Natasha smiled. She did not want to accidentally wake Lulu up. She was sure that Lulu. Charlie and Michael had arrived very late last night.
Natasha slowly and carefully got out of the bed. She walked into the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and looked at her reflection. She looked so terrible in her eyes. Her hair was a mess, and somehow she still felt tired.
At least she felt better than she did yesterday. Much more better. The cramps and pain were still there, but less than they were yesterday.
Natasha decided to take a shower and change out of her dirty clothes.
...
Dom yawned as his eyes opened. His first instinct was to look at his alarm clock. He gasped once he saw it was forty five minutes past six. Hurriedly he got out of bed, brushed his teeth and splashed water on his face.
He was late, he was late—Or so he thought. As soon as he splashed his face with the cold water, he looked around and was reminded that this was not his bedroom at home. Instead, this was his childhood bedroom. The one feature that reminded him of this fact quickly was the towel rack that was so low he had to bend down to pick the towel off it.
It was a feature that was never changed in his bedroom toilet, and it was very annoying.
Dom chuckled, then he began to laugh. He laughed at himself. He was such an idiot of routine and reflex. How could he forget that he was on a break? For once in his life, he did not have to wake up early to rush to the office.
He walked into his bedroom and fell on his bed. He laughed some more. It was such a wonderful morning, he did not have to rush to work, he could sleep in, and best of all, he did not have to rush to make breakfast for everyone.
He was looking forward to enjoying his mother's food again. It had been such a long time since he had eaten a good home-cooked meal prepared by his mother, one of the favourite women in his life.
Dom was wondering if Lulu, Charlie and Michael had managed to arrive yesterday. Well, he would just have to wait for breakfast before he could be sure. Dom decided to go back to sleep for fifteen more minutes.
...
"What are you watching Joy?" Ernest smiled as he walked into the living room.
"Grandpappy!!" Joy tore her gave off the TV and rushed to hug him tightly.
"Good morning my lovely great granddaughter," he laughed. "How are you?".
"I am good grandpappy, and how are you?" she grinned.
"I am doing so much more better now that I get to come here first thing in the morning and see you, my dear," he smiled as he sat down and placed her on his lap.
Joy giggled. She agreed totally, it felt so nice to wake up and be able to see your grandparents and grandpappy whenever you wanted to.
"So, how was your night, my dear?".
"It was good, I slept very well, but then I woke up so excited, but everyone is not awake yet, so grandma let me watch some TV while we wait for everyone else to wake up. And oh, she's making a lot of things for breakfast," Joy babbled.
"Oh, really now? Well she is in luck, I have no eaten yet and I am very hungry," Ernest said.
Joy laughed, "I am also very hungry, grandpappy. Grandma gave me a piece of pancake, and it was so delicious.".
Ernest could not help but smile. Sure, his great granddaughter was babbling, but at this age, he cherished hearing the blabbering of his only great granddaughter. Having children was great, having grandchildren was greater, but having great grandchildren and the opportunity to see the next generation of the next generation was such a great blessing.
To be honest, he wished he had more great grandchildren, but over the years, he had learnt to be content with what he had and enjoy it and be grateful for it.
He had learnt his lesson, and he would not force any of his other children or grandchildren to do his wishes simply because he wanted more happiness in his life at he expense of theirs.
Joy's laughter filled his ears like the melodious notes to a lovely song. He knew that she had only just arrived, but he was already dreading the time when she would leave.
"Oh, father, good morning, I didn't know that you were here already," Margaret laughed as she walked into the living room.
Over the past thirty sometimes years of being married to Ernest Jr and living in the same neighbourhood, just across the street from each other. She was very used to Ernest's constant presence in their home. At this point, it was necessary for him to be here. It was not even a question of if he would come over, it was simply when, and she would not love it any other way.
"Good morning, Maggie. I just arrived, and my lovely great granddaughter was reminding me how much I missed her laughter and presence," Ernest smiled. Joy hugged him tighter causing Ernest and Margaret to smile.
"Well, she is reminded us both, and you should be happy, your granddaughter is here and so are your grandsons," Margaret smiled.
"Yes, yes, I cannot wait for all of them to be awake and fill this house with noise," Ernest Jr laughed.
"Only you are wishing for that," Ernest Jr walked into the living room and sat down.
"Is that how you greet good morning, junior?" Ernest frowned.
"Good morning," Ernest Jr replied simply because his father insisted.
"Mhmm, good morning to you too. Why do you seem like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed?" he narrowed his eyes at him.
"Oh, don't mind him, father. He wants our house to be boring," she scoffed.
"Well, this house will not be boring anymore," Ernest laughed.
Ernest Jr frowned and remained silent. It was clear that he was outnumbered.
"Anyway, father, would you like me to prepare some tea for you?".
"Yes, my dear, yes, make it just the way I like it," Ernest replied.
"Of course, I always make it that way," she laughed.
"Grandma, can I have some more pancakes?" Joy asked.
"Of course, my dear. Let's go," Margaret smiled.
Joy climbed off Ernest Jr and ran off with her grandmother.
"Wipe that frown off your face, junior," Ernest turned to his son.
"I am not frowning," Ernest Jr replied.
"Be happy, your children are home and we finally have them where we always wanted them to be, so enjoy it," Ernest said.
"Joy is more than welcome here, not those naughty boys that will go about touching all my things and make a mess," Ernest Jr frowned.
Ernest laughed, "Do you hear yourself right now? You sound like a grinch, anyway, that is why children are for, to make noise, make a mess and create love and laughter in our lives.".
"Mhmm," Ernest Jr replied.
...
"Grandma, can I make the tea for grandpappy?" Joy asked.
Margaret looked at her and laughed, "My dear, that is so sweet of you, but I don't think he would like it.".
"Please, can I do it, grandma? I want to do it, you can show me how to make it the way he likes," Joy said.
"You can't reach the counter, my dear," Margaret laughed.
"I can climb on the counter and make it, please, grandma, please," Joy pleaded.
Seeing Joy's big, doe brown eyes and the way her lips quivered. It was like a spell that Margaret could not snap out of, before she knew what she had said, she answered yes.
Joy jumped for Joy and said, "Help my climb the counter, grandma.".
Margaret laughed and carried her onto the counter.
"Thank you. So, I have watched my mommy make tea before, and she puts the teabag in first," Joy said.
"Yes, that is ideally how you are supposed to do it, but your grandpappy likes his tea to be made in a particular way," Margaret said bringing a tin of sugar and a teaspoon.
"He likes the sugar to be put in first, and he always likes three spoons, nothing less, nothing more," Margaret said.
"Okay, one, two, three," Joy said putting exactly three tea spoons in the teacup.
"Good, good," Margaret smiled.
"What next, grandma?" Joy smiled.
"Now, you need to add two teabags," she replied.
"Okay," Joy said.
"Your grandpappy likes this strong blend of cyprus tea," Margaret said handing her two teabags.
Joy plopped the teabags into the teacup.
"Now, we need hot water, right?" she asked.
"Well, usually, yes, but your grandpappy likes the milk to be added before the hot water," Margaret replied.
"Really?" Joy asked surprised.
"Yes," Margaret laughed.