Candace blinked, “Why do you want to see Dad?”
Cody smiled, “I want to ask him if we’re still going fishing tomorrow.”
Candace went excited, “That’s awesome! I wish we could go. Going fishing is so much fun.”
Cristelle pulled a face, “Still? You guys don’t think it’s getting cold outside?”
Candace stuck her tongue out and ran into her room immediately afterward.
Cody laughed and went to the study room. Linford was staring at his computer. He just received an email from Drew.
Linford turned his PC off the moment the boy walked, “What’s wrong, Cody?”
Cody approached his desk with a serious look on his face, “What happened to Pop? Would you be honest with me?”
Linford blinked, “Nothing happened to Pop. He planned the whole scene about the explosion.”
Cody narrowed his eyes, “Really?”
Linford didn’t bat an eye, “Really.”
Cody let out a long breath, “Stop lying to me. Pop’s surely having some problems.”
“Why are you saying this, Cody? How did you find that?” Linford pulled a face.
Cody looked a bit sad, “If it really were a lie, Jack wouldn’t be that scared. Mr. Weston also wouldn’t have told me to spend more time with Pop.”
Linford looked surprised, “Did Mr. Weston call you?”
“Nope. He told me then went to the hospital that day,” Cody said, “What happened to Pop exactly? Tell me the truth.”
Linford sighed and started his PC again, “Take a look yourself.”
Cody climbed on a chair and stared at the medical report on the screen. An unspeakable sadness took hold of him. It took him a couple of minutes to finally speak, “Is this true?”
Looking at Cody’s red eyes, Linford also felt extremely sad. He ruffled the boy’s hair, “Spend more time with Pop, will you? Nothing makes the old man happier than hanging out with you two.”
Cody nodded slowly, “I will.”
The boy still felt slightly sad as he returned to his room. Lying in bed, Cody tossed and turned, yet he still couldn’t fall asleep.
He thought about the moments he shared with Pop again and again.
Pop was old. He knew this day would come, but he just didn’t expect it to come so soon.
His great-grandpa’s greatest wish was to figure out how his Uncle Clyde died. Cody was determined to grant his wish sooner.
After these things were over, he would definitely find out the truth about Clyde’s death for Pop’s sake.
****
The yearly party of Linford’s company was held the next day. Linford went to the company as usual. He sent his car and Alfred to pick up Cristelle, the babies, and Pop from his mansion to the biggest hotel in the city. So they could celebrate with all their employees as well.
The company was left behind by Linford’s mother. Although Bradley used to be a family of famous politicians and army officials, Linford was the only one who gave up his political and military career and started his own business.
Enzo seldom came to the annual party. This was also Franco’s first time coming. Fritzi designed Cristelle’s cocktail dress and the babies’ clothes for the event.
She couldn’t stop talking about the raffle draw prize that was gonna happen in an hour as she helped Cristelle to put on her dress, “They said the biggest prize is a house and lot. This is absolutely insane.”
“Do they have dolls for the prize?” Candace looked up as she asked.
“Yep, probably gold ones,” Fritzi laughed.
“Mom, can we join the raffle draw as well?” Candace asked with expectation.
Cristelle smiled, “No, honey. Mommy hasn’t come here to work for a while. The raffle draw is for diligent employees of the company.”
“Oh, okay,” Candace looked pretty disappointed.
When they walked out of the dressing room, Franco was already waiting outside in his tailored suit, “What took you guys so long? Let’s go to the private suite Linford just booked for us.”
“Do they have food?” Candace asked.
“They have a lot of delicious food,” Cody smiled as he held his sister’s little hand.
Candace’s eyes lit up.
Fritzi was surprised, “Why? You guys don’t want to go to the hall? A superstar is invited tonight.”
Cristelle shook her head, “We’re okay. You enjoy your party, Fritzi.”
“Who is invited?” Candace asked.
Fritzi bent over and whispered a name to Candace’s ear. Candace’s eyes widened as she heard the name, “Whoa! I know him. He’s the coolest!”
Cody cleared his throat and took his sister away.
The suite Linford booked for them was beautifully decorated. There was a huge screen on the wall. They could see what was happening in the hall through the screen.
Linford also went to celebrate the party with his employees. That superstar Fritzi mentioned before was sitting right next to him. They talk to each other now and then.
Candace couldn’t even take her eyes away when she saw that actor.
Cody cleared his throat again, “Candace, food.”
Candace nodded and picked up her fork.
****
Linford made a speech before the party officially got started. After that, the stage was left empty for all the employees to show off their talents. It was pretty fun outside.
“Wow! Fritzi can sing,” Candace exclaimed as she heard Fritzi’s voice,
“Isn’t her voice beautiful, Mommy?”
“Yes, she does have a beautiful voice,” Cristelle nodded, smiling.
“How is the food?” Linford pushed open the door for a moment.
“It’s amazing!” Candace was always full of compliments.
Franco smiled pleasantly, “You must be pretty tired right now. Come here and sit. Alfred will take care of the rest outside.”
Linford nodded, “Sure. I will go out when the raffle drawing starts.”
The party lasted until very late. Linford enjoyed his dinner with his family. He even ended up getting the star’s signature for Candace in the end. To be honest, he was quite jealous, and Candace had never shown that level of interest to anyone before.
Girls did grow fast.
Donny was the lucky winner of the grand prize. The girl was thrilled as she got the lucky draw. Fritzi envied her so much, but she also got her prize tonight.
The annual party was a great success. Linford drove his family back after that. When they finally arrived home, however, Claire and Frank were nowhere to be found.