Chapter 419: To Peace this Holiday
Lariette and Ruediger had just invited Chairman Delaney and the others to sit in the living room when the doorbell rang again. The pair glanced at each other before heading to the door.
"Coming!"
Nathaniel and Elsie stood before the door, also bringing a paper bag of gifts. The man carried the bundled-up Lorianne, who immediately squealed when she saw Lariette.
"Aunt Lari!"
Lorianne wriggled free from her father, running over to hug Lariette’s legs. The little one resembled a penguin for all the thick layers wrapped her small body. Her chubby cheeks flushed red.
"Oh, you sweet snowflake, Lorrie," a beaming Lariette knelt to hug Lorianne, laughter spilling from her lips, "You look so cute tonight!"
What to do?
She felt her heart melting!
Lorianne giggled when Lariette kissed her cheeks, and then she announced proudly, "Daddy said we’re going to eat cake! I will eat lots!"
Ruediger arched a brow at Nathaniel, throwing a knowing look, "You already promised her dessert? We haven’t even served the main dishes yet."
Shrugging, Nathaniel smirked, "Keeps her motivated. You don’t know my heart as an old father. She behaved the whole way here."
Ruediger rolled his eyes, understanding that Nathaniel bragged about his status as a father. At the same time, the excited Lorianne clapped her hands, exclaiming "Cake!" again and again.
As Ruediger led Nathaniel and Lorianne inside, Lariette and Elsie exchanged a warm hug.
"It feels so cozy here," Elsie patted Lariette’s back, "Thank you for having us. Luckily, we got to meet you two before Christmas break."
"Make yourself at home," Lariette chuckled, evidently sharing the same sentiment as Elsie’s, "Eddy and I just hope to have a small get-together before the holidays. Come in. Only Maddie and Edmund aren’t here yet."
"Hehe, okay."
Even though both ladies rarely met due to their respective commitments, they kept in touch through texts. Their men, being best friends, contacted and met each other more often.
Ruediger and Lariette introduced the guests to each other.
Being important figures in the corporate field, Chairman Delaney and Declan were pleasantly surprised to meet Nathaniel. At the same time, Celina and Elsie seamlessly began chatting while Lorianne narrated her kindergarten stories to Rafael who she met for the first time.
Not long after, Edmund arrived. Lariette and Ruediger noticed how surprised Declan was to see the frontman of Edenia Avenue here, but no one bothered to explain why.
Lariette had asked Ruediger before, what if Declan or anyone else caught clues of his identity as Mr. R. He simply said he would just let it be.
"I won’t reveal myself unless it’s necessary, but I won’t hide either."
Respecting his stance, she said nothing.
Madeline was the last to arrive, bundled in a red scarf while carrying a backpack. She panted, "I’m here, I’m here! Don’t start without me."
"We wouldn’t dare," Ruediger quipped, throwing his cousin a look of mischief, "But since you’re late, dish duty is yours."
"Excuse me?!"
Madeline gasped dramatically, making everyone laugh as she set her things down. Lorianne came running to her, sweetly calling ’Aunt Maddie’, much to the former’s delight.
Soon, everyone gathered around the long dining table. The dinner spread was nothing short of magnificent, courtesy of Ruediger and Lariette’s hard work since morning.
Sitting at the head of the table, Chairman Delaney raised his glass of chamomile tea instead of wine, "To family and friends. And to peace this holiday."
"To family and friends," the others echoed, clinking glasses.
The chatter flowed easily between the guests, even though some of them didn’t really know each other.
Declan, Nathaniel and Edmund found a common interest as they talked about business, which was sometimes chimed in by Chairman Delaney. Ruediger and Rafael butted in when other interesting topics came up.
Lariette, Elsie, Celina and Madeline had various things to converse about; commonly about films, music and beauty. They also talked about their respective plans for the holidays, most of them celebrating out of the country.
At the same time, Lorianne provided endless entertainment as she told long, winding stories about her kindergarten Christmas play. She even acted out half the scenes from her chair.
As the food dwindled and second servings were taken, conversation turned.
Declan and Rafael shifted to talk to Lariette.
The three siblings, although estranged, conversed better now than before. They didn’t have any deep talk, but enough to show things had shifted slightly between them.
None of them brought up the rest of the Elsher family, including Stephanie. The three siblings tacitly understood to keep the others out of their conversations.
Lariette only decided to invite Declan and Rafael because of Chairman Delaney. Her grandfather didn’t mention anything, but she knew he hoped to have them together.
Thinking that she wasn’t as repulsive to them as before, she simply went through with it.
Later, Ruediger and Lariette served desserts. Everyone had moved to the living room for a more relaxing vibe.
Before that, Madeline, Celina and Rafael helped bring dirty dishes to the kitchen. Ruediger and Lariette put the desserts on the almost vacant dining table.
Lorianne squealed once she saw the adorable Yule Log, spiced apple tart and caramel puddings. Bouncing on the floor, her eyes were glued to the desserts.
"Wow~" Lorianne cheered, her eyes lit up, "Can I have some Yule Log, Uncle Rudy?"
"Of course, you can," Ruediger chuckled, setting a generous slice in a plate before handing it to the little one.
As they scattered around while enjoying desserts, the ambiance became livelier. Some remained in the living room, and some went to get fresh, cold air on the balcony.
It was not until another hour that gifts were exchanged between them.
"Christmas present time!"
Lariette and Ruediger handed out carefully wrapped gift boxes from under the Christmas tree to everyone, and received theirs in return. More exclamations echoed in the apartment.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Hehe, it’s not much, but I hope you’d like it."
"Oh! This is amazing!"
Declan and Rafael also had gifts for Lariette. The two brothers smiled awkwardly as they handed boxes of different sizes to the lady.
"Thank you for inviting us here, Lari," said Declan, his tone solemn, "Ray and I hope that you’ll have a more pleasant Christmas celebration, and that the New Year will only be better for you."
"Yes, yes!" Rafael nodded, eagerly chiming in, "We know we haven’t done much for you, but... thank you for having us tonight. It means a lot to us."
Back then, in summer, they respected her wish by not staying to celebrate her birthday. Neither did they expect to celebrate the winter holidays with her.
But they were still aware of the distance between them.
Lariette accepted the gifts. Sensing the two men’s unease, she smiled, "I thought I wouldn’t enjoy tonight, but I did."
Her remarks surprised the brothers. She didn’t elaborate, but enough to tell them she wasn’t forced to accept their presence here tonight.