They walked the rest of their short journey toward the main house in awkward silence.
“Candace, see who is coming,” Franco laughed as he saw Linford and Cristelle.
Candace was enjoying the sun on the chair with her eyes closed. She opened her eyes the moment she heard Franco’s words.
Jumping off the chair, the girl ran toward her parents with stretched arms and a lovely smile on her face.
The servants moved two more chairs under the grape trellis. Linford and Cristelle took their seats beside Franco, enjoying the cool wind.
“Candace is such a smart girl. She can learn everything she’s taught,” Franco couldn’t stop smiling.
Cristelle patted her little girl’s head, “What did you learn, honey?”
Candace gestured with sign language. She learned to dance and play the piano in the morning. And she learned calligraphy and painting with Pop’s friends in the afternoon.
Cristelle was a bit worried. Wouldn’t those lessons be too tiring for a little girl at her age?
Linford asked, “What dance did you learn in the dance class? Can you perform a bit now?”
Candace shook her head. Cindy had only taught her the most basic things today. The real class had not yet begun.
Linford left a kiss on her cheek, “You will be such an amazing dancer. I believe you.”
****
The dinner was ready soon. They went back into the house, chatting and laughing. Franco usually wouldn’t eat food too sweet or too oily for the night. But he still asked the kitchen to prepare more desserts tonight because his granddaughter was here.
Candace’s eyes fell on those desserts after dinner, but she didn’t even touch them.
Cristelle thought she didn’t eat those desserts because she didn’t want to discourage Franco. She didn’t even think that much.
****
That night after taking a bath, Candace still couldn’t fall asleep, rolling around on the bed in discomfort. Cristelle smiled and pulled out two pieces of chocolate, “Hey, sweetie. Do you need some?”
Candace cast a look at the chocolate and buried her face into the pillow, shaking her head. She wouldn’t eat any sweets anymore. She was determined to be slim and healthy. She wanted to be a great dancer.
Cristelle laughed and pressed a kiss on Candace’s cheek.
Was this what Cindy did? She was pretty good, actually.
The door was pushed open at the moment. Linford walked in shirtless with his hair damp from showering.
Cristelle almost jumped as she hurried to cover her chest with her hands, “What the heck are you doing here?”
“Sleep,” Linford answered simply.
Candace was so happy as she jumped off the bed and held Linford’s big hand, pulling him in bed.
Cristelle went nervous, “Candace! What are you doing?”
She flinched in the bed and hit her head against the wall, “Ow!”
“Watch it!” Linford went nervous.
“Go away!” Cristelle pushed his hand away, “Why are you here?”
Linford looked innocent, “Sleep. I just told you. This is my room.”
“You said there are a lot of empty rooms in grandpa’s house. Can’t pick a random one?” Cristelle glared at him.
Candace pulled at Linford’s hand until he also sat on the bed. She was determined to let her Dad stay tonight.
Linford kept explaining, “Pop does have a lot of empty rooms here, but he’s been redecorating the guest rooms. Our rooms are the only ones left untouched. Enzo doesn’t allow anyone to enter his room, and it’s locked. Clyde’s room doesn’t even have a bed in it. Mine is the only one that can be used. Grandpa will find it weird if I sleep on the couch. Can’t you just pretend a little before him?”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Cristelle glared at him.
Linford sighed, “I thought you knew it already.”
“Why would I know?” Cristelle was even more confused. She was sure Linford must have done this on purpose.
“Linford, I’m telling you. I’m not interested in you, and you shouldn’t have any desires for me. You know our paths would never cross if it were not for our babies,” Cristelle warned him, “I think the best resolution is to respect each other and leave each other alone. I can tell the babies the facts when they grow up.”
Did she want to steer clear of him?
No way!
But Linford knew he should compromise now, or Cristelle would run away again, “I can do that for you if it is your true thought. But I also wish you could respect my term.”
Cristelle frowned, “What is your term?”
Linford fixed his eyes on her, “Don’t find our babies a stepfather before they grow up.”
Cristelle rolled her eyes and buried herself into the comforter, facing the wall.
Linford lay down beside Candace, tucking her in.
Candace reached out and grabbed Linford’s hand, begging him to tell her a story.
“There once were three little puppies. They were best friends. One day, they went to the forest to camp. They decided to start a competition. The best hunter among them would become the leader of the team. The oldest puppy was the most prudent one, and he got the biggest amount of games. The second puppy was the smartest one. He planted so many traps in the forests that the prey would come to him. The third puppy was the bravest one, and he didn’t bear any fear in his mind. He wouldn’t even run when he faced a tiger. However, he fell into a trap and broke his leg.”
Linford’s voice was deep and reassuring. Candace was mesmerized.
“The youngest puppy tried so hard to climb out, but the trap was too deep. He couldn’t make it to the top. The other two puppies found him hearing his voice. But they didn’t save him.”
Linford suddenly stopped and sighed deeply.
Candace shook her Dad’s hand anxiously.
Why didn’t they save him? What happened next?
Linford looked down and smiled at his little girl, “It’s getting late, princess. You still need to go to the dance class tomorrow. Sleep.”
Cristelle also overheard the story.
Why didn’t the two puppies save the youngest friend?
“Did you learn how to hold a pen today?” Linford asked Candace gently.
Candace nodded. She was completely distracted.
“Is Mr. Weston strict with you?” Linford asked again.
Candace nodded. That old gentleman was so scary.
Mr. Weston?
Was Linford talking about that famous writer R. J. Weston?