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