Breakfast went by harmoniously. Margaret could not remember the last time she had heard so much noise on the dining table. So much laughter, so much discussion, so much happiness.
Having a big house and no one to fill the halls was so lonely. It was just she, Ernest Jr and grandfather here, and the table was often empty, she was so overjoyed to have her children and her grandchild here with her.
After a mighty breakfast, Charlie slumped on the couch in the living room from how full he was. Joy followed after him, she giggled and jumped on him, he groaned and laughed.
"Aunt, let me help you," Natasha smiled.
"Oh, no, no you do not have to, my dear. You are a guest here," Margaret replied as she collected the dirty dishes from Natasha.
"It is no bother at all, aunt. Let me help you clean up, I want to do it," Natasha insisted.
"Yes mom, Natasha is right, let us help you," Lulu joined in.
"You are both guests here, I do not want to stress you. You are here on vacation to relax," she replied.
"Oh that is nonsense, aunt. You are not stressing us at all. It would be such a pleasure to be able to help you. You made such a wonderful breakfast, the least we can do it help you wash everything," Natasha smiled.
"Yes, Natasha is right as always, mom, we might be guests, but that doesn't mean we should be the lazy type, let us help you, mom, please," Lulu smiled.
"Alright, fine, you can help me, but Natasha are you feeling better now?".
"Much better, aunt, thank you for asking," she smiled.
"Okay then, you can help me clean up. Natasha you are good at doing dishes, so you can wash them and Lulu, you dry them," Margaret said.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean mom?" Lulu frowned.
"Sorry, my dear, but you know that it is the truth. You have more than a few mishaps when it comes to washing dishes, so it's best you dry them, Natasha is more careful when she's washing," Margaret said.
She could not lie, it was the truth, she loved her daughter very much, but she did not want to take the risk with her dishes. Lulu was a hazard when it came to slippery glass and she was not prepared to clean up any shards.
"That's not true, when last have I broken a plate while washing?" Lulu pouted.
"Well, when last did you live over here?" Margaret asked.
Natasha tried her best to hold back her laughter. She could not lie, Lulu was not the best when it came to wet and slippery glass dishes. She sort of had butter fingers, and well in her defence, she had not broken dishes in a while because she had not washed them in a while as well.
"Come on, that's not fair, mom," Lulu frowned.
"It might not be fair, but it's the truth. Now maybe you have changed, but I am yet to experience that, so Natasha, wash the dishes please," Margaret turned to her.
"Gladly, aunt," she smiled.
"And Lulu, you dry them, and please be very careful, those dishes are very expensive," Margaret said.
Lulu sulked and carried the dirty dishes into the kitchen.
"She seems very upset," Margaret said.
"She is aunt, but she will get over it," Natasha laughed. She wondered how it felt to be upset with your mother. She never experienced that before, her mother died when she was very little and well, it was one thing to argue with your dad, but mom's well they were different.
"I hope so. I don't know if I'm seeing things or not because when she arrived yesterday, I felt that she was going through some sort of sadness, even though she smiled and tried to be herself, I feel like something is off with her, do you know what I am talking about?" Margaret asked worried.
"I think I do aunt, but I am sure that Lulu will resolve it soon. I do not think that I in the best place to tell you what is going on, maybe she will tell you herself," Natasha said.
She could see how worried Margaret was, but as worried as she was, Lulu certainly did not want her private affairs to be broadcasted across the family. If she wanted to say what was going on with her, she would. She had the right to decide for herself.
"Oh, my, Natasha, do tell me, is it very serious?".
Margaret was worried, Lulu had not lived at home in over a year, she did not know what was going on with her, and she only knew what Lulu told her, and judging from Natasha's tone, Lulu did not tell her as much as she was supposed to.
"For now it isn't, aunt. If it does get that serious though and she refuses to tell you what is going on, I will definitely tell you the truth," Natasha said.
"Alright, I know that Lulu isn't a little girl anymore, and it is her choice to tell me what is on her mind. I trust that it will be resolved soon as you have said," Margaret replied.
"I really hope so too, aunt. Just please don't be worried. You shouldn't be worried because I am certain that Lulu will return to her normal self soon," Natasha smiled reassuringly.
"I hope so too," Margaret replied.
"Hey, what is taking you so long?" Lulu returned with a frown.
"Nothing, I was already on my way," Natasha replied as she and Lulu got the last of the dirty dishes and walked into the kitchen.
...
Grandfather, Ernest Jr and Dom were in Ernest Jr's office.
"Margaret likes cooking for a great amount of people," Ernest chuckled.
"Mhmm, she does, is it me, or was the food this morning much more delicious than usual?" Ernest Jr frowned.
"You know, it actually was. Margaret should cook like that every day. I would never leave if that was the case," Ernest laughed.
"You are always here regardless," Dom laughed, "Besides, her food was more delicious because it was prepared with so much love for us," he added.
"Do not flatter yourself too much, Dominic. You mean to tell me that she does not love me and your father?" Ernest scoffed.
"Yes, she loves you two, but it is different for us who she does not see so often, anyway, I am so full I feel like I can go back to sleep again," Dom laughed.
"Just because you are taking a vacation does not mean you should turn into a sloth, Dominic," Ernest frowned.
"I am not going to turn into a sloth, grandfather," Dom laughed.
"How are things at the office? Do tell me that you felt everything running smoothly?" Ernest asked.
"Of course I left everything running smoothly, grandfather. I wouldn't have left if I was not sure that things were fine, but I want to ask you to please not speak about the office. I am here on vacation, I do not want to have to deal with work when I should be relaxing," Dom pleaded.
Ernest frowned, he knew that Dom was right, he just could not help himself, he felt so worried about Dom leaving for so long.
"Dominic is right, father. Let him had a break, it's been a while since he's taken even a few days off," Ernest Jr replied.
"Thank you, dad," Dom smiled.
"I remember when I was CEO, it is quite daunting, I was always at the office and it was a relief for me when I finally stepped down, let Dominic enjoy his relaxation," Ernest Jr said.
"I know, I know, at least Nine is still there, he can make sure that everything runs smoothly and he'll be able to solve any problem that arises," Ernest said.
"Yes, but that won't be needed because everyone know their duties, I have signed off on the important things and it should all run smoothly until I return," Dom said.
"That reminds me, why didn't Nine come along with you all?" Ernest frowned.
"I honestly do not know why, grandfather. He said that he had some personal things to take care of," Dom replied.
"What things? What does that boy have to deal with that is so personal?" Ernest's frown deepened.
"I have no idea, grandfather, why are you looking at me like that?".
"Because you boys always like covering up for each other, tell me, did he do something wrong?".
"No, he didn't do anything wrong. Nine never does anything wrong, and we're not covering from him, in fact, Charlie is furious with him as he begged him to reconsider but he didn't budge," Dom said.
"Then what is it? Why did he decide to stay back when this is a family event?" Ernest asked.
He did not like not having every member of his family around. It was quite sad to be incomplete by one member.