"Grandfather, why are you asking me? I am not in his mind, I do not know what he is thinking," Dom replied.
It was always like this, somehow, Ernest expected him to know everything and take care of everyone even though they were all adults now and could easily hide things and make their own decisions.
"I am asking you because you are the man of the house, you are to take care of everyone. That is your basic duty," Ernest replied.
"That may be so, but you really expect him to be a mindreader, father?" Ernest Jr asked.
"Exactly?!" Dom replied. He found that very unfair, he was simply trying to enjoy the first day of his vacation and now he had to answer for Nine's absence.
"I am asking him because he knows much more than he would like to admit. They are all men, they grew up together and know each other better than they know themselves, which is why I want him to stop lying and tell me what he thinks," Ernest insisted.
"Even though I am not completely sure if what I think is right or not?" Dom asked.
"Even so, go ahead, tell me what or who is drawing Nine away from the family.".
"No one is drawing Nine away from the family, grandfather, it was his own choice to stay back, which he is already regretting, I am sure he is. Anyway, I think that there's someone he's seeing now, and maybe they had planned a date or something and that's why he stayed back," Dom was forced to say.
"And how sure of this are you?" Ernest asked.
"I am not sure at all, but you insisted I tell you what I think.".
"So, this woman he is seeing, do you know her?".
"I do not know her, not yet, you know how secretive he can be. All I know is that he has a new friend who is a female from what Charlie has been telling me, and perhaps he made plans with her that just happened to clash with this family event," Dom said.
"I know, Nine, if this was not that important, he would be here," Dom added.
"Maybe, or maybe he is starting to grow wings. If Charlie and Michael are here, he must be too," Ernest scoffed.
"Father, take it easy, you should not get too stressed about this," Ernest Jr warned.
"I am not getting stressed, I simply want him to call me or I call him and he explains himself.".
"You should wait until you are calm to do that, grandfather," Dom said.
"I agree. Relax and make sure your heart rate hasn't spiked up," Ernest Jr was cautious. His father could easily allow himself be carried away by the littlest of things.
"I am fine, I will call that boy later," Ernest replied.
"Alright, please excuse me, grandfather," Dom smiled as he stood up.
"That boy looks way too happy to be here," Ernest said as soon as Dom left.
"Leave him be, father, let him enjoy his vacation, he deserves it," Ernest Jr replied.
...
"Hey, so what's up?" Michael smiled. He was outside by the pool talking to Nine. He was out here because he did not want Charlie to know and cause a huge scene seeing that he was clearly still very angry.
"Nothing much, I was simply trying to catch up on some work," Nine replied as he closed his laptop.
"How has your morning been?".
"Boring, anyway, what's going on over there?" Nine asked.
"You do not know how delicious breakfast was. If I could, I would send you soem leftovers because no one cooks as good as aunt does," Michael said.
"I know that.".
"And Charlie was just stuffing his mouth, I am sure that he can barely move now, he's probably just plopped on the couch," Micheal laughed.
"Of course he is," Nine chuckled.
"So, how are you holding up? Do you think that you will be coming any time soon?".
Michael was really hoping that was the case. Nine did not have to be stubborn, they were his family and would accept him as soon as he showed up at the door.
"I am fine, and no, there's no point. Charlie's more than upset with me and it's just best that I remain where I am," Nine shrugged.
"We won't be too hard on you, just come over. We miss you and you miss us. It's not nice having an incomplete family," Michael frowned.
"Let's talk about something else, Michael," Nine said.
Michael sighed, "Alright then.".
...
"I am so full," Charlie groaned.
"Me too, Uncle Charlie. I am so full," Joy groaned with a giggle.
"Where is everyone?" Charlie looked around.
He had been so busy waiting for his stomach to digest his food that he had not noticed it was only him and Joy here.
"I don't know, Uncle Charlie," Joy replied.
"Let me go look for them, are you coming along?".
"No, I am too full, I am going to stay here," she replied.
"Alright, enjoy and let that little tummy of your rest," he laughed as he placed her on the chair and she giggled.
...
"I cannot believe that Dom actually went through with going on this vacation," Michael laughed.
"You know that Dom deserves the vacation, he has worked so hard for as long as I can remember," Nine replied.
"Yes, true, true," Michael laughed.
"Michael, Michael, where are you?".
Michael jumped up in fright and nearly dropped his phone in the pool.
"Charlie's looking for me, I'll call you later," he said.
"Alright.".
Michael ended the call, he quickly put his phone in his back pocket and turned around with a smile.
"Michael, what in the world are you doing back here?" Charlie frowned.
"Oh, Charlie, I just came out for a walk to help with my digestion and then I got sidetracked and began to watch the pool," Michael smiled sheepishly.
"Is that so?" Charlie narrowed his eyes.
"Yes.".
"You better be telling the truth, because if you were talking to that traitor, you might as well go and join him," Charlie frowned.
"Just relax, Charlie, relax. Let's go inside," Michael smiled.
Charlie shook his head, he did not like this at all. Nine was dividing the family and it was not something he liked.
...
Natasha and Lulu were almost done with the dishes. They entered into a kind of rhythm that allowed for a smooth flow of things.
Natasha was smiling, she did not know why, it had just been such a long time since she had felt so light on the inside. She had a feeling it was because she was surrounded by family and people that actually cared about her.
"You seem to be in a really good mood," Lulu said.
"Am I now?" Natasha turned to her and laughed.
"Yes, you are, can't you see it? You're glowing and so bright," Lulu continued.
"Well, I didn't notice. Maybe it's because I'm back home and Joy is enjoying herself, what do I mean, we are all enjoying each other's company, and also, I am excited to go to my dad's house and show Joy around because last time we went there, I didn't have enough time to show her all the things I wanted to," Natasha smiled.
"That's a great idea, I am definitely tagging along for that," Lulu said.
Natasha laughed, "That reminds me, I should probably go sleep in my dad's house since it seems to be getting really crowded over here.".
"No, that's nonsense. You are family, Joy wouldn't like it if you were sleeping in one house and Dom was in another. You shouldn't worry about the sleeping arrangements, the boys are definitely going to go over to grandfather's it's no big deal," Lulu said quickly.
"You're right, I didn't think of it like that," Natasha replied.
"Of course, I'm right, most of the time," Lulu laughed.
"So, how are you Lulu? And I mean how are you really?" Natasha turned to her.
"I am fine, honestly, I feel so much better now that I'm home and all I want to do is relax," Lulu said.
"Alright, that's good, and Benjamin? Have you spoken to him?".
Lulu sighed, "No, I haven't spoken to him and I have no intention of doing so.".
Natasha could sense the hurt in Lulu's tone and it worried her so much that Lulu was allowing this drain her so much.
"Why not?".
"Because he hurt me so much, and when I say I am done with something, I am truly done," Lulu said strongly.
"Don't say that, Lulu, you're acting as if forgiveness does not exist," Natasha frowned.
"It exists alright, but I just don't want to get hurt again, neither do I want to waste my time with someone who does not value the friendship the same way I do," Lulu scoffed.
Natasha felt like Lulu was allowing what happened affect her negatively.