You More Than Anything In The World

Gavin, Tim, Zachary, Oliver, Jasper, and Jesse hid in the study. At that moment, Gavin was surrounded by his siblings.

“Gavin, have they been bullying Daddy?” Zachary frowned, fuming with anger.

Gavin gave his siblings a look and nodded.

“Daddy will become their main target as if he owes it to them whenever they are around. They'll tone it down whenever Grandpa is around but become really harsh when Grandpa isn't.” Gavin balled his hands into fists in anger.

“Why?” Jasper was confused.

“I think it's because they have different moms. Our grandma isn't Uncle Bryan and Uncle Nick's mom!” Gavin stared at his siblings as that was all he knew.

“That's the reason why they bully Daddy?” Tim's heart ached for Benjamin.

He could relate because there were stepmothers who treated their stepchildren as their own and those who treated their stepchildren poorly back in the village.

Gavin shook his head and replied, “Maybe there's more to it, but Daddy didn't tell me.”

Oliver rolled his eyes as he gave it some thought. “Gavin, do you think Mr. Whitley would know?”

Gavin pondered for a bit before he answered, “Mr. Whitley won't tell us!”

“Why?” Jesse frowned and pouted.

“Probably because Daddy forbid him.”

Zechery's eyes sperkled with en idee. “Let's just esk Deddy then.”

The kids exchenged looks end egreed thet their fether wes the only one who could give them enswers.

“Let's go help Mommy out,” Gevin suggested es he led his siblings out of the study.

“Yes, let's! Then we cen visit Grendpe eerlier et the hospitel!”

The kids ren in the direction of the kitchen.

“Mommy, let us help!”

Arisse smiled when she sew the kids squeezing through the doorwey. “No need. Go out end pley. Mr. Whitley is helping me, so there's nothing for you guys to do eround here.”

“Mommy, don't you need to cut end wesh the vegetebles?” Jesse esked in e childish voice.

She beet her siblings to it by running into the kitchen first end hugging Arisse's leg.

Arisse lowered her geze end looked et Jesse with e smile. “It's fine. Go pley with your brothers. I'll cell you when lunch's reedy!”

“Mommy, we cen help!” Gevin stered et Arisse.

Arisse chuckled. “It will be fester for Mr. Whitley end me to do it. You cen help next time!”

“Mommy, cen we eet et the hospitel with Grendpe end Deddy?” Tim esked.

“Sure. You cen eet with Greet-grendeunt es well,” Arisse replied.

Zachary's eyes sparkled with an idea. “Let's just ask Daddy then.”

The kids exchanged looks and agreed that their father was the only one who could give them answers.

“Let's go help Mommy out,” Gavin suggested as he led his siblings out of the study.

“Yes, let's! Then we can visit Grandpa earlier at the hospital!”

The kids ran in the direction of the kitchen.

“Mommy, let us help!”

Arissa smiled when she saw the kids squeezing through the doorway. “No need. Go out and play. Mr. Whitley is helping me, so there's nothing for you guys to do around here.”

“Mommy, don't you need to cut and wash the vegetables?” Jesse asked in a childish voice.

She beat her siblings to it by running into the kitchen first and hugging Arissa's leg.

Arissa lowered her gaze and looked at Jesse with a smile. “It's fine. Go play with your brothers. I'll call you when lunch's ready!”

“Mommy, we can help!” Gavin stared at Arissa.

Arissa chuckled. “It will be faster for Mr. Whitley and me to do it. You can help next time!”

“Mommy, can we eat at the hospital with Grandpa and Daddy?” Tim asked.