Dinner invitation

(JARED'S POV)

With that thought, I turned the laptop off, pushing it aside. Glancing at the wall clock, I pushed the chair back and rose, deciding it was time to start prepping for dinner.

But just then, my phone rang, disrupting my intention. It was my mother calling, and I sighed before picking it up, praying she wouldn't get started on when I was going back home. After much pressure and questioning about my whereabouts, I opened up to her where I was, and since then, she wouldn't stop asking when I was returning home whenever we spoke. "Hello, Mom," I answered.

"Jared, when are you going to stop playing this 'Househusband' game?" My mother asked, her teasing.

I groaned inwardly. "Not again, Mom. Don't tell me that's why you called?"

"No, that's why," my mother said, her tone taking a low tempo. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."

I couldn't help but notice the change in her tone. "Is everything all right, Mom?" I asked, concerned.

"Yes, everything's fine. It's just that Sofia's mother has been calling me, bringing up how she saved my life all those years ago and how our family owes her family."

At that information, I instantly grew disinterested in the conversation. I didn't want to hear anything about Sofia or her family. Memories of my troubled past with Sofia threatened to surface, but I pushed them aside, focusing on the present. "Anything else, Mom? If not, I'm done with this conversation chat," I said trying to sound as cool as possible.

She sighed. "There is something else. Nana Jean learned about your son's kidnapping."

"Learned or you told her?" I interrupted, my time sharper than intended.

"Fine, I told her," she admitted. "And now she's worried about her great-grandson. We both are worried and want to see him. For the first time, at least.

"Mom, you know that's not too-a good idea. Arielle has barely warmed up to me being around our son, not to mention you and Nana Jean. And besides, even if it is going to happen, where'd they plan to see him?"

"A family dinner at the family mansion. Invite Arielle, and she should come with him," Mom suggested.

I paused, thinking it over for a moment. Arielle might be stubborn and adamant, but she always listened to Nana Jean. And so reluctantly, I agreed to talk to her about it.

than anything that he met with them, too. A change, at least, to let him know he has more family members besides me, his mother, and his maternal grandmother. "I'll ask her, Mom,"

"Alright."

to you later, and say hi

already swirling with the possibilities of dinner invitation. A gathering of all the people that mattered to me, it was so tempting an idea. But I knew better than to get my

make my way to the kitchen, but my phone rang again. My mother's

trying

I'm calling again, but I forgot to tell you something important,"

important that she had to call me again? "What is it, Mom?" I asked, already feeling

conspiratorial whisper. "I'm not supposed to tell you this but did you know that if

phone tightened at those words. What was safe talking about? "W... what

values tradition and family. If you can't reconcile with Arielle and be a proper family, you'll be out of

flooded my system. Was this what all of these meant to them? Money and inheritance? Heaven knows I'm not trying to win my family back because of any inheritance, I wasn't even interested in it.

I hung up on the phone before my Mom could go any further. I

phone on mute,

kitchen to begin preparation for dinner. I tried not to think about my conversation with my mother and focused solely on the task at hand. The kitchen was filled with the aroma of fresh vegetables and pasta as I began to chop and saute them in

front door opening, followed by the sound of Maverick and Arielle's voices. The little man called out to

in the kitchen, man,"

shoulders. I dried my hands in a towel before picking him

earlier. This child of mine was a blessing, and I

set him down, Maverick asked, "What's for dinner,

chicken Parmesan with pasta and

belly playfully.

chuckled and ruffled his

voice sounded from the hallway, calling out to Maverick. "Maverick, come freshen up and

her voice and without being told, I knew she

patted Maverick on the back.

and bundled off, leaving me alone in the kitchen once again. I got busy

room to freshen up as I was feeling sticky from the business in the kitchen. After I was done, I went back downstairs and Arielle and Maverick were

where Arielle and Maverick were already

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