Ernest Jr walked into his house. He heard the approaching sound of his wife's laughs and Joy's giggles. In a panic, he rushed back outside and closed the door softly. He could not allow them see him walking in with a teacup filled with new tea. It would raise many questions and his father would never let him live it down if Joy found out he did not like the tea she had prepared for him.
"Be careful there, my dear. Don't slip on the floors, I just shined them yesterday, they might still be a bit slippery," Margaret said.
"Yes, grandma," Joy smiled. She walked into the closet and brought out a pink pair of rubber sandals her grandma bought for her.
"Do you like them, my dear?" Margaret asked.
"I love them so much, grandma, thank you," Joy smiled. She gave her a tight hug.
Margaret smiled, "I am glad you do, my dear.".
Ernest Jr was irked, he was waiting for them to leave so he could stop hiding outside the door like some sort of crook.
"I am going to wear it everywhere," Joy giggled.
Margaret laughed, it was nice to have Joy appreciate something so much.
"Well, my dear, let's return back to the kitchen and set the table. Everyone should be waking up soon," she said.
"Okay," Joy ran ahead of her and Margaret laughed. This was going to be a very enjoyable week for them.
Ernest Jr was waiting for a few more minutes, he did not want to risk them coming back and seeing him. He hated this, this would be the last time his father would send him on a useless errand.
Ernest Jr opened the front door slowly. He almost accidentally spilt the tea. In one quick stride he rushed into the living room where his father had helped himself to his newspaper.
"Finally, it took you so long Junior," Ernest frowned.
Ernest Jr nearly scoffed out loud. His father was so inconsiderate. He simply handed him his tea and sat down.
Ernest Jr saw how his father's eyes lit up when he drank his tea.
"Now this is some real tea. No offence to my lovely great granddaughter but, what she made was good for her age," Ernest laughed shaking his head.
"I am not going to be a tea smuggler again, father," Ernest Jr said.
"Oh, tea smuggling, that is such a nice way to put it, " Ernest burst into laughter.
Ernest Jr did not find that funny at all. In fact, he was even more annoyed.
"It is a shame, you are a very good tea smuggler," he joked.
"Mhmm, you wouldn't be saying that if it were drugs," he replied.
"But it's not drugs, it's tea and that is more delicious and more safe than drugs," Ernest replied.
Ernest Jr scoffed.
...
"Good morning, Michael," Natasha and Lulu smiled.
"Morning," Dom smiled. "And yes, the morning is so wonderful.".
"It feels so good to sleep in," Michael said stretching.
"I know right. No having to wake up early to rush to work," Dom said.
"I agree, so where's Charlie?" Natasha asked.
"That guy was so annoying. Last night he made the journey here unbearable, and then when we arrived, he refused to come out of the car since he was asleep, it wasn't until aunt used some cinnamon that he woke up," Michael frowned.
"Cinnamon always works on Charlie, I do not know why," Lulu laughed.
"It's like his kryptonite," Natasha chuckled.
"Mhmm, well should we wake him up or what?" Dom asked.
"No way, let him sleep in. I am sure we won't be like him and we will leave some food for him. Breakfast smells delicious, come on," Michael rushed down the stairs.
Dom laughed, "After you, ladies," he said moving away.
"Why thank you, lovely brother of mine," Lulu smiled. Natasha shook her head, she walked down the stairs and Lulu followed behind her, followed by Dom.
All four of them walked into the living room.
"Good morning, grandfather, good morning uncle," Michael smiled.
"Ahh, good morning, Michael," Ernest smiled.
"Good morning, grandfather, uncle," Natasha smiled.
"Good morning, my dear girl, how was your rest?" Ernest Jr smiled.
"It was good, grandfather, how are you doing?" Natasha asked giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I am well, my dear. So very well," he smiled.
"Good morning grandfather," Lulu gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good morning, father," she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Good morning, my love," Ernest smiled.
"Morning, Lulu," Ernest Jr smiled.
"What's wrong?" Lulu asked her father. She was quick to notice the foul mood he was in.
"Nothing," Ernest Jr replied eyeing his father.
Lulu noticed this as well, she did not believe that it was nothing.
"Good morning, grandfather, father," Dom smiled.
"Good morning, Dominic," the two replied in a chorus.
"How has your morning been?" he asked.
"Lovely," Ernest said.
"Terrible," Ernest Jr replied.
"Mhmm, well I am hungry," Dom said.
"You are in luck because I prepared so much food for everyone," Margaret laughed as she walked into the room.
"Good morning, mom," Dom smiled. He hugged his mother and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Lulu did the same.
"Good morning, aunt," Michael and Natasha said.
"Good morning everyone, how was your night?" Margaret smiled.
"It was good," they all replied.
"Mommy!!!" Joy ran into the living room. She jumped and Natasha caught her.
"Good morning, my darling," Natasha smiled as she carried her in the air.
"Good morning, mommy, how are you feeling now?" Joy asked worried.
"Much better now that I have seen you. You look so happy," she laughed.
Joy giggled and gave her a tight hug. Natasha could feel that Joy wanted to be put down, so she did.
"Daddy!" she ran to Dom. She jumped and her caught her laughing.
"Princess, how are you?" he smiled.
"I am wonderful, daddy, so wonderful. I am so happy that we are here with grandma and grandad and grandpappy," she said.
"I can see that, and I am very happy too," he smiled.
"Aunt Lulu!!!!" Joy exclaimed.
"Joy!!!" Lulu replied with the same vigour.
"Uncle Michael!!!!" Joy shouted.
"Joy!!!" he replied.
Joy giggled, it was so nice to have all her family here... wait a minute. All her family was supposed to be here, yet she could notice that two people were missing.
"Where is Uncle Charlie?" Joy was quick to ask.
"Oh, that one is busy sleeping. Don't worry, he will be here soon," Michael resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"Oh, okay, and where is Uncle Nine?" Joy asked. Her eyes were bright and somehow there was a certain silence that enveloped the room.
It was almost as if no one wanted to tell her what truly going on.
Joy looked around, everyone was quiet. She was about to ask if something was wrong when her father cleared his throat and said:
"Princess, unfortunately, your Uncle Nine couldn't make it.".
"Why?" Joy asked, her brows knitted in a mix of sadness and confusion.
"Because he had very important things to attend to that he could not cancel. He can't be here, but I know that he really wanted to, and you shouldn't worry, you can call him any time I am sure he will be excited to hear you ask about him," Dom smiled.
He tried to give the simplest explanation he could think of. The thing was they all had the same question on their minds. However, they couldn't tell Joy that Nine would rather spend time elsewhere than with his own family.
"Oh, okay," Joy said sadly. Her hopes were so high that everyone would be here.
"Yes, my darling, but your daddy is right. Your Uncle Nine would be here if he could. Right now we should enjoy the fact that we are all together, that is what he would want," Natasha smiled.
"Agreed," Lulu, Michael and Margaret said.
"Okay," Joy said.
"Well, I hope that you are all very hungry because breakfast is delicious and I can't wait for you all to taste it," Margaret smiled.
"You do not have to tell me twice," Michael said rushing out the living room. Lulu followed after him. Dom put Joy down and she ran to her grandpappy.
"Grandpappy, have you finished drinking your tea yet?" she asked.
"Oh, my dear girl, I am almost done. What you made for me was so delicious," he smiled.
"Really?" Joy asked surprised.
"Yes," Ernest smiled.
"So can I make you another one, grandpappy?" she asked.
Ernest Jr found it difficult to hold back his laughter and so did Margaret.
Ernest froze. He did not want to answer. The truth was no, he did not want her to make him another. Never again, or at least until she got better at if. As for right this moment, he did not want to break her tiny, cute, innocent heart.