"I am not going to be the middleman. Far from it, you two can settle your problems by yourself. Just don't involve me. I'm not taking any sides. All I am saying is you both must resolve this," Michael said.
"I hear you," Nine replied.
"Good. Well, I am going to leave you now. Enjoy your very boring Saturday," Michael laughed.
"Mhmm, well enjoy yours as well," Nine replied.
"Don't worry. I won't leave you alone like a bad person. I will call you later," he smiled.
"Mhmm.".
"Talk to you later," he said.
"Talk to you later," Nine replied.
Michael ended the call. Nine sighed and placed his phone on the counter. He looked around the empty apartment, his unfished bowl of cereal. The entire atmosphere leaked of loneliness.
He was not a fan of television. Which shows would he even watch? All of Charlie's shows were the ones on saved to record on the television.
Nine sighed, he left the counter and sat on the couch. He picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts. There were not many contacts there, only the important ones.
His hand stopped on the contact of someone named hon. He wanted to call her, but it was too early to do so. It was a Saturday morning, everyone was probably sleeping in. They were not like him who was an early bed.
Nine shook his head and tried his best to finish eating his cereal. Sitting at home alone was annoying. He actually wished he had to go to work today.
"Well, that is enough sleeping," Michael yawned. He got out of bed and scratched his back.
He turned to Charlie, he almost wanted to wake him up, but then he remembered how annoying he was yesterday, so he decided to let him sleep in and miss breakfast.
Michael chuckled to himself, he was dangerous like that. He walked into the bathroom, brushed his teeth and washed his face.
...
Ernest Jr muttered to himself. He entered his father's house. He cursed that he listened to his mother and bought a house in the same estate his father's house was in.
Being right across the street from each other was very annoying. That was why his father could be at his house often and why his father sent him on stupid errands.
Ernest Jr entered through the back door in the kitchen. He was met by Alfred.
"Good morning, Ernest," Alfred smiled.
"Good morning, Alfred," Ernest Jr replied in a grumpy manner.
"What is the matter? Did you run out of tea?" Alfred asked, he noticed the teacup in his hand.
"No, we did not run out of tea, Alfred. My annoying father wants me to make his tea the way he likes it because Joy made his tea and it she did not make it the way he liked it," Ernest Jr scoffed.
Alfred could not help but chuckle. He could see how irritated Ernest Jr was. He was always like that. He and his father did not always see eye to eye, but if there was one thing sure, it was that he obeyed his father with no questions asked although he did not believe it was the best decision to make.
"You really do not like that, do you?" Alfred laughed.
Ernest Jr frowned at him, "Unlike you, my father does not pay me, so I do not have to be loyal to him.".
Alfred did not take offence to Ernest Jr's words. Far from it, they were used to harmless banter between them.
"How nice, but you are mistaken, Ernest. I am not loyal to your father because he pays me," Alfred laughed. "You know that if he was to stop paying me at this moment, I would stay still to serve him and be loyal to him. He is like a father to me, I have spent so long serving him that he's family, you all are," he added.
"Now, I know you, and I know that you woke up in a bad mood because of the presence of Dominic and the others. Instead of being angry all day, why not enjoy the fact that your children and grandchild are here?".
"I have nothing against having my granddaughter here, she is lovely. The rest of them are simply going to eat all my food, go to places in my house they shouldn't and finally fill the entire space with noise," Ernest Jr scoffed.
"Oh, admit it, we need a little noise in our lives at this age we are in. You know it's true. Were you not talking about how quiet it was a few days ago? Now it is time for some noise," Alfred laughed.
"Yes, I was talking about that, but I don't want too much noise, just a little bit," Ernest Jr frowned.
"Ernest, you are simply sulking because you are in a bad mood and master sent you here to make him his tea the way he likes it because he wants to spare his great granddaughter's feelings as the good father, grandfather and great grandfather he is," Alfred smiled.
"Good indeed. How good of a father, grandfather and great grandfather he is seeing as in typical fashion, my father sent me here to make his tea. I had to sneak out of my own home like some sort of criminal!" he replied.
Alfred could not help but laughed out loud. Ernest Jr was in a bad mood today. Before he poured it all out of him, Alfred shook his head.
"There, there. I am sure Margaret is not in support of this foul mood of yours," Alfred said.
"You all can say whatever you want to say," Ernest Jr shook his head. He threw the rest of the tea down the drain.
"Here, let me help you make it the way he likes," Alfred offered.
"You are talking as if I was even going to try to make it with you here," Ernest Jr said with a shake of his head.
Alfred laughed grabbing another teacup, "Of course, of course.".
"You know how picky he is, even if I made it perfectly, he would still find a way to say it is not to his taste," Ernest scoffed.
Alfred boiled some water on the stove. He mixed the milk, teabag and sugar the way he knew Ernest liked it.
"He's old Ernest. We do not have him for that long, we should cherish the moments we have with him.".
"He's not going anywhere anytime soon. I know him. He's going to be with us for quite a long time," Ernest Jr shrugged.
"I am happy you think that, but that may not always be so," Alfred smiled.
"Here, he should be happy with this," he said handing Ernets Jr the teacup.
"I am sure he will be. I apologize for being in a bad mood, how are you?" he asked.
"I am well, so very well. I feel much better now and I am excited to come and see everyone. I know that they have been very worried about me," he said.
"Yes, yes they have been. When will you come over?".
"Very soon, I just need to tidy up things over here," Alfred smiled.
"Do not stress yourself too much, you are still recovering," Ernest Jr reminded him.
"Thank you, thank you I won't, and I know," Alfred laughed.
Ernest Jr took his leave. As soon as he stepped outside he sighed. It was time to deliver this tea to his beloved father.
...
"I am sure I have rested enough now," Dom smiled to himself. He got out of bed. He could not wait to see his lovely daughter and have enjoy time with his family. No office, no work, no deals to close. It was like a dream come true and he could not wait for it to begin.
Dom picked up his phone. He scrolled through his contacts and thought about calling Nine. He had a feeling that Nine was so bored at the moment, but then again, it was Nine, he was probably fine, so he decided to call him later. Nine could take care of himself. He proved that many times.
He opened the door and walked out into the hall happily. It felt like Saturday morning when he was younger. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful, the scent of delicious food lingered in the air.
Natasha and Lulu walked out of her room at the same moment. They were caught up in a conversation. Both parties met each other in the hallway.
"Good morning, Dom," Lulu smiled.
Dom smiled at her, "Good morning.".
The first thing his eyes met was Natasha. He did not know why she caught his attention first, but she did.
"Good morning guys, how wonderful this morning is!" Michael sang as he walked in the middle of them. How nice to see the rest of his family up at this time and all under the same roof.