the roast turkey from the restaurant together.
In the car, Harris brought up the star business, "I've taken on a partner who helped create an official website for the Atlantic Astronomy Association. Now all the custors who buy stars will be able to find their records on the website."
Martin agreed, "You've thought it through, this can increase custor trust."
Harris continued, "Our performance this month has doubled, the astronomy association sold 24 stars. Martin, I've converted your share of the inco into equity. You just need to sign the agreent later."
He had ntioned it several tis, and seeing Harris's insistence, Martin said, "I'll sign it when we get back."
The two picked up the roast turkey and desserts like pumpkin pie and chocolate pie and returned to the Carter family ho.
Upon entering the living room, Martin noticed the atmosphere was off, as if Lily and Hol had been crying, while Elena had a tight expression and remained silent.
He set down the al boxes and asked, "What happened?"
Lily, with her head down, said, "Emma just called."
"Which Emma?" Martin didn't connect the dots at first; Emma had been out of his life for the past half year.
Elena said, "Emma-Carter, Scott's wife, my mother, your father's mistress."
Martin's mind took several turns to untangle the ssy relationship.
He asked, "Emma ca back? What about Jack?"
Lily shouted, "That bastard Jack left Emma!"
Martin looked towards Elena.
"Emma called from Hawaii; Jack took all her money." Elena's emotions were complex, "Then he disappeared."
Recalling an important concern, Martin asked, "She didn't take a high-interest loan, did she?"
"No," Elena gestured for Martin to go outside to talk, and once in the yard, she said, "I'm going to transfer 200 US dollars to her account tomorrow and book a plane ticket from Hawaii to Atlanta for her."
She lowered her voice, "I don't trust her, but it's better for Lily and Hol to have a mother."
Martin grabbed her arm, making another suggestion, "Since Emma is back, why don't you co with to Los Angeles?"
Outside the wooden fence, Scott lood with lagging steps, carrying a bottle of Tequila without a cap.
Elena glanced at Scott and said, "I might go to Los Angeles in a few years, but I can't now. Emma and Scott together would ruin them."
It was a conflicted feeling, needing parents but also having to guard against them.
Scott entered the yard and asked, "What are you two losers doing here? Is the Thanksgiving dinner ready?"
Elena glared at him, "It's Thanksgiving today, don't push to kick you out."
She went back to prepare dinner.
Martin reminded Scott specifically, "It's a holiday tonight, try to say less."
Scott, not drunk or high, responded, "I'll try."
Inside the house, Martin went to help Elena.
Scott found a place to sit down, alone with his drink as no one cared to interact with him.
The dinner was lavish, with the turkey and desserts that Martin bought, Elena had also made spaghetti, mashed potatoes, vegetable salad, and honey glazed ham.
Everyone gathered around the dinner table, and Scott moved to cut the roast turkey with a knife and fork.
Elena was quicker, taking the knife and fork herself.
Martin roughly understood, it seed to represent the head of the family.
The dinner was silent, lacking the usual liveliness, even Lily didn't feel like talking.
After dinner, the Elena sisters cleaned up the table, while Martin, holding a bottle of beer, stepped outside to sit on the steps, pondering over his upcoming trip to Los Angeles.
In his more than half a year in Atlanta, Martin gained not just crucial contacts and experience but also sothing far more important - money.
Without enough money, he would still need to work part-ti in Los Angeles.
Martin now had 130,000 US dollars from water bottle proceeds and 150,000 US dollars from his role in "Zombie Stripper".
His regular expenses were covered by his salary as a social investigator.
The door suddenly opened, and Lily, also holding a beer, ca out and sat next to Martin.
She clinked her bottle against his, took a sip, and said, "It's not as tasty as the foam beauty you make, even though that thing tastes weird..."
Martin stared at her.
Realizing what she said, Lily leaned in, "Go ahead and hit ."
Martin pushed her head back and said, "If you don't act up, Elena can be fifty percent more at ease."
Lily seed not to understand, "You sound just like Harris when you talk."
Martin slowly continued with his beer.
Lily rummaged in her pocket, pulled out a crystal star, and handed it to Martin, "You're going to Los Angeles, and chances are you won't co back. I hope you'll rember there's a girl nad Lily Carter in Atlanta."
Martin examined the blue star in the light of the yard, "Did you make this?"
"All handmade." Lily gestured, "You forgot, the water bottle was my work too."
Martin accepted it: "Thanks for your lucky star."
But Lily's words were hidden behind: "It will make you lucky enough to not break your arm like Harris did!"
Martin was so angry he wanted to smash soone with a beer bottle.
Lily stood up: "I need to go back and review my lessons."
"You're reviewing your lessons?" Martin was quite surprised.
"Don't look down on people." Lily walked away, her words still spilling out: "With a little effort, I can skip a grade and take the tests for schools in Los Angeles earlier."
This girl was always saying unreliable things, and Martin couldn't be bothered to discern their truth.
After finishing a beer, Martin felt soone staring at him from behind. Turning his head, he saw Scott leaning against the wall by the door.
"Idiot, I warn you for the last ti." Scott prepared to head back to the grocery store, ca over to Martin, and said: "Your old man, Jack, ran off with my wife. If you dare run away with my eldest daughter, I will never let you go..."
He lifted the tequila bottle in his hand: "I'll use it to smash your head in!"
Martin pointed outside: "Go back to sleep quickly, and be careful not to get robbed by the black guys on the street."
Scott's heart skipped a beat, being cautious all the way, especially before he opened the door, taking out the powerful flashlight he had specially purchased to shine it in the dark places.
Martin went inside to tell Elena, then went back to pack his luggage. He didn't have any large items; clothes and so daily necessities were put into a suitcase, ready to leave early the next morning.
Just as he was about to rest, Elena ca looking for him. The old worn wooden bed couldn't withstand their vigorous activities and finally collapsed with a bang.
Martin had no choice but to drag out the mattress and throw it on the floor.
The two of them tossed and turned so fiercely that it almost made Jas in the backyard want to crawl out of the ground.
Martin picked up the car keys from the wooden floor and tossed them to Elena: "It's yours now."
"I'll drive it for now." Elena was always straightforward: "I won't go to send you off tomorrow. You find your own way to the airport."
Martin took out his phone and called Bruce: "Old Cloth, wake up early tomorrow and take to the airport."
Strange noises ca from the receiver, Bruce roared: "You piece of dog shit, can't you call during the day?"
"Keep it up." Martin hung up the phone.
Elena, who had been eavesdropping by the phone the whole ti, couldn't help laughing: "Old Cloth is such a pervert."
Martin said: "Old Cloth has the potential to beco a perverted killer."
The next morning, Bruce ca to pick up Martin in his new car.
Harris helped carry the suitcase out and put it in Bruce's car.
Elena ran back ho, took out the new phone she had forgotten the night before, and gave it to Martin.
There wasn't much sorrow or reluctance among the people; with modern transportation and cheap airlines, traveling between Los Angeles and Atlanta wasn't difficult.
As Bruce drove out of the Clayton Community, he asked: "Think carefully, did you forget to bring anything?"
Martin smiled: "As long as I have money, what can't I buy?"
Bruce sped up: "Atlanta without you, a pile of dog shit, will be more peaceful."
Martin retorted: "Without a civilized person like you, ten tis more."
Bruce was unconcerned: "Buddy, go wreak havoc on Californians, knock down all the gays, lesbians, junkies, and maniacs there. Believe in yourself, you've got plenty of lousy ideas and bad plans!"
Martin replied: "If I can't handle it, I'll definitely give you a call, you civilized person."
Both of them arrived at Atlanta International Airport, and Bruce escorted Martin all the way to the security checkpoint.
Martin was ready to line up.
Bruce patted him hard on the shoulder: "If you're going to roll around in that stinking cesspool of Hollywood, buddy, don't co rolling back here with your tail between your legs."
Martin had the sa response: "Civilized man, don't drop dead; I won't be taking your funeral call."
Bruce waved his hand: "Go on then."
Martin passed through security, arrived near the boarding gate, and sat down to wait. Benjamin and Catherine arrived together in a rush.
Catherine was dressed beautifully, by looks alone, she outshone Julia Roberts.
The three of them were well acquainted with each other. Without any hesitation, Catherine said: "Once I go this ti, I don't want to co back."
Martin didn't need to hide his own intentions: "I also want to stay in Hollywood to develop; maybe this is a good opportunity."
About the matter with Louise l and Robert Patrick, apart from Kelly Gray, Martin never really told anyone.
Soone like him wouldn't share his connections for others to use.
Catherine continued to fantasize about the glamor of Hollywood.
In contrast, Benjamin was more conservative: "I will finish the contract with Gray Company and then decide where to develop."
The good news about the wide release of "Zombie Stripper" relentlessly stimulated Catherine's nerves: "If the film can be a little hit, do I stand a chance of landing a big role? Julia Roberts got on the plane to superstardom from here."
Benjamin reminded her: "You're getting a bit too excited, fantasizing too much."
The boarding announcent played over the loudspeakers, and Martin called out to them: "Ti to board the plane."
Walking down the boarding bridge onto the plane, entering economy class, Martin's seat was right next to the window. The engines roared as the runway zood backwards.
The airliner soared into the sky; looking down from high above, Atlanta lay in full view.
Whether going to heaven or diving into hell, you have to transit through Atlanta.
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