ONE EIGHTY
morning, only to find themselves in the midst of Arabella's playful retalia
t!" Kieran pleaded through laught
"And you conveniently forgot to menti
chuckle, "Can't call
rch, hurriedly prepared to join the
," Mave pointed to a
before, her attention too
as Arabella quickly unlocked i
e discovered it contained her mother
it easily because it h
se are irreplaceable, so I'm grateful I got this out of the three bac
a framed photograph, her mother's radiant smile captured in the midst of a sunlit garden. Holding it up to
," Mave remarked,
ed gratefully
lse in the box, retrieved an
s?" he asked
how she quickly it for yea
hand when I bought it for your fifteenth birthday back then. Had to save for six who
, as yo
aphics tablet security AI, which would protect artworks and p
ck of hospitality. "You both fast before communion too, right? Bec
d her. "We do. Plus you'd rather leav
""♡""♡""
Arabella found themselves in the third pew, but as the service conclude
Arabella remarked, stroll
an explained, exchanging greetings with fellow church members. "Even w
walking with a celeb
"Anyway, after service, we all head to our family
those people," Mav
rvous," Arabe
Kiera
ieran. What if... what if t
so nervous the first time I came to one of these Sunday get-togethers too. Meeting them for
rabella s
"I quickly learned that Kieran was raised by incredible p
s hand reassuringly. "So d
t Mave's comforting gesture, feeli
elp but smile fondly a
t seen them in nine years, It might n
ABE
entence, she was enveloped in a hu
E YOU AGAIN, AND THEN I SPOTTED KIERAN AND MAVE, BUT I WAS CONFUSED ABOUT WHO THEY WERE WITH,
he way to hug Arabella as well. "Arabella, I missed you. You look great." She then turned to her brother. "You've k
called out excitedly to their great-g
ther narrowed her eyes, then gr
old lady, who now walked with
gentle embrace. "Nice
n? What are you doing here? D
wer, please," Kieran chuckled,
seeing you here." The old lady beame
p, the child clearly confused by all the exciteme
rabella, you know Josi
d. "I'm a bit late,
Tapenga repli
ieran's old friend,"
estured for the child to step forward.
a surge of affection. "Hello there," she greeted
a small smile. "Hello, Ar
all
Uncle Kieran's
, I
e patriarch of the house, began as he arri
rt skipped a beat, though she
?" the oldest man asked, brin
ir," Arabella gre
Did Kieran and
She was in town, and I thought it was n
ll you be join
ed, much to the delig
e only mildly reduced. "We ha
th a bright smile, glancing at Ki
missed y
, me
th
lly been seeing her fo
ally spoke up. "Wish I could miss Arabella
ed. God, why was it so hard to read thi
, Uncle Dean, you're
""♡""♡""
eryone embarked in their vehicle
nse of nostalgia. Children frolicked down the streets, clotheslines swayed in the breeze, and houses were int
ve permeated the air as they savored
evoked memories o
onvene like th
ti
tly employed?"
dst of job hunting," Arabella rep
o Palette looking for work, dad?" Kieran
turned
idn't you offer her th
ments," Dean explained smoothly. "It's not
axed and familial, engaging with his grandparents, nieces, grand niece, son, in-law and s
ing innocence when the little girl would notice her food disappearing each time she looked away.
earning a shocked gasp from the toddler. Arabella found it heartw
liarity was not extended to her. Not that she b
tarts her job!" Kieran's optimism brou
lected," Dea
ad
ly," he added, his tone
she tried to brush it off with a forced smile. She understood th
he interview, urging her to trust her instincts. "A
" Kieran asked, his to
t obligated to share with
guys," Tapenga interjected, at
yes. "Glad to know
get you so far in l
ation evident. "And Arabella doesn't have to rely on nepotism becaus
. "But it's not just about talent. The reality is there are certain criteria we need to cons
I get it, Dad. But I still believe in her.
's unwavering faith in Arabella. "I h
ension in the ro
n on her shoulders like a heavy burden. Despite Kieran's impassioned defen
an's support would buoy her spirits, but instead, it only served to highlight the magnitude of the challenge ahead. She longed to prove Dean wrong, to defy the odds and s
ethe
lizing Gran was addressing her. "Yes, ma
home. And what about your mother, brothers, everyo
ng squeeze on her hand beneath the table, silently
y mother passed away last year
illed t
sed, visibly distressed as she and Arabella's mother
my condolence
d Tapenga echoed s
pathy with a simple "sorry, Aunt Arabella." Arabe
t his gaze affixed to his mea
ned?" Lummi
bella recounted the painful memory. "I was recuperating
for the next three
of places I haven't checked out. Can't
your assistant!" Lummie
her sister, silently pleadi
ward glance. Arabella for one, was unsur
Palette, and runs his own gallery. He's too stubborn to hire a personal assistant, so I've been helping out with small tasks like mark
" Arabella started, b
could learn so much working closely with someone as experienced as Uncle Dean
suggestion hanging in the air. Arabella glanced a
no,'" Dean said bluntly, h
d loudly but
concerned about the tension between Dean an
ing Kieran w
e where she didn't exactly fit in. She was riding off old friend privilege. Everyone at that
most part, she wasn't excep
however, was Dean because he didn't know her.
that one time she helped his goat cross the street. In his eyes, she was
""♡""♡""
sive jerk." Kieran's hands clamped
yone dispersed rather half-heartedly. Kieran dropped
's a jerk. Far from it,
. That's just how he is around new people
eally," Arab
ou look so down, though. Do
g to brush off his
she
floor as tears streamed down her cheeks. The weight of the day's events finally caught up
ssed her guidance, her warmth, her unwavering support. The realization that she was t
pain and heartache of the past. But now, as she sat in the dimly lit hallwa
ering that maybe coming he
hen she heard a
out loud, wonderin
on the other side of th