Hansen glanced at his daughter Molly, who was looking up at Chad's profile, "Since when did you become friends with that old timer behind my back?" His wife's concerns always revolved around his social circle. "Just an old man who filed a report. Felt pretty bad for him. Got swindled out of his money and came to me for help. Cherry picking season is here, fancy a trip?"

"Did he get his money back, though?"

Chad nodded, wrapping his arm around Molly, looking down at her. He was close enough to kiss her but restrained himself in front of the Cedillo family, "When I'm on it, you bet it'll be sorted."

Molly smiled, "Then I'm in." It'd be awkward to go cherry picking on their dime if the money wasn't retrieved.

Anya, too, was interested but directed her words at Leo, "Chad, I want some fresh cherries."

"Aren't the ones you buy fresh enough?"

"Those are picked by others, not fresh. I want to pluck them straight from the tree and pop them in my mouth right there."

Leo, ever so cheeky, "Why don't you just hug the tree and nibble on it? Skip the middleman, that'll be fresher."

Anya, upset, stood up, abandoning her spot next to Leo and sat next to Mia instead.

Naomi, fuming, pointed at her son, "If Anya was my daughter, you'd never be good enough to be my son-in-law."

Leo sheepishly scratched his nose.

Soon after, Chad got up to leave, "Dad, I'll come by to pick you and Molly up tomorrow."

a nap there, he

you off to? Dinner's almost

daughter and son-in-law, wondering if they had made up.

room fell into a brief silence, everyone

her sister-in-arms knew despite their quarrels, it was time to

Chad, "Henry, go to your uncle. He's not leaving tonight; you're sleeping with your aunt and uncle tonight." "No way, I'm a sleep champion, and your son's a night

it practice

decided to hold back any snide remarks, given the

broke into a smile, reassuring the little one in his arms, "No worries, your uncle had a good rest today. I'll keep Henry

to exhaust Chad,

going on? Just because Chad's taking you to the orchard,

If I didn't keep Chad tonight, he'd be pulling a night shift at the station. He barely comes home when I'm not around." Concerned for Chad's

thought you

"That doesn't need realizing."

with all the cold shoulder you've been

you noticed how free I've been living without a man this

Mia was speechless.

personal experience is the best teacher, and I don't share it lightly." Molly was righteous in her speech. "Coming back was about setting boundaries. Chad wanted everything from me, and I felt oppressed.

limitless. They want commitment, assurance, and if they can

to stand your ground. Since I've been back, Chad's been all

listened carefully, "You pushed

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