Maja felt a sharp pang in her forehead as she gently lifted Craig''s tear-streaked face.


    Craig looked remarkably liken and was currently in the throes of a sob session.


    "There, there, be brave, no more crying."


    "Ugh, wahhh, ugh."


    "Ever seen a brave man cry?"


    Dangling in the air, Craig felt a rush of embarrassment, "Dad, let me go, let go! Wahhh."


    Craig tumbled on the soft cushions, on the verge of tears once again.


    Maja walked over, pretending to speak offhand, "Carol mentioned she''s bringing Karen over today."


    Carol and Felix Brown''s daughter, Karen, was a typical girl next door.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Craig instantly stopped crying, hastily wiping away his tears.


    "Are theying over for dinner?"


    "Yes, and your Uncle Felix will join us too."


    Craig''s fingers traced circles on the couch, his face alight with anticipation.


    Maja wasn''t lying; they indeed had ns with Carol and her family for the evening.


    Felix arrived early, making himself at home in the kitchen.


    In recent years, any gathering was iplete without him taking charge of the cooking.


    Craig watched in awe as Felix hung up his sleek suit jacket and began prepping the vegetables.


    "Uncle Felix, you''re amazing."


    Felix chuckled, giving Craig''s cheek a yful pinch.


    "What would you like for dinner tonight?"


    "Whatever Karen wants, I''ll have the same."


    Rosemary Sanders, who was lurking outside, couldn''t resist teasing as she leaned on the kitchen doorframe.


    "Well, well, well, barely out of diapers and already doting on your littledy."


    Her voice, still childish, probably didn''t grasp the full meaning of her words.


    This was


    tease Craig before, and Ket iten had used to


    had


    it to heart, now


    .


    Craig always felt overshadowed by his sister at home, and now he just felt embarrassed.


    "Rosemary, stop it, that''s not true."


    Mimicking his flustered stutter, Rosemary teased, "I-I''m not making it up."


    The next second, Craig burst into tears.


    Realizing she had gone too far, Rosemary attempted to flee upstairs but was stopped by Maja''s reprimanding voice.


    "Rosemary,e down this instant and apologize to your brother!"


    Rosemary, barely taller than the banister, sighed like an adult and reluctantly descended.


    "Sorry, Mom."


    Maja was at her wit''s end with these two troublemakers.


    "Don''t say things like that again, understood?"


    Rosemary nodded obediently but sighed again seeing Craig still sniffling.


    "Mom, Dad mentioned Uncle Fitch is back. Does that mean Nn is back too?"


    Wrapping his arm around Maja, he exined, "Fitch was supposed to be in Zion City for half a year but came back after just one week. He''s been holed up at home for a week now, not contacting anyone."


    For most people, staying home for a week was normal, but for Fitch, it was out of character, especially since he hadn''t reached out to anyone.


    Craig, wiping away his tears, muttered, "Oh, Rosemary''s concerned about her little sweetheart now."


    Rosemary hurriedly denied, "I am not!"


    Maja couldn''t help but smile at their antics.


    She ced a hand over each of their mouths.


    "Alright, both of you, quiet down for a bit."


    Rosemary and Craig red at each other, then turned away, each refusing to acknowledge the other.