North chuckled when he saw how she hadnât turned around. âGrandma!â he called. Right then, Ellen spun around to see her family members behind her. Tears formed in her eyes immediately. âOh, dear! What brings all of you here?â
âWeâre here to spend the new year with you,â Eugene uttered with a smile. Ellen scurried over to welcome them. âIs that so?
Hurry up and come in! Why didnât you guys tell me that you were going to visit?â Olivia grinned. âEugene said he wanted to give you a surprise.â âThis sure is a surprise.â Ellen turned to gaze at Jewel. âAnd you are...?â
Olivia immediately pulled Jewel over to introduce her. âThis is one of my best friends, Jewel. She doesnât have family around, so I told her to come along with me. Would that be okay with you, Mrs. Nolan?â
Ellen immediately nodded. âOf course itâs okay! You guys have no idea how desperate I am for someone to talk to me these days. Hurry up and come in.â Olivia felt relieved to hear the womanâs words. âCome on!â she said while tugging on Jewelâs hand.
Ellen, on the other hand, took Northâs hand. âOh, my grandson grew taller again!â
âDo you think Iâll be taller than Daddy someday, Grandma?â North asked. âOf course! Youâll outgrow him someday!â Ellen replied.
After they got into the house, Ellen brought some fruits and snacks over. âYou donât have to serve us. You should get some rest,â
Olivia suggested. Ellen brought a few more snacks and poured tea for each of them as if they were VIP customers. She only took a seat after that.
âItâs all your fault. Why didnât you tell me about this earlier?â She shot Brian an annoyed glare. Brian frowned as he put on a wronged expression. âWhat did I do this time?â
âWhen you brought your uncle and the rest of them over a while ago, why didnât you mention that you guys would be spending new yearsâ here? I couldâve prepared more stuff if you told me your plans earlier,â Ellen grumbled.
Brian faked an angry look. âHow should I know that they were coming this year? I only received the news at the very last second.
I wouldâve dropped by earlier if it werenât for them,â he uttered. Ellen reached her hand over and smacked Brian on the leg. âAre you talking back to me now?â
Brian let out a chuckle. âCan you be a little more rational, Mom? Canât I speak for myself a little?â
âI never talk back to my Mommy,â North interrupted. Brian glared at North speechlessly before pointing his finger at North. âAre you asking for trouble right now? Come at me, then! Do you remember who was the one who saved you?â As Brian spoke, he acted as if he was about to chase after North.
North immediately sprinted away while shouting. âYou saved me, but my mommy saved you, so we donât owe each other anything. You canât bring this up anymore!â
âYour mommy saved me, so Iâm thankful to her, but I saved you, so you should be thankful to me too!â Brian protested. North continued to run. âIf you continue bullying me, Iâll tell everyone about your childhood.â Brian froze. âMy childhood? What did I do as a kid?â
North ran in circles around the couch as he provoked the other boy. âYou were bit by a goose when you were young, and you bawled your eyes out.â Brianâs footsteps came to a halt. âWho told you that?â
North stopped running as he responded to the other boy. âYou donât need to know that. But is it true?â âThatâs nonsense! You shouldnât listen to your dadâs nonsense!â Brian replied. Eugene had been sitting on the couch, and he lifted his gaze to shoot Brian a cold glare.. However, Eugene didnât join in their conversation and simply continued to crack some peanuts. Soon enough, a handful of juicy peanuts fell into Oliviaâs hands.
Olivia felt rather awkward at that moment, so she stole a gaze at Ellen and Jewel, who were both beaming at her. In the end, Olivia had no choice but to accept the peanuts and the embarrassment she felt.