Josephine opened the door and there stood William. True to Sebastian's words, his chauffeur had come to drop off her car. He also had a letter for her from Kristine, apparently. Though the man was respectful, Josephine had an inkling he didn't like her. She invited him in for a drink or something, but he turned her down, claiming he had somewhere to be.
After his departure, Josephine opened Kristine's letter in haste. She was moved beyond tears at the message on the plain writing pad. Her daughter had confirmed that Sebastian had agreed to have her attend the party. Josephine released a breath she didn't even know she was holding. Her day brightened immensely. She instantly called Andrew to tell him of the good news. Andrew shared in her happiness and asked if he could accompany her. She regretfully informed him she didn't know it was fine with the McCain's if she brought a plus one. He assured her she shouldn't fret because he understood, and instead encouraged her to bask in the prospect of better things ahead. He hung up with the promise of seeing her later.
Josephine couldn't wipe the huge grin off her face the rest of the day. She began thinking of a gift to get Kristine, and it dawned on her, she didn't have the slightest clue about what her daughter liked. But thanks to the hospital trip earlier, she eliminated simple toys from the equation. She regretted not having opened the letter in front of William. The man would have surely helped her narrow down the gift options. Determined not to let the simple setback dim her newly found satisfaction, Josephine fetched her iPad and opened the i********: app. She searched for Sebastian McCain and was surprised to see the man even had a fan page. Surprisingly, most of the pictures on his page were of his family, with Kristine taking up seventy percent. Her daughter was beautiful. Josephine marveled at the immense love poured for her even on social media.
She saved all the pictures and videos of Kristine, using one headshot as a screensaver. Josephine was tempted to DM Sebastian and ask for his help in choosing the gift, but she feared coming out as a stalker. She kept scrolling on his page and, accidentally, liked one of the photos from years back. She couldn't stop the shriek which tore out of her mouth. She hastily dropped the iPad on the sofa and began pacing. 'So much for not being a stalker,' her mind taunted.
She wanted to scream or hit something in mortification. And then an idea occurred. She could casually begin liking the rest of the pictures randomly. Then it wouldn't seem like weird stalking. She did exactly that, mostly to Kristine's pictures. She was pleasantly surprised when a few minutes later he began following her.
****
Sebastian had just finished helping Kristine set up her equipment when his phone began pinging insistently. He retrieved it and was surprised to see Josephine Lawrence liking his i********: posts. He grinned evilly, checking her profile. Not only that, but he decided to follow her. He wasn't a fool not to have realized she had liked an ancient post first, before the recent. “Daddy,” Kristine whined, glaring at her father who was grinning at his phone.
“Sorry pumpkin,” he murmured, dropping a kiss on her before passing the transparent safety goggles to her.
“Thanks, daddy,” she put them on and picked up the soldering iron. Sebastian put on his goggles too and held the metal bars stationary for Kristine to bind. She wanted to begin by making a support base for the brakes. Father and daughter chatted lightly amidst her instructions, which Sebastian obeyed to the letter without a question. He was a competent handyman. They hadn't finished connecting all the bars when Ethan busted into the workshop. “Uncle,” he exclaimed happily, moving towards them. He stood next to Sebastian and looked at the project his cousin was currently working on.
“Why won't you do kids' stuff?” He groaned, making Sebastian laugh, and Kristine stuck her tongue out unimpressed.
“We should continue tomorrow,” Sebastian suggested, suspecting that Ethan needed some time to pick on his favorite and only cousin. Kristine agreed wholly, probably thinking of ways to annoy her cousin too.
******
Cleo began serving dinner a few hours later. The adults had talked at length about how to go about Josephine's issue. Sebastian did inform them that he had allowed Kristine to invite Josephine to get a birthday party and surprisingly, Anthony supported the decision. He claimed that it would give them an opportunity to feel her notions.
“That's a stupid theme,” Ethan muffled a mouthful. He had scooped a sizable amount of the shredded beef in his mouth, and he couldn't wait to swallow first before pointing out how mad scientist was a dumb theme for a birthday party.
“Only if you are dumb,” Kristine retorted seriously. “Oh, wait, you are dumb.” She laughed, much to Ethan's annoyance.
“Shut up, the two of you.” Kathrine scolded her grandkids. “Did your fathers teach you to talk while chewing?” She narrowed her older gaze on them, making Ethan apologize, followed by Kristine, and the two are in silence.
“I had thought you became soft.” Anthony chuckled, eyeing their mother. She rarely acted as a disciplinarian to the grandkids, which is odd because the brothers do remember his tough age was with them growing up.
“Give your mother a break, she is an old woman trying to get to heaven, son.” Luther McCain blurted, tongue in cheek.
Everyone burst out laughing.
“It's a waste of time because there is no heaven. Let your ugly side show, grandma.” Kristine chipped in seriously, sending the adults into more laughter.
“Why do I feel like I have failed?” Damien complained. He couldn't get his young niece to believe in God.
“You failed a long time ago when you took a job as an ambassador of an invisible supposed mighty being, uncle.”
Another round of deafening laughter.
“She is with no doubt your blood,” Damien grumbled to a laughing Luther. The man and religion are polar. Dinner was definitely a fun affair amidst light banter. By the time the family parted, everyone was in a better mood.