Chapter 2
"Oh my poor kids, please come in!" Henry says heartbreakingly, it is such a torture for both of him and Elizabeth seeing all their kids crying. Then the whole hug together tightly, sharing their grieves. "I just realized that I yelled at grandpa for him telling me his fake vocation the last time I saw him and had never apologized." Stevie said regretfully.
"It's not your fault Stevie," Alison says, "Grandpa loved us all, he just didn't want to let us down."
"That's so nice of you, Ali." Stevie responses thankfully. Jason, Henry and Elizabeth exchange glances and smiles with satisfaction.
"Alright I bet you all feel starving. Let's eat!" Elizabeth says, taking the Chinese on the dinner table. Rest of the family follows her.
The Chinese is delicious though, but none of them feel like eating it. "Remember the last time grandpa and us sitting together and having dinner? It's just like yesterday evening, I miss him so much.'' Alison says with her head down.
"Noodle!" Both Elizabeth and Stevie stare Alison with a little warning, then glance at Henry.
"I'm so sorry dad I didn't mean it. I should have known you feel worse than any of us."Alison apologizes.
"No, I'm... Fine." This is the million time he repeats this sentence today. It's absolutely a sarcasm for someone who isn't fine.
"And the Bahrain Prince," Jason says slowly, "It was the last time we saw him too."
"You have to continue this false conversation Jason?" This time Alison warns him.
"Maybe that's life-full of variables. Anyway, let's just cherish everything we still have, value every living person that loves us and enjoy the time we spend together." Elizabeth says peacefully. "Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"You know what, why don't we mourn grandpa by telling some funny stories of him?" Henry says, cheerfully.
"I still remember when I'm about 7 grandpa bumped Harrison's head for him killed my favorite goldfish."
" love." Jason teases. Everyone chuckles, watching Stevie blushes.
"Grandpa always loved me more than Stevie because he said once that I inherits all the good qualities from Dad but she looks just like a mini Mom." Alison vaunts.
"Rubbish! I'm not looking like a mini Mom at all!" Stevie insists, looking down the reflections in her empty plate, "do I?"This time more timidity is in her voice.
"Just admit it Stevie, besides I wish I could have exchanged with you." Alison consoles.
"Stop!"Henry tries to be serious, but can't hide his laughter. "Grandpa was just joking, he loved us equally."
"Speaking of which, do you guys know when did grandpa started hating Mom?" Jason says with a sinister smile.
"Jason! Don't you dare... Okay I'll let you go once, I'm tired of playing hide and seek with you."
"Tell us you jerk!"Even Henry lift up his bunny ears.
"I just asked him about it someday and I thought he's a little bit of drunk."Jason clears his throat, then starting to tell in his grandpa Patrick's tone. "Oh when did I started to hate your Mom? That's a good question you little slippery fellow, of course from the first time I saw her. It was long time ago, one day your granny had a fight with me and left home, so I didn't tell her my smart,smart son was coming back. He told me there would be a big guest to be here. So I put on my best white shirt to greet the person-where are we? Oh, but suddenly he shocked me-He brought a blonde, rich Barbie doll home, you know, the stand-there-do-nothing type of doll and claims that she's his fiancee! Oh, and with her annoying American-British accent!"
"Wait, Mom was speaking a little bit British accent? That's cool and popular! Why don't you keep it Mom?" Stevie asks with curiously.
"Well, that's because I had just been back from one year of Oxford's study, and your Dad actually hates British accent-McCord traditions."Elizabeth flaunts.
"Aw so sweet, but I'll keep on finishing it." Jason interrupts. "Besides, I don't think my son should spend rest of his life with a woman who grew up with horses! The horses you know, they live in a very dirty stable and kick you, broken your libs!"
"That neurotic old man!" Elizabeth grins.
"I just wanted to show my tempted son how difficult his life would be if he actually marries her, so I asked her if she could help me to cook . She was a little surprised, but rapidly said yes."
"Ow, there you go." Stevie titters.
"So he really wanted to embarrass me Henry, I told you."
"Then she entered into the kitchen and started to make the symphony-that 'ouch' noise when she cut her finger, the 'clearly' noise of breaking all the dishes and accidentally kicking cupboards... At last I entered the kitchen and everything just burned up! My new shirt! Now I looked like a miner!"
Everyone can't stand keeping laughter now and it explodes. Henry feels glad that Jason inherit a magic power from his Mom-cheering everyone up even in the hardest time of the family.
"But my son said he loved her more and and handled marriage procedure the next day. That annoying woman has changed him a lot you know. He was a little nerd who could do nothing but reading his books when he was at college, but now he's not just a great cook! And your mom has changed a lot too, at least she now speaks in an original American way and doesn't wear those expensive clothes that often. And most importantly in the kitchen she doesn't break things up, just always burns things, which she can't be able to change for the rest of her life!"
"Although I don't want to admit that, but your Mom is ridiculously lovely sometimes, especially when she makes your Dad laugh all day! Please just never tell her."
After Jason's finish, Alison asks with doubt, "Wait, Were we talking about the same Mom,Dad and grandpa just now?"
"Of course Noodle, everyone has difference sides, but we really should tell others about our real feelings before we can't tell." Henry sighs.
"We really should, now I just start to miss that odd old man who keeps finding trouble and nightmares for me with his entire life,well not entire life, since he met me. But at least he remembered something good about me, I'm so grateful." Elizabeth says with guilt, grabbing her husband's hand.
"Alright you guys it's late now. Go upstairs and sleep!" Henry stops the conversation just in case it won't be led to a sad way. Just keep the good memories. After he and Elizabeth kisses every kid goodnight, they finally go back to the bedroom.
"Thank god we still have this sweet children Henry, the way they manage themselves, they just surprised me!"
"Yeah they all change, just as we did."
"That's incredible Henry, why did we change so greatly?"
"Because we love, care and tolerate each other." He reaches a hand, playing with her blonde, shiny hair.
"I'm so sorry about before Henry, until today I finally know what a torture I put you into since Iran." Henry tries to defend, but Elizabeth covers his mouth with her soft lips.
"Let me finish it Henry, because we all don't know what will happen tomorrow. I always know how strong and tough you are since the day I met you, until today I find out you're a superman who works on impossible missions every day. Busy work, children's issues, my panic attack and so on, so sorry that I put all my wife and mother's work on you , but you managed all things well! And most particularly, you had never complained or talked about your difficulties."
"That's because I'm playing the husband and father's card, babe, it is my duty to be strong, to always be by your side and protect all of you. There's nothing you need to feel sorry." Henry feels his heart touched.
