Begins with Trouble, Ends with Love

Chapter 5

Two weeks have passed since the day they met the twins, and now Mrs. Benneth and Grandma Joyce have become regular customers of Farm of Love. Today, Mrs. Benneth decided to visit in the evening since the shop usually closes around 7 PM.

"Amira, what's for dinner today?" Mrs. Benneth asked as soon as she arrived at the shop with Grandma Joyce, who always accompanied her.

"Hello, Mrs. Benneth. Today we have northern-style chili paste with fried fish," Amira replied and led the two elderly women outside, where the weather was pleasantly cool.

"By the way, where are the twins, Amira?" Grandma Joyce asked while looking around the shop.

"They went with Adam. Today, their grandparents wanted them home a bit earlier," Amira explained.

"That's a shame," Grandma Joyce said softly, making Mrs. Benneth smile gently.

"You miss the twins, don't you, Joyce?" Mrs. Benneth teased.

"Oh, like you don't miss them too," Mrs. Benneth could only laugh and nod in agreement when she heard the response.

"The kids miss both of you too, but their grandparents are probably worried that they won't adjust in time because they have to prepare for preschool," Amira added.

"Just a moment, Aunt. I'll go grab the food," she said before heading to the kitchen to check how far the food preparation had progressed.

"It's a shame about Amira," Grandma Joyce suddenly remarked as she saw the shop owner walk inside.

"Honestly, Joyce, these things don't bother me. Besides, we don't know anything yet. I don't want to judge people by appearances."

"Most importantly, I've really grown fond of those twins. I don't know why, but every time I see them, I think of Ace as a child."

"Me too. Seeing the twins reminds me of when I took care of Ace as a child."

"I wonder how Ace would react if he met the twins."

"Here's the food," Amira announced just as the conversation was about to continue, bringing out the food at the right moment.

"Amira, when you have some time, I'd love to meet your parents," Mrs. Benneth said.

"We've been here for several days and still haven't gotten to know them," Mrs. Benneth remarked before turning her attention to the food in front of her.

"Yes, sure. The house isn't far from the shop, just a bit further into the farm," Amira replied, as the house is located deeper within the farm.

"I just finished making some clear soup, so I thought you might like to have it with the chili paste," Amira said, making the two elderly women smile.

"Thank you. Let's eat, Joyce," Mrs. Benneth said, inviting Nanny Joyce to eat.

After finishing their meal, Mrs. Benneth and Nanny Joyce excused themselves, not wanting to take up more time since it was near closing. They then walked back to the car where the driver was waiting.

"Thank you, Amira, for walking us out. We could have managed on our own," Mrs. Benneth said to Amira, who was supporting Nanny Joyce.

"No problem, Auntie. It's nothing," Amira replied.

"The food was delicious today. I'll definitely come back," Nanny Joyce said, patting Amira's hand before getting into the car.

"Alright, I'll see you off here," Amira said as she watched the car drive away, then turned back to manage the shop since there were no more customers.

"Oh, whose car is parked in front of the house?" Mrs. Benneth asked as soon as the car turned into the farm area, and she saw an unfamiliar car parked there.

"I wonder too," Nanny Joyce said, equally curious, as the car stopped in front of the house. She raised an eyebrow and turned to tell Mrs. Benneth, who was sitting next to her.

"It's Mr. Ace," Nanny Joyce quickly informed Mrs. Benneth upon seeing the tall man walk out.

"Hello, Mom, Nanny Joyce," Ace greeted as he saw the two women get out of the car. He walked straight over to hug them and then paid his respects.

"So, have you finished your work?" Mrs. Benneth teased her son before letting the tall man support Nanny Joyce into the house.

"Yes, I finished my work and rushed to see you and Nanny," Ace replied as he followed them inside.

"By the way, where have you two been? Why didn't you take the kids along?"

"I went with Joyce to eat at the neighboring farm. Besides, Joyce and I aren't that old yet, are we, Ace?"

"Let the kids have a break. Joyce and I often go out together," Mrs. Benneth replied while giving her son a playful look.

"Haha, I'm just kidding. Oh, my beautiful and youthful mother, I'm just concerned."

"By the way, did you come alone? Where's Carlos?" Mrs. Benneth asked about her grandson, who was always with Ace.

"He went to put things away in the room. By the way, are there any problems with the house renovations?"

"No, everything's fine. The ramp you asked to be added at the back of the house is done too."

"Thanks for thinking about us older folks," Mrs. Benneth said, reaching up to caress Ace’s sharp face, knowing he had arranged for Carlos to find a reliable worker to build a ramp for the elderly to move up and down more easily.

"Hello, Aunt," Carlos greeted as he carried both his and Ace’s bags to the room, even though Ace had intended for someone else to take them up. Carlos insisted on doing it himself, saying he was going to wash up in the room anyway.

"Carlos," Mrs. Benneth greeted, waving her grandson over for a familiar hug.

"Have you two eaten yet? Joyce and I already went out to eat."

"I didn't know you were coming, or I would have brought some back. The food at this place is really good," Mrs. Benneth said with a smile.

"Oh, too bad I came late," Carlos said with a soft voice, making both Mrs. Benneth and Joyce smile.

"Well, you didn't call to let us know."

"We already ate after getting off the plane," Ace replied.

"We'll have to try the food there sometime. By the way, is the place next door where you met the twins that look like Ace?" Carlos asked curiously.

"Yes, usually they serve single dishes with coffee and snacks, but the chili paste is off-menu, made every other day."

"Too bad we didn't see the twins today," Mrs. Benneth sighed deeply, showing her eagerness to meet the twins, causing Ace to shake his head and tease her.

"Looks like you've become so fond of someone else's kids that you've forgotten your own," said Mrs. Benneth, who couldn't help but reach out and give his strong arm a playful smack, making Ace yelp.

"Ouch, Mom, why did you hit me?"

"Oh, don't say that, Ace. Just wait until you meet the twins."

"Okay, okay, once I meet those twins, I'll let you know,"

"If you've already eaten, go get some rest. You must be tired from the trip. By the way, how many days will you be staying?" Mrs. Benneth asked.

"Four or five days, Mom. I want to have a good look around, just in case I decide to build another guesthouse," Ace replied, looking at his mother.

"Great, then I can take you to see the Farm of Love," Mrs. Benneth said, and Ace nodded before heading up to the second floor of the house.

"I wonder what Aunt sees in the neighboring farm. It can't just be the twins," Carlos remarked as he followed, looking curiously at the person in front of him.

***

The next morning, Amira, who was in the kitchen, had to quickly stop what she was doing when she heard the twins crying. When she came out, her eyes widened in surprise to see the twins huddled together, crying at the shop's entrance. She hurriedly walked over to hug them.

"There, there, don't cry, little Aiden and little Aaron," Amira said, embracing the twins who were crying loudly, startling Mrs. Benneth, who had followed them in, making her turn to look at her son standing still.

"Aiden, Aaron, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Tell Grandma," Mrs. Benneth said, seeing the twins not stopping their tears, she crouched down and gently stroked their heads.

"Hic, hic, Aaron ran into the giant's leg and fell over. When he cried, I cried too," Aiden explained, making Mrs. Benneth smile as she wiped the tears from the older twin's face.

The younger twin clung tightly to his mother's neck. Amira tried to comfort the younger twin, then looked up in surprise at the tall figure standing still, her eyes widening once more.

"You," Amira stammered before slowly pulling Aiden's arm closer to herself automatically, which made Mrs. Benneth, who was watching, surprised by the mother's reaction. She then glanced at her son.

"You," Ace muttered softly. Mrs. Benneth, who heard it, stood still, and Ace's reaction made her examine the twins again before reaching out to nudge her son.

"Ace, why don't you go sit at the table first? Carlos will probably help Grandma Joyce in soon."

Ace, upon hearing his mother's voice, snapped back to reality but couldn't help glancing at the slender figure leading the twins to the coffee counter.

"We'll talk later, Ace," Mrs. Benneth said, seeing her son walk to the chair and letting out a deep sigh. It seemed like there was definitely something between these two.

"Amira, have the twins stopped crying?" Mrs. Benneth asked as she walked in and saw Amira wiping the twins' faces.

"Yes, they've stopped," Amira replied, then glanced at the man sitting quietly before looking at the twins with concern.

"I never thought the world would be this small," Amira thought to herself.

"Aiden and Aaron, do you want to sit with Grandma?" Suddenly, Mrs. Benneth asked the twins who were hugging each other on the recliner.

"Aaron is afraid of the big man," Amira turned to look when she heard the younger twin speak, then glanced at Mrs. Benneth, who was smiling.

"That's okay, you can stay with Mom Amira, but can Grandma have a hug? Yesterday when Grandma came, you weren't here."

"Oh, I should call you something else. Aiden and Aaron, can Grandma have a hug?" Amira widened her eyes when she heard Mrs. Benneth refer to herself differently.

"Grandma?" Aiden asked Mrs. Benneth before looking up at his mother, who was biting her lip tightly. Mrs. Benneth, seeing the reaction, reached out to hold her delicate hand and smiled.

"Hey twins, I heard your crying from outside. You must be very naughty," Adam, who walked in with Grandma Joyce and another young man, teased immediately. The response was the twins glaring at their uncle, making Adam laugh at their antics.

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Still running around at the hospital, just popped in to give a quick update.