My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

After lunch, since we were heading into the new year, Valerie and Nerissa spontaneously decided to have a barbecue together in the yard in the afternoon. We had plenty of food to go around, thanks to Hendrix and my grocery haul from the supermarket.

When we were setting up the barbecue stand, Nerissa pulled me aside. "Leave this to the men and come with me. Let's talk!"

I got up and followed her to the backyard, a little stunned by her sudden invitation to talk. She definitely had something to say to me.

Fiona had planted some fruits in the backyard, but the soil had just been loosened, so there was nothing to see.

Nerissa sat on the swing in the pavilion and looked at me, "Are you planning to hold another wedding ceremony with Hendrix?"

I shook my head in astonishment. "No!"

She pursed her lips. "Then he..." She trailed off, glancing at me.

She paused for a moment before decidedly asking, "Have you guys been taking pregnancy precautions lately?"

This topic...

face immediately flushed with embarrassment,

almost five. If you want one

for a moment, not knowing

to Yohannes for a decade, so it's no surprise that I feel

lips and said, "Aunt Nerissa, there are some things that I can talk about, and things that I can't. If I start mentioning the Granger Group, things might

my request would sound different to him. The two of them had been going head-to-head for

had commenced. Hendrix handed me some barbecued chicken and vegetables and said, "Try them,

nodded and smiled, "Did

He nodded. "Try them!"

bite. Hendrix definitely knew his way around a barbecue pit; these were delicious! Thinking of the hot pot we made this morning, I could not help saying, "I don't know if Aaron is there with Yana now. Aunt Nerissa cooked a

so the stewed soup came out very nicely, and with Nerissa's

nodded, "I'll get Evan to send it

tonight!"

only one celebrating the New Year? Since the company is on holiday today, shouldn't