The Last Embrace

They began putting food on their plates.

Silence fell over the table once they started eating, the only sound that can be heard was the spoon and pork scooping foods left and right, then they would cast glances at each other wearing a pleasant smile on their faces.

Thirty minutes later.

In the middle of the meal.

"Wow! This is the most delicious dinner I have eaten in my whole life! Nana Aida deserves an Oscar Award for her expertise in cooking!" Caden exclaimed in glee, he voiced out his grat.i.tude to the woman who cooked the mouthwatering dishes that melted in his mouth and made a lasting impression in his stomach.

"Superb cooking! I"m impressed!" Grandpa Waldo seconded, he scanned his eyes on the food while glancing at Nana Aida admiring the woman"s remarkable culinary skills.

Adam and Jessy realized that they were both lucky growing up to Nana Aida"s awesome talent in cooking and also nurtured by her loving heart. "Nana Aida is simply the best!" they sang their praises in unison.

Nana Aida smiled graciously at her guest, it"s not all time that people would shower praises on her mediocre cooking skill "coz the mansion rarely get visitors. "Thank you so much guys for the praises, I"m overwhelmed and beyond elated!" she joked. "Eat plenty, there"s still more in the kitchen guys," she said delighted by their admiration.

Caden grinned. "Sure, the more the better!" he said shamelessly.

They roared in laughter.

The foods not only delicious and appetizing it made them devour everything that Nana put in the table, and made them stay for nearly two hours just enjoying the foods and making light conversations now and then, no one wanted to get up from the table.

Caden looked at Jessy. "Can I also work here? I don"t mind sweeping the dried leaves in the woods and also around the lake, as long I can go swimming and eat Nana Aida"s cooking every day I"m set for life because there is only one thing I can describe this place it"s—Paradise!" he blurted out.

Adam looked at Caden, smirking. "Seriously bro—are you gonna leave me now?"

"Were breaking up bro and there is nothing you can do about it!" Caden grinned from ear to ear.

They all laughed by Caden"s silly humor.

A moment later.

"Alright guys, let"s do the cleanup!" Adam stood up. "Jessy and Caden, we will wash the dishes and clean the table. I"m ordering Nana Aida and Grandpa Waldo to retire in the living room to get to know each other better. Guys, let"s keep moving!" he said chuckling.

The seniors departed from the dining room, their eyes gleaming.

Caden stood up reluctantly. "Guys, I still need to finish this creamy mushroom soup here, can I?" he said.

"Lol, just take your time, bro. Jessy and I will start washing up the dishes in the kitchen sink and you wipe the table after you"re done eating," Adam said.

Jessy looked at Caden. "There"s still more soup in the kitchen..." she said.

"Ah, no thanks, my stomach is already full! I will just finish this—it"s a waste if we throw it away," Caden explained.

Jessy went to the kitchen and brought back two trays with her, she and Adam began piling up the dirty dishes into the tray.

After sometime Caden stood up rubbing his stomach. "Oh G.o.d! I"m so full! Guys let me do the washing and you do the wiping on the table, I need to shake the food out of my bulging tummy," he said.

"Are you sure?" Adam asked.

"Yesss! Leave the washing of dishes to me!" Caden said.

"Okay," the couple relented and they brought the tray to the kitchen sink.

While Caden was washing in the sink, Adam and Jessy wipe the countertop clean and the table in the dining room.

After Caden finished washing the plates and putting them in the dish cabinet they left the kitchen and joined the seniors in the living room.

"We will go to the lake later and make a bonfire," Adam suggested. "Nana Aida and Grandpa Waldo you should join us—just chilling and relaxing around the bonfire," he suggested.

"No problem, kids, I"m all for it!" Grandpa Waldo responded. "You should go with us, Aida," he glanced at the older woman sitting beside him on the sofa.

"Sure!" replied the smiling Nana Aida.

Jessy and Adam smiled at each other.

"I will go there first!" Caden said excitedly.

"Okay go ahead, why don"t you change into your swimwear first?" Adam said.

"Good idea...just want to ask this bro...there is no p-piranha in the lake, right?" Caden asked nervously.

Jessy laughed amused by Caden"s outrageous question. "There is no piranha in the lake, Caden," she answered.

"How about crocodile?" Caden asked cautiously. It"s one thing when you swim in the lake during broad daylight, but then during the darkness of the night when you don"t know what"s lurking below the water...it"s gonna be...meh!

Adam patted Caden"s shoulder. "Don"t be a wuss, bro! Just wait for us after we changed into our swimwear and we will go to the lake together," he said.

"Okay that"s better, I will change into my swimwear and I will wait for you guys," Caden said.

They climb the stairs and change into their swimwear, then back again downstairs to proceed to the lake.

They brought with them two chairs for the seniors to sit upon.

The four left the living room and strolled towards the lake. The lamp post that surrounds the lake was already burning brightly, it gives a warm glow to the surrounding areas.

The elderly sat on the chair under the shade of the tree while the kids gathered dried leaves and branches for the bonfire.

After the woods and dried leaves were gathered in the center they looked at each other.

"Oh, we don"t have anything to start with the fire, me and Jessy will go back to the house to get the matches," Adam said.

They began walking towards the mansion, Caden followed the couple bouncing on their heels.

"Why did you leave them?" Adam asked his friend.

"I"m shipping the two," Caden replied naughtily grinning from ear to ear.

Jessy and Adam erupted into peals of laughter.

"You"re nuts!" Adam punched Caden"s arms playfully.

Caden stopped on his tracks. "I can"t understand you guys, why would we need a match to start a fire? Why don"t you just used your power and lit the bonfire, instead?" he said scratching his head.

Adam shook his head. "No. We don"t want to startle Grandpa Waldo, so yeah, let"s get the matchbox," Adam answered.

A few minutes later, they return into the clearing under the shade of the tree and lighted up the bonfire using the matches they had gotten from the kitchen.

"I"m jumping now—here I come!" Caden shouted and jump into the water without further ado.

Adam followed, then Jessy next wearing a swimwear rash guard top, together they created a ripple in the water.

They were having so much fun swimming in the lake, while the elderly were sitting comfortably on their chair watching the kids in fascination, as the energetic young adults tirelessly making a repet.i.tive splash in the water.

The lake was bombarded by their raucous shouting and laughing.

Grandpa Waldo was all smile watching the free-spirited kids doing b.u.t.terfly and freestyle stroke then backstroke and in the lake, they were enjoying night swimming and it"s nice to see them having fun.

Finally, he found a place where he felt he truly belong.