Bradley was visibly crestfallen as he watched them until the aircraft disappeared behind the clouds. | wanted to return as well.
However, he was determined to make the best of his temporary solitude for the happiness of his employer by thinking of it as a vacation.
“Goodbye, Boss! Goodbye, children!” Gavin recognized the waving figure as Bradley when the aircraft turned. “Mr. Hinton is waving at us!” he cried.
Though all of them looked out the window, only Zachary managed to see the speck on the ground. The other four children could not see a thing.
Arissa, too, craned her neck and saw Bradley waving reluctantly.
She smiled. “He probably won't be able to stand being here alone!” “Let's send Mr. Hinton some snacks when we get back, Mommy,” Jesse suggested with a toothy smile.
“We'll do that.” Arissa stroked her daughter's head while her eyes remained worriedly fixed on Tim and Mary.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSeveral minutes into the flight, she seemed to ease up in relief upon seeing that the pair of them were in less discomfort than she had initially anticipated.
“Are you dizzy, Grandaunt?” “Not anymore,” the old lady replied with a smile. After experiencing it once before, she found it much more bearable this time.
A sudden loud roar of the plane's engine as it accelerated made Mary jump.
Avrissa chuckled. “Not to worry! It's just the plane picking up speed.” “Mmm, so that's what it was.” The old lady grinned abashedly.
“It wasn't just you, Grandma,” Jasper piped up as he giggled. “I jumped too!” Avrissa shot him a glance.
“I was scared as well,” Tim admitted to Jasper.
The children exchanged glances before bursting into peals of laughter.
The adults could not help smiling at the sight of the raucous children.
Arissa covered Mary with a blanket as she called out to her children.
“Aren't you cold, children?” The six of them shook their heads.
“No we're not, Mommy.” Avrissa fed Mary some water.
“You don't have to fuss over me, my dear,” the old lady said. “Get some rest.” “In a minute,” Arissa replied with a smile and drank a little water herself.
“Have a sip, children!” she said as she handed them the jug.
Benjamin's eyes were fixed on her. “Aren't you cold?”
Avrissa glanced at him. “Not at all.” Benjamin nodded.
After the children had their fill, they squeezed against the window and watched the scenery outside curiously with Arissa in their midst like a hen with her flock.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Do you think that mountain looks like a man lying down, Mommy?” “It does, doesn't it?" “Look over there, Mommy! That cloud is beautiful!” “Wow! You could see all the colors in the rainbow!”
Arissa was even more excited than the children as she scrambled to take pictures with her phone while calling out to them.
“Look over there! There's another rainbow cloud!” Even Kingsley, Shaun, Ethen, and Mary craned their necks curiously.
“It's beautiful!” “The clouds must be sending their regards for locating our brother, Mommy!” Hah! That's very kind of them.” “Have you seen a cloud more beautiful than this, Tim?" “I've seen a double rainbow!” “You have? I've never seen two together!” From time to time, the warm conversation between Arissa and Tim reached Benjamin's ears and made him smile with genuine pleasure.
His deep eyes, tinged with a rare instance of tenderness, fell on her beautiful face brightened with child-like excitement.
Kingsley caught Benjamin staring at Arissa. He bumped his elbow
against Shaun's arm to signal the latter to take a look.
Ethen noticed it as well. The sight of Benjamin's soft spot made him smile.
“Mr. Graham appears infatuated,” teased Kingsley despite the envy in his eyes. “I get goosebumps just looking at him!” “Don't you want Mr. Graham to be happy, Mr. Watts?" “Oh, I'm sure Mr. Graham will be thrilled after getting lucky!” Kingsley grinned slyly and placed a heavy emphasis on the final two words.
Grasping his meaning within seconds, the corners of Shaun's mouth twitched.
“Not too loud, or Benjamin will drop you out of the plane without a parachute. | won't be able to help you then.” Benjamin turned his gaze at them at that moment and caught Kingsley's eye. The latter's lips immediately gave way from a mocking smile to a flattering one.
“Would you like something to eat, Benjamin?”