Warm

CHAPTER 6

Josh looked around before smiling at Christian who was already standing in front of him. “I was patting Matthew. Just wanted to see if I’d feel his presence, but it looks like he’s not around."

Christian turned to look at his brother’s grave, before putting on a sad smile.

“You know, I keep regretting rejecting his offer to go to Ireland with me. He said he wanted to help out”, Josh said as his teary eyes looked at Christian pitifully. “I told him to stay back and let me manage my company matters by myself for once”.

At this point, Josh had already burst into tears. Christian also could not hold on, so he pulled him for a hug as they both shed tears together.

The two men returned to the mansion around lunch time. Olivia was in the dining room, feeding some chicken nuggets to Eunice.

“Do you like them?" Olivia asked Eunice, who was happily nibbling on her chicken nuggets. “Yes, Olivia."

Christian and Josh entered the dining room to find Eunice and Olivia eating their nuggets.

“Welcome back”, Olivia greeted the two men. “Do you want some chicken nuggets?”

“Of course!" Josh said happily as he rushed to take his seat at the dining table.

“Chicken nuggets?" Christian asked. His reaction seemed opposite to Josh’s. Olivia and Josh looked at Christian confusedly and echoed, “Yes, chicken nuggets."

“Miss Benjamin, why would you feed her something like that?" he asked angrily as he grimaced at Olivia. “There’s broccoli, rice, quinoa, pasta, fish, potatoes and a lot of healthy food to feed her, and you feed her chicken nuggets? You should have just let the chefs do their job”.

“Hey, Christian. "Calm down”, Josh said quickly before interfering. “Eunice is still a child. She should have moments where she eats food that is not deemed very healthy. She should be nibbling on candies and cookies. Chicken nuggets will not kill her."

“I’m sorry, Mr. Mason”, Olivia apologized, hanging her head.

“Hey, relax! Christian, the girl is just trying to feed Eunice”, Josh nudged Christian.

After Josh’s nudging, Christian did not say anything else. He just went upstairs to his room.

The dining room became quiet and Eunice stopped eating. Josh noticed this and quickly turned to comfort her. “Hey, kiddo. Don’t mind what Uncle Christian said. He’s just really stressed and angry about something else, okay? Finish your meal."

Upon hearing Josh’s reassurance, Eunice went back to enjoying his food. “Olivia, let me plead on his behalf. You have been living here for a couple of days now. You should know how Christian is. Don’t let his words get to you”, Josh turned to Olivia to reassure her. “He’ll come around soon enough”.

“Thank you, Josh”, Olivia said, forcing a small smile, before she continued her meal.

After lunch, Olivia and Eunice went into the toy room to play tea party, while Josh just vanished into thin air the whole day.

It was almost dinner time, so Olivia and Eunice packed up from their tea party and were ready to go down to the dining for some dinner, when they saw Josh standing by the doorframe.

“Hey, kiddo. Hi Olivia”, Josh greeted as he crouched down to carry Eunice.

“Can I help you with that?" He stretched his hands offering to carry some of the things Olivia was holding.

“No, thank you." I can do it, just hold Eunice”, Olivia replied with a smile. She noticed that she was no longer fidgeting around Josh like the day before.

They headed to the dining hall for dinner together. Christian was already surprised at the table. Throughout dinner, he looked like he had something to say. He was looking at Josh and Olivia, however, he just ate his food in silence, while Josh looked like he was exasperated. Olivia wondered what was happening between the two of them.

Weekend brought a little change in routine the following morning. With the entire day to themselves, Eunice and Olivia played, and Ruth arrived early this time, eager to spend time with them. With Ruth by her side, Olivia felt relieved.

As the day went on, Olivia couldn’t help but observe minute changes in Christian’s attitude. His distance from her was greater than normal, and occasionally she caught him staring at her with a prickly intensity. He seemed to be struggling with something, perhaps a choice or an insight that he wasn’t quite ready to discuss.

Ruth couldn’t help but notice the awkwardness of Olivia. However, if Olivia was not saying anything, she would not press.

“Hey babes. I want to ask for your advice on something”, Olivia whispered to Ruth.

“You finally decided to ask. You've been yucking my yum all day, it is getting annoying”, Ruth replied.

“It is about this new guy Josh. I feel uneasy whenever I see him. His aura just doesn’t match mine. I mean, who starts playing and smiling while grieving the death of their best friend?" Olivia said, tabling her matters before Ruth.

“Umm… This Josh guy, we don’t know him enough to easily make a conclusion on his life matters like that. And remember that everyone has different coping organisms. What if his is to make the immediate family of the deceased happy, so that he can be?" Ruth sighed before continuing.

“He’s here, uplifting the atmosphere. Eunice is happy around him, and even Christian. The problem is solved. Look, baby."Don't look too much into his character, look into his intentions", Ruth concluded.

“Maybe you’re right. I’m the one who is overthinking this issue. Even I am already calm around him, unlike most of the times”, Olivia said.

Just then, Josh walked into the garden, looking for Eunice. He stopped behind Olivia and Ruth, causing them to look back at him.

“Am I interrupting?” he asked, his tone light but with an undercurrent of something else—something that made Olivia tense up.

“No, not at all,” Ruth replied smoothly, though there was a flicker of tension in her eyes that Olivia didn’t miss. “We were just catching up.”

Josh nodded, stepping closer. “Mind if I joined you?”

Olivia felt a sudden pang of nervousness, but Ruth gave her a subtle nod, encouraging her to stay. “Sure,” Olivia said, her voice steady even as her heart pounded in her chest.

After Olivia’s agreement, Josh made some space for himself and sat on the grass. “I’m sure you are wondering what kind of person I am. I am always cheerful, making jokes and what not”, Josh started the conversation. “I understand if you find me suspicious."

“I’m very sorry”, Olivia pleaded instantly.

“No. There’s nothing to be sorry about. I would be wary too, if I were in your shoes. It’s just that I want to be the reasonthese folks are smiling again. Christian has his own demons to battle with as regards to work, so he cannot make some time to comfort himself. And Eunice only has you. Her uncle is somewhat of a deadbeat at the moment.

Ruth nodded, looking at Olivia after hearing Josh’s reasoning.

“I mean it is cute and what not to cry and be depressed? But, I want to preserve my best friend’s legacy. This household used to be very happy and I’m set on bringing back that happiness”, Josh continued.

He suddenly stood up. “I would like to borrow Eunice for now. I promised her a movie date before dinner," he announced as he walked up to Eunice to pick her up.

As soon as Josh left, Ruth jumped back at Olivia to nudge her. “See! He has even cleared the whole matter up. Let it go."Olivia nodded absentmindedly.

“By the way, he’s a very cute guy. Would you mind getting his number for me?" Ruth asked as she wrapped her hands around Olivia.

“Get out, Ruth. Every time you see handsome men, you don’t know how to keep them to yourself. What if he has a girlfriend or fiancée?”

“You never know. Maybe he’s the man the universe has provided for me”.

Olivia and Ruth cleared up the environment and took all their materials for the tea party as they headed inside the house.

“My conclusion is that Josh is a nice person, at least when the interests of this family are involved. So, join hands with him”, Ruth advised as Olivia was seeing her out of the mansion.

Later that night, after Olivia had put Eunice to bed, she heard a knock on the door. She looked back to see Josh standing by the doorframe.

“I would like to speak with you”, Josh said, his hands on his waist.

“Listen, Mr Smith. About this afternoon, I’m really sorry for doubting you. I must have been out of my mind”, Olivia pleaded again.

“First of all, it is Josh. Second of all, I thought we had talked about this. "Don't worry," he said as he gave her a light-hearted smile.

“The reason I came to you is because I need your help with something important”, Josh said, peaking Olivia’s interest.

“I want to help Eunice and Christian get closer to each other, and I need your help”.

Olivia looked at Josh and put on a bright smile. “We are thinking on the same page”. “So what’s the plan?”

Guyyyyss So sorry for the delay.