Langour ・❥・Joost Klein・❥・

27.

Tote bags full of groceries cut into Fenne and Joost's flesh. The walk from the shop to the car was set to be agonising from the bags' handles digging into their fingers.

To their irritation, pillars barricaded the shop to prevent customers leaving trollies around the carpark. This forced the couple to unload their trolley and carry the bottles of mixer and finger food.

'Did you have to park on the other side of the world?' Fenne complained.

'Did you have to park on the other side of the world?' Joost mocked in a high-pitched voice and Fenne swung a heavy bag into his shin.

The housewarming party was set to be huge. Fenne didn't even know half the people that were invited and she dreaded to think how many new faces she would have to remember. To cope with the thought, she offered to help Joost with getting supplies for the night. Their next stop was the liquor store, which would be the most expensive stop of the trip.

'Did you want to drive back?' Joost suggested as he opened the boot of his car.

'No, thank you,' her voice was weak in fear and he chuckled.

Learner plates sat untouched in the driver's seat door. The optimism of getting Fenne's license had been genuine, but with the stressful night ahead, Joost spared her the added anxiety of driving a car.

Joost pulled the boot closed and they parted to their respected doors, when they heard a familiar voice call out,

'Uncle Ghost!'

Only one person mispronounced his name in that way. With a grin, Joost crouched down and his arms spread wide to accept his niece's embrace. Annaliese threw herself into his chest and was lifted high off the ground.

'Hey, Princess! What are you doing out in your royal attire?'

'She wouldn't take it off, so we're shopping with Her Majesty.'

Annaliese was in a pink princess costume with her blonde hair in a high ponytail. While up in Joost's arms, the little girl grinned cheekily at her mother's words.

Nanda looked exhausted from walking around the store with an energetic 3-year-old. With bags in her hands, the older Klein walked with a man with similar features to herself.

'Hey, Nanda,' Fenne greeted as she stepped to be beside Joost. 'You look beautiful, Annaliese.'

The girl covered her face with a giggle. Joost grinned alongside her and bounced Annaliese playfully.

'Fenne, this is Hugo,' he gestured to the man beside Nanda. Hugo leaned forward with his hand outstretched and Fenne shook it, realising who he was.

'Nice to meet you.'

'Likewise.

Hugo was tall and held all the genes that came with the Klein name. He was clean-shaven and dashing with large blue eyes and chiselled features. With a more golden tinge to his hair, Hugo was an equal split of his younger siblings.

'You're the Fenne from highschool, right?' Hugo looked between her and Joost with a growing smile. 'You caused emotional torture for my teenage brother-'

'Thank you, Hugo. She really doesn't need to know.'

Fenne suppressed a laugh when seeing Nanda snicker. Joost's serious expression only made his older brother more inclined to continue.

Thankfully, Annaliese squirmed in Joost's hold and made him lower her to her feet. Her glittery flats barely touched the ground before she was grabbing Fenne's hand.