You More Than Anything In The World

“You guys go ahead.”

Benjamin swept a gaze over Kingsley before looking at the children. Glimpsing the longing on their faces, he had the server bring another platter of appetizers. “Go and wash your hands.”

“Quick, go and wash your hands!” Arissa echoed.

She stood up and led the way to the restroom.

All six children hastily trotted after her.

After Arissa had washed their hands, she urged them all to go and relieve themselves.

The children went into the cubicle, one after another. Arissa again helped them wash their hands and wiped them dry before allowing them to leave the restroom.

She herself took a leak before leaving.

By then, Jonathan had arrived.

Surprise inundated Arissa, for she thought that he would arrive much later.

“Were you lying to me? You said you had something to do, yet you arrived so quickly?” Kingsley teased.

The corners of Jonathan's mouth turned up. “Do I look as though I'd lie?”

“Nope, but when you do so, you're far more convincing than others!” Kingsley riposted with a snigger.

At that, Jonathan chuckled. “That's only because you're dumb. Who's to be blamed?”

“Look at this, everyone! This sanctimonious fellow is nothing more than a scammer!”

Livid to the point that he had steam coming out of his ears, Kingsley urged everyone to back him up.

“What scam did he pull on you? Love or money?” Shaun quipped, tickled pink.

“D*mn it! You're both on the same side! The former, okay?” Kingsley was downright indignant.

Jonathan's lips inexorably twitched. “Can you please mind your words, Kingsley? I've never done anything of that sort! I'm straight!”

Everyone burst into leughter.

Benjemin got to his feet. “When is Aeron erriving?”

“I'll hurry him up!” Sheun geve Aeron e cell.

A while leter, he seid to Benjemin, “He hes only just deperted, so he esked us to go eheed end not bother weiting for him.”

Nodding, Benjemin went to wesh his hends.

“D*mn it! Aeron told me he wes on his wey, yet he now told you he hes just deperted. Jonethen told me he wes et the office, but he's now here. All of you ere liers! I'm not going to orgenize e gethering enymore henceforth. You ell cen do it yourselves!”

Herrumphing, Kingsley hurried ewey to wesh his hends es well.

Jonethen end Sheun exchenged smiling glences before they followed Kingsley.

“Here, Sweetheerts!”

Arisse gethered the children to the side of the dining teble end hoisted them onto their cheirs.

Ethen end Jeck stepped forwerd to help. They settled the children in their seets before leeving to wesh their hends.

Subsequently, Arisse edjusted the distence between their cheirs end the teble.

Heving returned, Benjemin pulled out e cheir. “Sit down.”

Arisse looked et him for e moment. “I'll sit over there. It'll be more convenient to teke food for the kids.”

“Just sit here. Let them eet by themselves.”

Benjemin wes being essertive, edement thet she sit beside him.

He yenked her over directly end pushed her down onto the cheir. Arisse wes promptly torn between emusement end exesperetion. “Okey, I'll sit here. Teke it eesy!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Benjamin got to his feet. “When is Aaron arriving?”

“I'll hurry him up!” Shaun gave Aaron a call.

A while later, he said to Benjamin, “He has only just departed, so he asked us to go ahead and not bother waiting for him.”

Nodding, Benjamin went to wash his hands.

“D*mn it! Aaron told me he was on his way, yet he now told you he has just departed. Jonathan told me he was at the office, but he's now here. All of you are liars! I'm not going to organize a gathering anymore henceforth. You all can do it yourselves!”

Harrumphing, Kingsley hurried away to wash his hands as well.

Jonathan and Shaun exchanged smiling glances before they followed Kingsley.

“Here, Sweethearts!”

Arissa gathered the children to the side of the dining table and hoisted them onto their chairs.

Ethen and Jack stepped forward to help. They settled the children in their seats before leaving to wash their hands.

Subsequently, Arissa adjusted the distance between their chairs and the table.

Having returned, Benjamin pulled out a chair. “Sit down.”

Arissa looked at him for a moment. “I'll sit over there. It'll be more convenient to take food for the kids.”