You More Than Anything In The World

“Mommy, quick. Drink up,” the children urged Arissa to start eating.

With a smile, she said, “Let's eat then!”

She turned to Kingsley and gestured for him to sit down. “Join us, Mr. Watts.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Graham. I won't stand on ceremony then.”

Kingsley exchanged a glance with Benjamin before settling down next to the children.

Meanwhile, Arissa caught Benjamin's eye when she glanced over.

“Eat up!”

With an arched brow, Benjamin passed her a spoon, and Arissa gratefully accepted it, taking a sip of her soup.

Benjamin gestured to the children, silently encouraging them to eat up as well. Worried that Arissa might sense something was amiss, the children obediently started eating their food quickly.

While Benjamin was busy making sure she was eating, Arissa couldn't help glancing over at him, saying, “You should eat too.”

Benjamin softly acquiesced, yet intermittently, he continued to place food on her plate, showing his consideration and affection.

“Sweethearts, is Grandaunt alone at home?” asked Arissa as she swept her gaze across her children.

“Yes, she is. Initially, she wanted to come over, but there weren't enough seats in the car!” Zachary offered a reasonable explanation.

“Oh, okay.” Arissa nodded in response and continued eating.

The children stole a quick glance at their mother and noticed Benjamin's watchful gaze on them. They turned their attention back to their plates, catching their father's warning glare, and obediently resumed eating their meals.

Meanwhile, Kingsley paid no mind to the others. His initial concern for the children had now been replaced by his hunger, and he was fully engrossed in enjoying his meal.

Their mealtime seemed a lot quieter that day.

Arissa noticed the peculiar behavior of everyone around the table and gave them a teasing look. “Didn't you all have lunch?” she asked.

They were so focused on their food that they had no time to chat.

The children looked up at her, and Gavin asked with complete seriousness, “Mommy, we did. Why?”

“You all seem so hungry; I thought you must have missed lunch!” Arissa jokingly remarked, glancing at all of her children.

Meeting their mother's gaze, Jasper playfully teased, “Mommy, are you surprised to see us behaving ourselves for a change?”

Arissa chuckled and exchanged a glance with both Jasper and Jesse.

“Why did you two suddenly decide to behave yourselves today?” she asked.

Jasper grinned mischievously and replied, “Mommy, you're so strange! When we are noisy, you complain. Now that we are quiet, you find us odd.”

“That's right! Mommy, I thought you said that we mustn't talk while we're eating?”

Jesse stared at her with those round, black eyes and her pouting mouth, looking so adorable that anyone who took one look at her would want to pinch her chubby cheeks.

Arissa was dumbstruck by her children's replies.

Benjamin turned to look at her. “Eat up. Weren't you hungry a while ago?”

A sheepish smile etched itself across Arissa's features as she stopped engaging in further conversation with the children and turned her attention back to her food.