Part 10

Quirino's residence a few days before Antony went to Kansas

The elderly couple looked at their grandson with pleading eyes. "We want you to come with us to Italy. It won't be long, just two weeks. After your aunt's wedding, we'll rest for a few days before coming back here." Arthur Quirino coaxed his grandson.

Brianna Quirino also nodded her head. "The midterms are still a long time away anyway. There's still plenty of time to study." She said softly.

The middle-aged couple were planning to attend the wedding of one of their distant cousins in Italy and were persuading their only granddaughter to come with them.

Considering that the party preparations and family gatherings afterward would take days, the Quirino couple wanted to leave early before the D-day and enjoy a few days off afterward before returning to America. They did this in consideration of their age. But apparently, their plans for this trip were not met with enthusiasm by their granddaughter as Flavia did not seem excited at all.

For the first time, Flavia said that she didn't want to go with her grandparents and cited semester exam preparation as the reason. As if her grandparents didn't know how intelligent their granddaughter was. Leaving school for two weeks wasn't going to make her grades plummet.

Brianna and Arthur should also be proud that their grandson would rather study than skip school to have fun. But what can we say, they couldn't leave their grandson alone without any family to accompany him during their departure.

It's not that Arthur and Brianna don't trust the domestic help in their home. Nor did they believe in Flavia's independence. But their inner parents were still worried about leaving their teenage girl without parental supervision. What's more, the person they used to leave Flavia in charge of-who else but the girl's own uncle, Altezza Quirino-would be traveling with them to Italy.

"But two weeks is a long time, Grandpa, Granny." She said in a languid tone. "Besides, I've grown up. It doesn't matter if I live here alone. Besides having Mrs. Sanders-the housekeeper-I can also ask Abigail to stay here during your absence." She said still trying to refuse.

Brianna and Arthur looked at each other. It wasn't that they didn't trust Abigail. They really liked their granddaughter's best friend. It was just that Abigail was just as much a teenager as Flavia, and the girl had a family of her own. It would be inappropriate to ask the teenager to stay with their granddaughter for the next two weeks. But to ask Flavia to stay at her best friend's place would be even more inappropriate.

"Granny, two weeks is a long time. Especially with the mid-test coming up, there will be a lot of practice tests. I don't want my grades to drop." Flavia said again in a pleading tone.

"I will try to ask your homeroom teacher for a make-up test." Mr. Arthur coaxed again.

But again Flavia shook her head. "I'd rather not have to take the exam in the teacher's room alone." She said listlessly. In fact, what was fun for Flavia was memorizing and practicing questions with Abigail. If she had to study alone, it wasn't as much fun.

Arthur Quirino was about to say something more to his granddaughter. But he realized that just like her father, Flavia also had a stubborn side to her.

With a long sigh, Arthur Quirino finally got up from his seat and walked away towards his office.

"Granny, is Grandpa angry?" Flavia asked her grandmother worriedly after her grandfather disappeared from sight.

Brianna smiled and spread her arms, silently asking her granddaughter to come into her arms. Flavia came closer and into the arms of the woman who had nurtured her from infancy.

"He’s not angry. He's just worried because he doesn't want to leave you here alone." Brianna said as she rubbed her granddaughter's back for comfort. "If we could refuse the wedding invitation, we would." Brianna continued. "But that's not possible." She ran her hand through her granddaughter's long, black hair. "Had Altezza not come, I could have left you in her care. But your uncle, Grandma Delila and Grandpa Benjamin are also going with us."

Flavia straightened her back and gave her grandmother some distance without letting go of her hug. "You two, take it easy. I promise that while you're gone I'll be a good girl." She promised seriously.

Brianna rubbed her granddaughter's hair again. "I know. You're a good girl and you've never been naughty. But still, we are worried about leaving you unattended." Brianna said softly.

While at work, Arthur flipped open his phone screen and searched for the name of someone in his contacts. On the second ring, his call was connected.

"Ciao, Grandpa." Greeted the man on the other side.

"Ciao, Antony. Where are you?" Arthur asked as a pleasantry.

"At the office." Antony replied briefly. "Anything?" he asked again, curious.

Arthur frowned. Antony's nature was inherited from his wife, Brianna. The only son was not one for small talk and didn't like wasting time.

"Did you hear that we're going to Italy for two weeks?" Asked Arthur who also chose not to make small talk."

"Yes. So?"

"Flavia said that she couldn't come with us because it was impossible to leave her school activities." Arthur continued. "So, can you come here and keep her company while we're gone? It won't be long. Just two weeks, after which you can go back to Manhattan." Mr. Arthur said quickly

There was a brief pause before Antony finally gave his answer. "I'll talk to Altezza first, I'll let you know the decision later."

"Alright, I'll wait." Arthur replied before hanging up and returning to where his wife and granddaughter were. "Flavia, dear. Suppose I ask Abigail to keep you company here while we're away, won't her parents object?" Arthur asked curiously.

In the end, they went back to their original choice. At least there should be a backup plan in case Antony later refuses to stay in Kansas and look after his own daughter while they are away.

Flavia shrugged. "I don't know, Grandpa. But Abigail's parents aren't in Kansas either. At Abigail's house it's just Grandma and Aunty C." The girl answered honestly.

"Then you should call Abigail and ask her if her grandmother is at home or not. If she is, we will visit her to ask her permission in person." Arthur said again.

Flavia nodded enthusiastically and ran to her room to get her cell phone. In the room, she immediately called Abigail and asked what her grandfather had asked. "Abby, is your grandmother home?" She asked matter-of-factly.

Abigail frowned in confusion at her best friend's question. Flavia didn't usually ask about her grandmother's whereabouts. Usually when Flavia would come to her house, the girl didn't care about her grandmother's whereabouts.

"My grandmother is there, why are you asking about her?"

"Grandpa and Granny want to meet your grandmother." Flavia said again.

"Why, are they proposing Aunty C to your dad?" Abigail asked ignorantly.

"Is that possible?" Flavia asked innocently.

Without Flavia seeing, Abigail tapped her own forehead in amusement at Flavia's innocence. "Of course you can't, Flavia dear." Abigail replied happily.

"Abby!" said Flavia irritably.

"It's not that easy to propose to someone. If you really want to propose to Aunty C, you tell your dad to propose to her first. And tell Grandpa and Granny that my grandma is home. I'll tell my grandma that you guys are coming to visit." Abigail said again.

Before Flavia could answer, Abigail had already hung up.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Flavia arrived at Abigail's house with her grandparents. Abigail herself was not at home so the presence of the three guests confused Julie Hampton. Nevertheless, Julie Hampton welcomed them with a friendly smile.

"I am Arthur Quirino, and this is my wife Brianna." The two shook hands in turn. "I apologize for our unannounced visit." Arthur said with a regretful tone.

"It's all right, Mr. and Mrs. Quirino. Flavia is very welcome here, as is her family. I'm just sorry my son and daughter-in-law are away." Grandma Abigail told the elderly couple the news as she invited them in. "I was actually quite surprised when Abigail told me you were coming to visit." Mrs. Julie said matter-of-factly.

Arthur smiled kindly. "Call me Brianna and my husband Arthur." Brianna said.