Chapter 439 - Delicious cake

Sarah and Aiden joined them for lunch.

JoAnna observed that both of them look tired, but happy. She suppressed her curiosity and the need to tease them. It's her younger sister, after all.

"If there are no problems, two of us will head out tomorrow." Sarah announced while glancing at JoAnna and Jeff, expecting some confirmation.

Jeff gave a small nod. "So far there are no issues."

Aiden added. "If anything comes up, you know how to reach us."

"Are you going to see your kids?" JoAnna assumed they will go to the Cabin to see seven kids from Africa who are there training with Stella and learning with two tutors that are staying there currently.

"Kids?!!" Elanor and Oscar asked in unison. Even their confused expressions matched.

"Not our kids." Aiden vaguely answered without lifting his head. He was focused on the food.

"Whose kids then?" Elanor almost jumped out of her chair.

"They adopted some kids from Africa." Jeff said with a smirk. He was in a good mood and decided to give some hard time to his brother and Sarah.

"Adopted?! How come we don't know about that?" Elanor felt that she is on the verge of hyperventilating. Adopting a child is a big deal, and it seems they adopted more than one!

Sarah grimaced at Jeff. He did that on purpose! She faced Elanor and tried to explain, but without mentioning the part about a country in central Africa and other dangerous things. "We didn't adopt them. They don't have a family, so we took them in."

"How is that different from adopting?" Elanor's anxiousness was increasing.

Oscar didn't show any visible reaction. He was observing them with a light frown on upper half of his face.

Sarah was not sure how to answer this. She looked at Aiden for help, but he pretended not to be there. He just wanted to eat in peace. However, he could not ignore Sarah's pleading look. Aiden looked at his mother. "Big brother and Anna picked a wedding date."

Elanor's focus immediately shifted to JoAnna and Jeff. "Really? When? Is it this year? I hope it's not too soon… we need time to invite people and organize everything…"

Aiden accomplished his mission and kept his focus back on food.

Sarah was grateful for his assistance but didn't want to interrupt his meal. 'I will thank him… later.' She patted his thigh under the table and saw him smile in response.

For the rest of the lunch, Elanor was probing Jeff and JoAnna about the wedding.

Only after lunch, JoAnna got a breather. They went outside to sit in the shade on an elegant outdoor furniture, next to the swimming pool while maids prepared refreshments and cake.

"I didn't get an answer. Where are you going?" JoAnna asked Sarah.

"Vegas."

"You are not getting married, are you?" JoAnna half teased, and half asked seriously. Knowing how Sarah likes to avoid attention and crowds, when they get married, it will probably be something that no one knows about. JoAnna could already imagine them showing up and announcing: 'We are married!' Her imagination was running wild while thinking who her sister's witness will be, a man dressed up as Elvis, or Marylin Monroe impersonator.

Sarah grimaced at JoAnna. "If we are about to elope, I would not tell you we are going to Vegas."

"True. But I still had to check." JoAnna admitted, and continued questioning. "Why Vegas? Gambling?" There was a trace of panic in JoAnna's voice.

"They are attending a conference related to computer security." Jeff had to interject. He will not let his fiancée suffer injustice by not getting her answers right away. Even if the other party is her sister.

JoAnna relaxed hearing that the reason is a conference, but next Jeff's question directed at Sarah made her tense again.

"Why are you going a earlier?"

Sarah looked at Jeff wondering how he knows that they are going earlier. But then she remembered that he paid for their attendance. Of course, he would know.

"Just enjoying Vegas for a bit, before conference starts." Sarah responded without giving out anything specific. But her eyes were sparkling, and JoAnna knows that her sister will go and gamble. Well, with Sarah it can't be called gambling. Somehow, her abilities with numbers and computers and observing patterns, make all that what normal people call gamble a child's play for Sarah. She can effortlessly remember the cards and predict patterns of slot machines and electronic poker, as well as dice games and roulette. There was no game she can't crack in less than a minute. That combined with Sarah's need to win is a problem. She was already banned from number of casinos because they assumed that she was cheating. There was no evidence, of course, but when Sarah was winning over and over again no matter what game she played, they had to remove her in order to preserve their income.

JoAnna shook her head at Sarah disapprovingly. "Make sure you don't overdo it."

But Sarah didn't pay attention to JoAnna. She was in her own world, imagining next day, and day after, before conference starts. There was nothing better for Sarah than winning and getting her own justice. She craved to go back and show her supremacy to all those people who prevented her from playing last time she was there… now she has a plan.

JoAnna turned to Aiden. "Please take care of her." Seeing that Aiden responded with a carefree nod, JoAnna sighed. "I hope you know what you are doing." She was confident that Aiden has no idea what he is getting himself into. But she didn't know how to warn him. Looking at him, JoAnna realized that there is no point talking to him either. Aiden's expression almost matched Sarah's. JoAnna decided to talk to Jeff about it, later. Suddenly, she felt like a grown up in the room.

Jeff saw that JoAnna is worried, and thought of asking about it, but the cake arrived, and everyone got excited. Especially JoAnna.

The cake was tasty. It was a custom-made ice cream cake, and each slice had a swirl of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, JoAnna's favorites. Of course, she was super excited and had seconds. The cake was delicious, and everyone had seconds.

Oscar joined them a bit later. When he saw that the cake is gone, he frowned. 'These kids! Ignored me!' He was disappointed that he didn't get a taste of cake which everyone praised. And angry that they forgot about him. They didn't leave him a single slice? But he found it childish to complain. He didn't want to show to his kids that they offended him. Oscar sighed and wanted to go back inside when he noticed Elanor tugging his sleeve. He looked at her and saw her smiling while holding a plate with a slice of cake.

"I saved one for you." Her voice was like music to his ears.

And that cake looked very inviting. He smiled. "It's OK. You eat it. I don't like sweets much, you know it."

Elanor patted a spot next to her indicating him to sit. She didn't believe him at all.

Oscar didn't resist. He sat next to her and obediently opened his mouth as she fed him. 'The cake is good.' He didn't voice his thoughts, but Elanor saw that he is enjoying the cake and the special treatment.

"Do you youngsters have any plans for tonight?" Elanor asked as she placed last bit of cake in Oscar's mouth.

They all shook their heads. Aiden and Sarah wanted to play games online, and Jeff and JoAnna would watch TV and cuddle. That means that all of them wanted to stay home. Can that be called evening plans? For them, yes. But they can't admit that to Elanor.

Elanor glanced at her sons after keeping the empty plate away. "You should take my daughter-in-laws out. Show them your city."

"My city is Los Angeles…" Jeff started protesting but stopped when he saw his mother's smile directed at him.

"Jeff-Jeff, is there a problem with taking your fiancée out for a night in town?"

Jeff froze and only his head jerked left-right. He cursed himself that he can't get out of this undeniable influence of his mother's 'Jeff-Jeff' call.

Aiden did his best to shrink and become invisible. He realized that they will need to go out for the evening. That means that they will skip on gaming… or maybe, if they stay just a bit and come back soon, they can play their game. While deep in planning, Aiden's mischievous grin revealed his thoughts and he was not aware that Elanor's gaze is on him.

"Den-Den, staying for half an hour is not considered a night out!" Aiden was startled by Elanor's voice.

Aiden stared at his mother as if she is some mystical creature who can read thoughts. 'Did she just use Den-Den on me?!!'

Before Aiden's brain resumed planning functions, Elanor cut it off immediately. "And don't even think of going to a cybercafé!"

"Don't worry, mother. We will organize a proper night out." Jeff responded amicably.

Elanor smiled and observed youngsters for few seconds before going inside, followed by Oscar.

"You have plans for tonight?" Oscar's voice came from behind Elanor.

She turned to face him and smiled. "Maybe?"

He heard her giggle as she walked away. Her steps were light, and Oscar was sure that he saw her just like that about thirty years ago. It was a déjà vu that brought back pleasant memories. He smiled and thought how he looks forward to the evening, after youngsters leave for their night out.