The Last Embrace 234 Countryside Trip

In the parking lot. They placed their traveling bags inside the car trunk.

Caden and Grandpa Waldo slipped into the front seats, while Jessy and Adam settled comfortably in the back seat.

"Are you sure guys we didn't miss anything or forget something in the condo? Did we already have everything in the car trunk?" Caden asked his companions.

They nodded their heads.

"Okay, let's go!" Caden turns the key to start the engine.

Thirty minutes later they were already traveling alongside the mult.i.tude of cars on the highway.

After one hour they're already outside the city

The trip was nice and comfortable and they were entertained by the picturesque view of the countryside along the highway. The relaxing travel was enhanced by the wonderful country music Caden played on the car stereo.

They were not having any conversation inside the car. Instead, their eyes feasted on the beautiful breathtaking scenery of luscious green trees that dotted in the countryside. The weather is no longer hot, it's windy.

From time to time, the couple would just stare at each other, their eyes were silently communicating, and they kept their hands to themselves. It wouldn't be proper to act lovey-dovey in the presence of other people, but Adam can't resist the urge and intertwined Jessy's right hand with his.

He was rewarded with Jessy's sweet smile.

The long journey was becoming a bit tiring and they were getting thirsty, they stop on a gasoline station along the highway for refueling and opted for a cool refreshment inside a chicken and pizza parlor across the gasoline station.

A few minutes later after getting satisfied with their snacks and bringing along their refres.h.i.+ng cool drinks, they resumed their journey.

Four hours later.

They were now entering the town of White Oak, from the outskirt of the town, it will take another thirty minutes journey before the mansion can be reached.

"We're getting closer to the mansion, guys!" Adam said. "Just drive straight ahead Caden and you will see a small sign along the highway that says Spring Meadow, turn right and just drive ahead on the road and it will take you to a tall gate," Adam explained.

"Okay bro, can't believe we're finally arriving!" Caden exclaimed with excitement brewing in his eyes.

When the car arrived in front of the tall gate, Nana Aida was already waiting at the guard's house. They saw about five guards, some of them were patrolling the nearby areas.

Caden stop the vehicle and Nana Aida walked towards the car and Caden opened the window.

"Nana Aida! We're finally here!" Jessy said while opening the door and letting Nana entered the back seat and sat beside them.

The guards opened the tall gate made of iron and steel.

Caden drives the car inside the gate. "Oh, wow! This is dope!" he said upon seeing the castle nearby and the endless land adorned with big and small trees and the man-made lake appeared a few yards from the mansion. "Is that a mini-castle or something?" he asked truly captivated by the huge surroundings and the magnificent castle-like structure of the mansion.

"It's just a house, Caden, not a castle. Just a bit huge to look outside due to its structure and design," Adam corrected his friend.

"It does look like a mini-castle to me!" Caden insisted.

Adam messed up Caden's hair. "Whatever suits your fancy, bro!" he said grinning.

They finally arrived at the front yard.

Caden parked and stop the car along the driveway.

They exited the car.

"Attention everyone, ladies and gentlemen! I would like you guys to meet Nana Aida our Divine Mother!" Jessy said, giving Nana a quick hug.

"h.e.l.lo everyone!" Nana Aida offered her most gracious, friendliest smile to the visitors. She went to Grandpa Waldo and shake his hands. "Nice meeting you, Waldo, you're awfully shy!" she commented.

Grandpa Waldo is indeed shy and has been retreating into silence during the entire ride.

But the moment he and Nana Aida shook hands, his shyness melted right away, a bright smiled broke in his lips. "Nice meeting you too, Aida, you are a friendly lady indeed! Just the way they describe you to me! I'm very honored to meet you," he said.

Nana Aida's smile continues then she faced the younger man beside Adam. "Ah, this young lad here, must be—Caden!"

"Aye Madam, that's my name!" Caden accepted Nana's handshake enthusiastically feeling a motherly love radiating from the old lady's eyes. "Nice meeting you, Nana Aida! I heard a lot of good things about you from Adam, can you adopt me as well?" he jokingly said.

They erupted in joyous laughter.

"Let's get inside to the living room so that you can have a rest while waiting for dinner," Nana Aida said.

Jessy, Waldo and Nana Aida entered the front door while Caden and Adam grab the bags from the car trunk and brought them inside the living room.

The boys sat down on the sofa. While Nana Aida and Jessy went to the kitchen to continue preparing the dishes for dinner.

"How many dishes left to cook, Nana?" Jessy asked.

Nana Aida looked at the chopped onions, garlic, meat, and chopped vegetables. "Two more left, and I'm done," she said.

Jessy holds the spatula.

"I can do the chopping, Nana, and I can do the cooking as well, you will just instruct me what to do since it's your recipe, then you will be the one to add salt to taste," she offered. "Just sit down in the chair over there and let me do the cooking," she said.

"Ok fine, I will just sit over there and sip my coffee," Nana Aida finally relented, she walked to the dish cabinet and took out a mug and spoon then scooped a half teaspoon of coffee powder and poured hot water into the mug.

Jessy began putting oil into the frying pan, then saute the garlic and onion, then ground meat for the beef spicy vegetable stew.

"What do you think of Grandpa Waldo, Nana?" Jessy said.

"He is a bit shy but he will gradually loosen up in the coming days. Let's just give him enough time to get acquainted with his new surroundings," Nana Aida voiced out her observation regarding the old man.

Adam walked into the kitchen. "Wow, what is that yummy smell?" his nostrils were flaring.

"Just a spicy beef stew recipe," Jessy answered.

"That looks super delicious!" Adam commented. "Aren't you going to go with us, Jess? I will take the boys to a short tour around the house," he said.

Nana Aida looked at Jessy. "Go along child, by the time you guys are done with the tour, dinner will be ready," she said.

Jessy left the kitchen with Adam, and Nana Aida resumed the cooking.

Outside the mansion.

Jessy and Adam lead the tour, they went to the man-made lake first...

"Wow, this is an impressive lake! The bluish color of the water is so tempting, enough to make me wanna jump right into it!" Caden exclaimed in awe.

"Hold it, Caden, we will have a swimming session in this lake tonight and we'll make a bonfire," Adam said.

"That's awesome, I can't wait for tonight!" Caden shouted in glee.

They continue walking around the path under the trees, the wind was blowing steadily on their skin.

"This is such a beautiful and lovely place! So peaceful, I can feel my soul rejoicing just being here!" murmured Grandpa Waldo, he was blown away to see such a refres.h.i.+ng place to live, he just can't believe his good luck. This is the kind of place that he would love to spend the rest of his life with. It's gonna be like living in a tourist destination all year round.

Adam watched Grandpa Waldo and wrapped his arm around the old man. "What is it, Grandpa? Why are you so silent? You don't like the place—?"

Grandpa Waldo looked at Adam. "No. Don't get me wrong, child, I'm just speechless by the beauty of this place. I love the place so much! I'm looking forward to staying here for the rest of my life," he said, his eyes were gleaming with happiness and grat.i.tude. "Thank you so much for bringing me here, kids," he conveyed his heartfelt thanks to Adam and Jessy.

"Nice to hear that, Grandpa!" Jessy was glad Grandpa Waldo like the place.

"Come on guys, let's go to the woods, it's a fifteen minutes walk!" Adam said.

The couple leads the way and strolled on the path leading to the woods. Caden and Grandpa Waldo followed them from behind enjoying their walk, basking in the presence of big trees, green plants and bushes that grows abundantly in the ground.

Fifteen minutes later.

The group finally arrived in the woods. This time the sun already disappeared beyond the clouds and the weather was pleasant, the breeze was caressing the leaves of the trees swaying them back and forth as they were serenaded by the silent music of the wind.

They sat down on the benches and inhales the sweet fragrance of the trees.

"Wow, this place is heavenly! This is an awesome place for a family picnic!" Caden commented since the place was a little bit elevated from the ground.

They spent thirty minutes in the woods enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.

When the daylight was already fading away about to give way to the darkness of the night, they start retracing their steps back to the mansion.