Olivia's grand entrance had been a sight to behold. Her elegance and initial composure lasted exactly seven minutes before her true personality burst in like a tropical storm. As soon as she made sure everyone had noticed how stunning she looked, she reverted back to the extroverted and chaotic Olivia we knew so well. And, of course, that meant the rest of the Hart family wouldn't be far behind.
Olivia's first stop was with Grandma Gladys, who was already busy sharing stories about her travels with any guest unlucky enough to cross her path. When Olivia arrived, Gladys raised an eyebrow and inspected her from head to toe.
"Well, young lady, it seems you've finally decided to dress like someone from our family," Gladys said, adjusting her feathered hat.
Olivia pretended to be offended.
"What do you mean, Grandma? I always dress well."
Gladys snorted.
"Sure, sure. That's why I saw you wearing ripped jeans at last Thanksgiving."
Olivia rolled her eyes.
"That was fashion, Grandma. Besides, no one told me I'd run into royalty that day."
Gladys smiled smugly.
"You should start expecting it. You never know when you might bump into a duke or something."
Olivia laughed.
"If I see a duke, I'll ask him to show me his title before I believe him."
Before Gladys could respond, Olivia pointed to the gift she had brought.
"By the way, is that Napoleon watch authentic?"
Gladys lifted her chin.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is the story behind it."
Olivia nodded solemnly.
"Of course, Grandma. Story. Not mystery or lies."
Gladys shot her a sharp look.
"Don't be insolent, girl. Someday you'll inherit my collection of antiques."
Olivia placed a hand on her chest dramatically.
"You mean I'll finally have access to your secret treasures? I hope there's more Napoleon stuff!"
Both laughed, though it was clear Gladys enjoyed her granddaughter's attention. After a brief exchange about the possible historical relics Gladys owned, Olivia kissed her cheek goodbye and headed toward her next victim… er, family member.
Uncle Bob was surrounded by a small but captivated group of guests, who were listening intently to a story about how he had saved Frank Sinatra from getting lost in a casino. Olivia approached with a mischievous smile.
"Uncle Bob!" she exclaimed, hugging him enthusiastically. "I love seeing you every time there's a gathering. You always have something new to tell."
Bob grinned widely.
"Ah, Olivia, I was just telling this incredible story about how I met Frank Sinatra. It was an unforgettable night."
Olivia nodded, pretending fascination.
"Yes, yes, I know. You saved poor Frank from getting lost after a wild night. But tell me, Uncle, what happened afterward? Did you give him any advice on handling his fame?"
Bob blinked, surprised.
"Well… uh, I told him he should always follow his intuition."
Olivia crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"Interesting. So, did he follow your advice the next day?"
Bob looked uncomfortable.
"Uh… well, I'm not sure. I think he signed some autographs."
Olivia burst out laughing.
"Oh, Uncle Bob! You're one of a kind. You should write a book with all your stories. Though, of course, you'd have to make up fewer details."
Bob pretended to be indignant.
"My stories are completely true!"
Olivia winked at him.
"Sure, sure. Just make sure to include the part where Frank called you 'the hero of the Strip.'"
Bob laughed, unable to keep a straight face.
"Alright, clever girl. Maybe I exaggerated a bit."
Lindsay, who was nearby, chimed in.
"A bit, huh? I think even Coldplay could learn some humility from you, Bob."
Everyone laughed, and Olivia seized the opportunity to change the subject.
"By the way, Uncle, is that saxophone you brought really autographed by Kenny G?"
Bob nodded proudly.
"Of course! I bought it at an auction."
Olivia looked at him skeptically.
"And how do you know it's not fake?"
Bob shrugged.
"Life without risks would be boring, don't you think?"
Olivia shook her head, laughing.
"Uncle Bob, you're a lost cause."
After a few more jokes and laughs, Olivia said goodbye to Bob and continued her tour of the party.
Cousin Jenny was deep in conversation with Lindsay about medical advances in the Middle Ages. When Olivia arrived, Jenny barely looked up.
"You know, Lindsay, medieval medicine had a lot of potential, but also many serious mistakes. For example, bloodletting…"
Olivia interrupted, unable to resist.
"Bloodletting? Like when they try to drain all your life energy because they think you have too much blood?"
Jenny nodded, excited.
"Exactly! It was a common practice, though terribly ineffective."
Olivia smiled.
"So why don't we write a modern treatise based on that? We could call it 'How NOT to Cure Your Friends.'"
Jenny frowned.
"It's not funny, Olivia. Medicine has evolved thanks to those mistakes."
Olivia raised her hands in surrender.
"Sorry, sorry. I was just joking. But tell me, what do you think of my Joan of Arc crown?"
Jenny looked at her, evaluating.
"It's impressive. Though I hope you don't plan to use it to lead a revolution."
Olivia pretended to think.
"I can't promise anything."
The three laughed, and Jenny continued explaining how she had spent months researching to find the perfect gift. Olivia listened attentively, though she occasionally interrupted with sarcastic comments about knights and epic battles.
After greeting several more relatives, including Uncle Frank (who only wanted to talk about vintage dice) and Cousin Robbie (who was still obsessed with the drone he had brought), Olivia finally joined us in the center of the dance floor. The background music began to change, and the lights slowly dimmed, leaving only a golden spotlight on the stage.
Ellie, who had been coordinating every detail alongside Lindsay, approached with an excited smile.
"It's time for this to officially begin!" she announced.
Olivia clapped enthusiastically.
"Finally! I'm ready to dance until my feet fall off."
Lindsay interjected, amused.
"Remember, we have Coldplay playing later."
Olivia made a dramatic gesture.
"Coldplay is the opening act! First, I want to dance with my cousins and uncles. This is a family party, after all."
With that, the orchestra began playing a vibrant melody, and Olivia dragged Cousin Robbie and Emma onto the dance floor. Soon, most of the guests joined in, and the atmosphere filled with laughter, applause, and music.
From my position next to Lindsay, I watched as Olivia led the chaos, dancing with contagious energy and laughing loudly. It was impossible not to feel grateful for being part of this moment.
As I watched Olivia enjoy her big day, I couldn't help but think about how much she had changed since we first met. Despite her confidence and extravagance, she had always deeply valued her family and friends. This party wasn't just a celebration of her birthday; it was a testament to how much we all loved her.
Lindsay nudged me lightly.
"You know? This was worth every second of effort."
I nodded, smiling.
"Definitely. Look how happy she is."
We both fell silent for a moment, simply enjoying the bustle and joy surrounding us. I knew that when Coldplay took the stage later, the night would reach another level of excitement.