Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Wayne glanced at his dad, tears welling up as he turned away. He had no idea who the woman with the face mask was, but her presence kept him frozen in place.

"Just a few days ago, I snuck out with Wayne and Chad to grab some spicy chicken from a restaurant. We kept it on the down low from mom. Wayne stuck by me the whole time. He may not be able to talk or snitch, but boy, can he throw a fit. He just wouldn't let me eat in peace.

I barely got three bites in before thinking he might be hungry, so I rushed off to nurse him. But guess what? Wayne's just like his dad, full of surprises. As soon as we hit the nursing room, he stopped crying. I tried to feed him, but he shook his head, refusing. It was like he thought I'd eaten something bad and it would pass to him through the milk."

Chad and Wayne exchanged a knowing look, with Chad standing tall, a stern expression on his face, "So, you've already picked up teaming up against your mom, huh?"

Mia spotted her cheeky son behind her, making soft whimpering noises.

The couple quickly turned their attention to greet Henry.

Hansen, missing his grandson dearly, had been counting down the days, "Mia, sweetheart, New Year's is around the corner. Can you make it back home?"

Mia reassured him, "Absolutely. We'll be home before New Year's."

Knowing how much her dad missed Henry, Mia sent Hansen daily photos and videos of her son set against foreign backdrops. Hansen reminisced, "It's been ages since the entire family had an outing. Last time was when Molly was just four."

Andre didn't comment; he headed to work.

With the house feeling too quiet, it was unexpected when he took the initiative to come home, watch TV with his brother, and sit next to their father for a card game. "Play a pair of twos."

Hansen looked puzzled, "Why?"

Andre, with his knack for card games, explained, "The opponent's got a joker bomb. Draw it out, and your hand will be unbeatable."

Hansen followed his son's advice, and sure enough, he tasted victory. "Andre, Andre, quick, should I play this?"

Andre soon became his dad's go-to strategist, leading to a night of unexpected wins for his father.

Yet, nothing could ease his longing for his wife and child.noveldrama

Mia, having been away for a few days, found herself inspired. As her husband lay awake at night missing her, Mia reflected on a foreign street, "I've come to realize that a little time apart can do wonders for a relationship. It helps keep things fresh. These days, I see couples with separate sinks, even separate bedrooms. Of course, I can't imagine sleeping apart from your brother-in-law," she chuckled, knowing that wouldn't end well. "But having your own space for a few days? It's a good thing."

Cooper, feeding his nephew some bread and jam, chimed in, "Sis, 'separate' isn't a word your brother-in-law knows."

Mia leaned on her hand, "Well, he doesn't have to find out."

"What are you plotting?"

Mia grinned mischievously.

When it came time to settle the bill, Henry was once again in his uncle's arms, getting a hands-on lesson.

The grueling week finally passed, and Andre's mood shifted noticeably-from listless to irritable, and finally to eager anticipation.

It was like a student's dreaded week, from a sluggish Monday, through a mundane Wednesday, to an exhilarating Friday.

Even Noah noticed, "Boss, your wife's coming back tomorrow, right?"

"Yep, her plane lands tomorrow." Andre signed off on a document and handed it to Noah, "I need you to set something up for me."