Chapter 284 An Evening at Grandpa Gordon's
"No need, my day was rather busy and I'm feeling quite fatigued. I'll take a bath and then you all may carry on," Nora declared, her smile soft and polite as she declined the offer.
"Of course, do take care! Rest well after your bath, don't push yourself too hard. How would I explain it to Aaron otherwise?" Quinn, understanding Nora's exhaustion, did not press further and gestured for her to take her leave.
With that, Nora retreated to her room, indulging in the comforting warmth of a bath.
Once she emerged, her hair dried and her body swathed in a plush robe, she nestled herself into bed and initiated a video call with her three little cherubs.
"Mommy," three cherubic faces crowded the camera frame, their voices chiming in unison.
"My darlings," Nora's heart swelled with warmth as she blew them virtual kisses.
Her eyes, however, were drawn to the unfamiliar wall behind them. She blinked, a sense of unease creeping in.
"Sweethearts, where are you? You're not at home, are you?"
"Mommy, we're at Grandpa Gordon's house tonight! We're having a sleepover," Samantha chirped in her babyish lilt.
At Jacob's? Nora was momentarily speechless. It was her first day away, and already her children had been spirited off to the old man's residence?
Nonetheless, Nora offered them some advice, "You must behave yourselves at someone else's house and avoid causing any trouble, alright?"
"Mommy, we wouldn't cause trouble," Billy assured her.
"Yeah, Mommy, Grandpa Gordon really likes us," Samantha added, her grin wide and infectious.
Alex simply nodded in agreement.
Nora knew her trio was adored by all, but she felt the need to gently remind them of their manners.
As the siblings chattered away about their day at school and their adventures at Grandpa Gordon's, Nora listened, her smile gentle, occasionally interjecting with her own comments.
Suddenly, the camera jostled, and Samantha swiveled around to call out, "Grandpa, Daddy!"
Jacob and Aaron entered the room.
Caught off guard, Nora quickly straightened up, adjusting her hair and adopting a more formal expression.
The brothers snickered at her sudden change in demeanor, their giggles revealing their awareness of their mother's nervousness.
Nora blinked at the two men, acknowledging their presence with a slight unease.
At that moment, Aaron's voice resonated from the other end, "Are you guys chatting with Mommy?"
"Yeah."
The brothers made room, and Aaron's handsome face came into view.
"Are you in bed already, tired?" he inquired.
Nora gave a dry chuckle, "I'm okay."
Aaron's lips curled into a half-smile, "Nora, let me introduce you to..."
"Wait, should I change into something else?"
Nora knew Aaron was about to introduce her to Grandpa Gordon, and her nerves were palpable.
This was all so sudden, she thought. If only she had known, she wouldn't have retired to bed so early.
"It's fine, you're a natural beauty; you don't need to dress up," Aaron teased, his tone light, yet aware of her tension.
Nora shot him a glare but nonetheless straightened her pajamas.
Meeting his family in her sleepwear, was that appropriate?
Fortunately, her pajamas were modest, long-sleeved and full-length. Otherwise, she would have darted off to change immediately.
Aaron chuckled softly and turned to the figure beside him, "Grandpa, this is Nora."
An elderly man with a crown of white hair appeared on the screen.
He exuded vitality and an imposing aura.
Nora greeted him promptly, "Hello, Mr. Gordon."
Grandpa Gordon nodded, "No need to be so formal, Dr. Smith. Just call me Grandpa like the kids do."
His voice was firm, yet it carried an undercurrent of warmth.
Nora smiled amiably and agreed.
"I'm sorry to trouble you with the kids tonight," she said.
Grandpa Gordon waved his hand dismissively, "It's fine, go about your business. The kids are in good hands here."
Nora chuckled, and a moment of silence ensued.
Sensing the right moment to exit the conversation, Jacob said, "I'll leave you two to chat. Don't mind me."
"Take care, Grandpa," Nora responded.
With a nod, Jacob walked away, his hands clasped behind his back.
Nora exhaled deeply, her back slick with a fine sheen of sweat despite their brief exchange.
"Why don't you kids take a hint from Grandpa and let me and your Mommy have a little private talk?" Aaron suggested to the three little ones.
"Okay, goodnight Mommy," Alex led the trio in bidding Nora goodnight.
Despite her initial reluctance, Nora recognized the necessity of the children's bedtime and bid them a sweet goodnight.
The perspective of the camera wavered as Aaron transported the tablet to the sanctuary of his own room.
Once the door was securely shut behind him, he couldn't help but chuckle. "You were quite nervous meeting my grandfather, weren't you?" he teased.
Nora reclined against the plush headrest of her bed, releasing a sigh of exasperation. "You could've given me a heads up, you know, so I could brace myself," she retorted.
Aaron's laughter echoed through the room. "Don't fret, I've always said you're naturally stunning," he reassured her.
Nora rolled her eyes at his comment, choosing to remain silent.
Aaron made himself comfortable on the couch, his curiosity piqued. "Are you staying at Quinn's place?"
She confirmed.
"Sleeping well?" he inquired.
Nora blinked, stifling a yawn. "I should be able to sleep just fine. I'm actually quite tired as we speak."
Aaron's eyebrows rose in surprise. "So, am I the only one losing sleep?"
Nora fell into a contemplative silence.
Despite the simplicity of his words, Aaron always managed to infuse them with a certain charm that made her want to laugh.
She decided to shift the conversation. "Are you staying at the Gordon family's old house tonight?"
"Indeed, I am. Wherever the kids are, I am. With the wife away on business, I've got to play Mr. Mom, don't I?" Aaron responded.
Nora couldn't help but laugh at his comment, a warm and fuzzy feeling spreading within her.
Her thoughts drifted to Ebenezer. "Why did you contact my father?" she asked.
Aaron shrugged. "You're his daughter. He's got to look out for you in some way."
Nora declared, "He wanted to give me assets, but I refused."
Aaron's eyebrows twitched in surprise. "Forget about the money. Whatever is mine will eventually be yours. You won't be lacking."
Nora scoffed, "As if I'm short on money myself?"
"Exactly! Rich lady, why don't you sponsor me?" Aaron jested.
Nora chuckled. "Speaking of which, guess who I bumped into today?"
"Who?" Aaron asked, intrigued.
"Just..." She proceeded to recount the day's events.
Aaron listened attentively. "Such a coincidence? My wife’s a Traditional Medicine Practitioner, incredibly skilled, capable of saving lives anywhere."
Nora was left speechless at his casual mention of her as his wife.
"Who's your wife?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"Nora’s my wife, of course," Aaron responded smoothly.
Nora rolled her eyes once more. "It’s getting late, I need to rest."
Aaron glanced at the time. "Alright, as much as it pains me to part with you, for the sake of my wife's health, I must bid you farewell."
Nora smiled, growing weary of their playful banter.
"I'm hanging up now."
"Hold on," Aaron called out to her.
"What is it? Something else?" Nora asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Didn't you forget something?"
"What?" she asked, genuinely confused.
Aaron pointed to his lips. "A goodnight kiss."
Nora shook her head in amusement but humored him, blowing him a virtual kiss.
Aaron seemed satisfied. "Goodnight, wife. Don't forget to dream of me."
Nora just laughed and then ended the video call. The silence of the room wrapped around her like a comforting blanket as she lay in bed, a smile playing on her lips. She closed her eyes, her heart light. In her contented state, she quickly succumbed to a deep, restful sleep.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
