Une Nouvelle Ère [Book 2]

VIII

After a few more days of raining and heavy snowing combined, the two then weathers both slowly subsided. The snow was slowly melting, and the sun was starting to shine in the blue sky.

Alex was smiling happily as he headed down the stairs with Cleo. Not only was he happy because the outside was already warming up, but it was also the day that his parents are finally arriving back home.

"They're finally coming back, and I couldn't be more excited!"

"Of course you will be. What else is the source of that smile across you face?" Mary said, who had just sat down at the head of the table.

"Perhaps he's still daydreaming about his and Miss Lewis' date last Valentines?" Edith teased, making their brother roll his eyes as he sat down beside Mary on her right.

"You two are just making it a big of an issue every. Single. Time." Alex countered, "Sure...I'm happy with that, but I'm more happy with Mama and Papa finally coming home because I am hoping you two will stop nagging me about an event that happened a few days ago."

Just then, loud honk of the car was heard from outside, which also prompted both Teo and Cleo to immediately run to the front door.

The three siblings immediately abandoned the dinning hall, and ran to the front door, which was a sight to behold once the Earl and Countess got down of the car:

"Last one is a burnt bacon!"

"Now that's not fair!"

"Not you, Edith. You're pregnant and you're exempted."

"Alexander Isidore, I swear to God-"

Cora was laughing as their three children arrived, with their eldest arriving first followed by their youngest, and finally their second. Robert, on the other hand, sighed tiredly and rolls his eyes.

"Papa! Mama!!" the three said in unison as they all hugged them close.

"We missed you all so much!" Cora smiles happily at them "Don't we, Robert?"

Robert looks at his wife with a tired smile "Of course we do. We miss Downton already—and all three of you."

"You two are very early today," Mary said as they all head back inside "Have the two of you had breakfast yet?"

"Not yet." their father replied, "Your mother insisted that we arrive here early for breakfast. You won't believe how early I needed to wake up."

"And how was father's driving, Mama?" Edith then asked "Was it better than you expected?"

Cora chuckles softly "It was, actually." she said, "Although your father was having a hard time focusing on looking at the road from time to time."

"And did you wear the helmet?"

"I did. And fortunately, your father got more focused on the road as soon as I put it on."

"Safety first as always, especially if the Earl of Grantham is driving for you." Alex teased, making the rest of them laugh while their father sighs in defeat.

***

As the family all reunited for breakfast, all of them catched up on the events that happened. Bertie, Lucy, and Tom, as well as Violet and Isobel, were finally with them as well, joining in on the lively conversations.

"How was your outing with Miss Lewis a few days ago, Alex?" Cora then asks her son.

"It went well actually, Mama." Alex smiles "We both had quite a fun time in our friendly date, yes."