Part 11

"We apologize for coming here to trouble you." Brianna started the conversation. "My husband and I were about to leave to attend the wedding of one of our relatives. My husband's cousin is very ill at the moment, and is getting his youngest daughter married at the same time. But our granddaughter Flavia doesn't want to come with us." Brianna paused to let Julie understand where she was going with this. "As Flavia might have told you. She's an only child, and we only have one son, and he lives separately from us. So if we leave Flavia home alone, we feel anxious. Even though we have a housekeeper we can trust, but still, as a parent I feel uneasy." Julie nodded her head in agreement. "So if you don't mind, I would like to ask for your approval for Abigail to accompany my granddaughter in our home." She asked at the end of the sentence.

"Yes, I can understand that." Abigail's grandmother replied softly. "That's fine with me. But I apologize in advance, it's not that I don't trust the maid in your family home, but I know how lazy Abigail is. So instead of being troublesome, let Flavia stay here in our house." Abigail's grandmother suggested gently.

Brianna looked at her husband and then at her granddaughter. "What do you think, honey?"

Before her grandmother's question could be answered, a voice came from outside the door. "Mom... We're home!" Claire's distinctive high voice echoed out. "Oops..." She said with her hand covering her mouth when she saw the visitor.

"How many times have I told you to say hello in a normal way?" Julie grumbled as Claire walked toward the living room.

"Sorry, I didn't know you had guests." She said with a grin on her face. Claire then looked at Abigail with narrowed eyes. "Why didn't you tell me that we had guests?" She scolded Abigail who appeared from behind. Even though they came together, Claire was sure that Abigail would know that her best friend was coming to visit their house.

"You should have realized we had company when you saw the strange car parked outside." Abigail replied in a flat tone before greeting Flavia and sitting next to her best friend.

"Where are you guys from?" Flavia asked softly as Abigail sat beside her. When she had called Abigail earlier, Flavia had no idea that her best friend was not at home.

"Just now when you called me, I had just arrived at Aunty's residence." She replied with a look that could be said to be almost similar to that of her aunt. "Aunty, this is Flavia's grandparents." Abigail introduced her guests to her aunt.

Claire kindly smiled and shook the hands of the two middle-aged people. "I apologize if my niece has been troublesome to you two." She said regretfully.

"I've never been troublesome. I'm a good girl. Right Grandpa, Granny?" Abigail defended herself. Brianna and Arthur Quirino only responded to Abigail's words with a smile.

"You... look quite similar to Mr. Quirino to me." Claire's comment was offhand.

"Aunty, you're not stupid. Of course Grandpa looks like Mr. Quirino because he is Mr. Quirino." Abigail interrupted her aunt.

"That's not what I meant." Claire gave Abigail an annoyed look. "I mean, he is similar to young Mr. Antony Quirino. It's my first time meeting them, so it's only natural for me to talk like that." Claire rebutted as she saw Abigail roll her eyes.

Hearing about the dispute between aunt and nephew made Arthur Quirino smile. "Thank you, I take it as a compliment. Although I think I was more handsome than Antony when I was his age." Arthur Quirino's joke was met with laughter from the others.

"And this is the first time I've seen you, you're even more beautiful in person." Brianna's compliment made Claire blush.

"Please continue your conversation, I'll excuse myself." Said Claire who immediately walked into the interior of the house. Meanwhile, Abigail still stayed in the living room and listened to the conversation between her grandmother and the guests.

"So, Flavia, have you made your decision?" Brianna asked her granddaughter.

Flavia looked back at the three middle-aged people in turn. "I'm just following Granny and Grandpa's decision." The girl replied innocently.

"We're fine with you staying here as long as Julie doesn't mind." Brianna now looked at Julie.

Julie smiled sincerely. "I don't mind at all. It's just better if Flavia stays here."

"Very well then," Arthur finally intervened. "I entrust Flavia to your care for the next two weeks." Arthur said followed by Brianna's nod.

Hearing the word two weeks, Abigail was even more surprised. "Two weeks?" She repeated with a confused expression that made the other four pairs of eyes also look at her confused.

"Why, do you mind?" Brianna asked curiously.

Abigail immediately shook her head.

But something bothered her, Abigail then looked at her grandmother confused.

"Grandma, don't you have plans to go to Colorado?" She asked her grandmother. Julie frowned. "Yes, you're going to Colorado and you even told me to stay at Aunty C's while you're gone." Brianna reminded her grandmother.

 "Oh my God, I totally forgot about that." Julie Hampton smacked herself on the forehead. "I really forgot, I really did." She said looking at Brianna and Arthur with a regretful expression.

"Sorry Granny, my grandmother is old so she often forgets things." Abigail mocked with a snicker. But then fell silent when she saw the worry on Arthur and Brianna Quirino's faces. "But you guys can rest easy. Even though my grandmother is gone, I'll be there to look after Flavia." Abigail soothed.

"How do you look after Flavia when you still have to be watched yourself?" Challenged Julie Hampton.

Abigail glared at her grandmother and waved a hand in front of her face. "I have a very reliable security guard. Adding one more person to look after won't cause her any trouble." She said as she pointed to the back with her thumb. "Grandpa and Granny take it easy Aunty C is a very trustworthy and reliable person. I will invite Flavia to stay at Aunty C's place with me." She said as she gave Flavia a wink. 

"Are you sure Flavia's whereabouts won't inconvenience your aunt?" Asked Arthur worriedly.

Abigail smiled and shook her head. "I won't. My aunt is single, but when it comes to taking care of me, she's not much better than my mother. Flavia won't be neglected with us. And besides, adding another refugee to her household won't put any extra burden on her. Grandpa needs proof?" She asked the only man in the room. "Aunty!" Abigail shouted from the living room.

"Yes?!" Claire replied with an equally loud shout.

"I'm taking Flavia to stay at your house for two weeks, is that okay?"

"Okay!" Claire replied loudly in the background.

"You heard it yourself, right?" Abigail said with a mischievous smile on her face. "You two take it easy, there's no better aunt in the world than mine." She continued with a proud tone that was answered by the giggles of the elderly in the room.

Manhattan

"Are you sure you're going to settle in Kansas?" Altezza gave Antony an incredulous look. Antony nodded his head without once taking his eyes off the document in front of him. "And what about your job here?" Altezza asked worriedly. Altezza's question inevitably made Antony look up. "Who's going to lead here if there's no you or me?" He asked again. "Besides, three days ago I told you that I was leaving with my parents too."

"I'm not asking you to cancel your leave, Al." Antony replied flatly. "And you don't have to worry about work either. All I'm asking is that you tell the team in Kansas that in two weeks' time I'll be taking over from you."

"I know. I understand. What I'm asking is, if you were in Kansas, who would take care of this office?"

"There's Duncan. Besides, everything is mobile now. Everything can be done via phone and video. If there are documents I need to sign, they can just go to Kansas."

"It's not that easy, Antony."

"What should I do then? My father asked me to look after Flavia while they were away. I've disappointed them enough already, I don't want to add to their disappointment with me, let alone Flavia. I don't want her to think I really don't care about her. At least this time I want to play father to her." Antony continued which made Altezza look at him stunned.

Antony didn't care what Altezza had to say, he chose to refocus on his work.

"And this time, bring Gian here. We need his help if you want to realize your dream soon, Al." Antony ordered in a flat tone that made Altezza look at him with a gaping look of dislike.