Waltons Mansion
In the luxuriously decorated living room, a soft, golden light spilled over from the chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a homely glow on the girl sitting beneath it, as she munched on her snacks. She sat on the comfortable, cream-colored sofa, piled high with plush, velvet cushions, which seemed to invite relaxation and indulgence.
“Grandpa, you are back.” Annabelle, Raymond’s younger sister who was sitting in the luxuriously decorated living room, in her blue shorts and white tank top rushed forward, after hearing the sound of her grandfather’s walking stick hitting the ground and his slow-paced footsteps. She gently hugged her old grandpa.
“My darling, how was your day?” Grandpa Walton, who was angry due to his encounter with Ashley earlier, was all smiles seeing his adorable granddaughter. He caresses her brown curls dotingly.
Annabelle disentangles herself from her grandpa, and holds his arm, leading him to the living room. “My day was boring without Grandpa. I can’t eat anything. Annabelle pouted her lips looking adorable as her big green eyes shone with a mischievous sparkle, her face a picture of exaggerated distress, making Grandpa Walton chuckle and ruffle her curls affectionately.
“Oh, my poor baby, I’m back now, and I’ll make sure you eat all your favorite snacks,” he said, his voice warm with love and amusement.
As they reached the living room, Annabelle led Grandpa Walton to the cream-colored couch in the room, and gently pushed him to sit down, before climbing onto his lap, wrapping her small arms around his neck, and giving him a tight squeeze.
“I missed you so much, Grandpa,” she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest.
“I know…” Grandpa’s words trailed off as he saw what was lying on the coffee table. “Hmmm, whose snack is that?” Grandpa was asking the obvious. “Didn’t a naughty child just say earlier that she hadn’t eaten?” Grandpa Walton jokingly said as he tried holding his chuckle, while Annabelle’s body stiffened.
“Grandpa, that isn’t food. I was just snacking to kill boredom as I didn’t see my dear grandpa when I came back earlier.” Annabelle said, feigning ignorance as she tried to prove to her grandpa that she wouldn’t eat until she saw him.
“Annabelle…” Grandpa’s words were cut short by a series of small footsteps descending from the stairs. Annabelle and Grandpa’s gaze shot in the direction of the distraction and their eyes landed on the stunning figure of Isabella, Annabelle, and Raymond’s mother, who was descending the stairs with effortless elegance.
Her long, raven-brown hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her piercing emerald green eyes sparkled like jewels in the soft light of the living room. Her flawless, porcelain skin glowed with a subtle radiance, and her full, rosy lips curved into a warm, inviting smile.
She was a vision of loveliness, dressed in a sleek, black evening gown that hugged her curves in all the right places, showcasing her toned, athletic physique. She didn’t look like a mother of two at all. She could pass for a 30-year-old woman.
No need to say that Annabelle would just look exactly like her mother when she is her age because she could be taken as her carbon copy. Who didn’t know Isabella before wouldn’t know that she had given birth to a twenty-six-year-old grown-up man.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes met Grandpa Walton’s, and she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Hello, Father,” she said, her voice husky and confident. “Welcome home.”
Grandpa Walton smiled at his lovely daughter-in-law, as he nodded in acknowledgment. Isabella walked up to them. Her smile faltered a little as she scolded her daughter.
“You.., are you still a baby, still being carried by your grandpa? What a naughty girl.” Annabelle’s mother chided her.
“Mom, I will always be Grandpa’s favorite little grandbaby.” Annabelle stood from Grandpa Walton’s lap and sat beside him, “Grandpa, am I right.”
Her big green eyes which looked just like her mom’s own, stared at Grandpa with anticipation if grandpa nodded at her words, she would be over the moon.
“Sure, you will always be my favorite granddaughter. He smiled dotingly at her, patting her head. Annabelle gave her mother an I told you look, while her mother scoffed as she walked to the opposite sofa beside them.
A moment of comfortable silence passed between them. The only sound was the sound of the TV noise in the background. Annabelle, the talkative, broke the peaceful silence.
“Grandpa,” she whispered, not wanting her mother to hear their conversation. “How was your trip to the hospital? Did you see big brother Dylan?” As she mentioned Dylan’s name, her cheeks were hot as she shyly looked away from her grandfather.
Grandpa Walton chuckled as he nodded his head, keeping the conversation quiet, just the way she wanted it.
“I saw him. He was as handsome as always. If I was also a girl, I wouldn’t mind having a crush on him.” He teased his granddaughter, whom he knew had a crush on Dylan. Annabelle’s cheeks became even more flushed.
“Grandpa…” Annabelle called unhappily, stomping her feet.
“You are teasing me again.” She complained. Their actions caused Isabella, who was focused on the TV show, to glance at them suspiciously.
Seeing their flicking gazes, she sighed as she silently pitied who the granddaughter and grandfather were gossiping about again, which shows she was used to their childish behavior.
Seeing them behaving like kids caught in wrongdoings, she wouldn’t mind them as she focused on the TV show. A few minutes passed as Annabelle and Grandpa Walton chatted in a soft and almost silent voice.
They talked about all Annabelle did today. Grandpa Walton also said all he did, leaving the information about Ashley’s return. Isabella couldn’t mind them.
“Annabelle, I should have kept this to myself, but it seems like I can’t keep this to myself anymore,” Grandpa said to Annabelle, his eyes sparkling with gossip he couldn’t wait to share.
“Grandpa, don’t put me in suspense, say it already.” Annabelle was impatient.
“Alright, I will talk, but promise me you won’t scream the house down. And this must be among the two of us until that nonchalant grandson of mine comes to deliver the good news himself.”
“I promise Grandpa. If I tell anyone about this secret, let me turn into a monkey.” Her face was full of seriousness as she said this, making Grandpa Walton chuckle. “Silly.” He couldn’t help saying.
“Alright.” He said as he looked around like a detective, looking for anyone eavesdropping. Seeing everywhere was cleared, he cleared his throat as he motioned for Annabelle to move closer which she did.
He positioned his mouth to her right ear as he told her the secret, which made Annabelle’s eyes widen in shock. She was still for some seconds before shooting up from the sofa and screaming.
“What the hell Grandpa? Are you fucking serious?” Annabelle screamed, almost bringing down the mansion.
Her scream startled her mother who immediately turned over as her gaze flickered from granddaughter to grandfather. Grandpa Walton held his head in distress. He shouldn’t have believed this little swindler.