Celestial Ties

CHAPTER 11

Graham POV

I couldn't make it to the family house the day Amber picked up Grandpa from the facility. Instead, I got swept into an emergency tour for my new movie, Memories. The whole situation was frustrating, knowing that Grandpa would be fuming and Amber...well, she'd be even more pissed. I could already picture her rolling her eyes at the thought of me making her come home without even bothering to show up.

As I sat in the car, my mind raced with ways to smooth things over. "Andy," I called out to my assistant, who was sitting beside me, "I need you to pick up some gifts for Grandpa and Amber." My voice was calm, but inside, I knew this was just another band-aid on the situation.

"Okay, sir. What would you like me to get them?" Andy asked, eager to please.

"Anything you see in the store," I replied, sounding more indifferent than I felt. "And add something random for my mum," I added quickly. The last thing I needed was to show up with gifts for everyone except her. That would be a disaster, and I'd never hear the end of it.

"Pull over here," I instructed my driver, my eyes catching sight of a random home decor store as we drove by.

"Mr. West, do you need something?" Andy asked, looking puzzled. The place I'd asked to stop at was unfamiliar, not just to him but to me too.

I sighed, trying to mask my impatience. "Andy, look out the window and tell me what you see."

Andy glanced out the window, his confusion only deepening. "Mr. West... I—"

I cut him off, my tone more controlled than I felt. "Get them something from the home decor store," I said, trying to keep my cool. It was clear he was struggling to keep up with my train of thought, which only annoyed me more.

"But Mr. West, the house already has enough—"

I shot him a glare that could have frozen fire, and before he could finish his sentence, he quickly corrected himself. "I'll get them more home decor, sir," he said, practically leaping out of the car.

As he rushed off, I leaned back in my seat, rubbing my temples. The whole situation was a mess, but I knew that was just how things went in my world. I could only hope that the gifts would be enough to soften the blow when I finally walked through the door.

***********************

Evelyn POV

Today wasn't my usual hectic day, the kind where I'm swamped with meetings, deadlines, and the constant hum of city life. No, today was different. I, Evelyn Gale, made the conscious decision to take a break, step away from it all, and spend the day doing something that means more to me than anything else—baking pies with my mum.

The kitchen of 'Pie it shop' was filled with the familiar, comforting scent of freshly baked pastries, a smell that brought me back to my childhood. My mum owns a pie shop, and that shop is everything to us. It's more than just a business; it's the heart and soul of our family. Before I was born, my mum and dad—who was an incredible baker—opened that pie shop. It was their dream, their pride and joy. Things were going well back then. The shop did so well that we were able to buy our own home, the same home where Mum and I still live today.

But then, everything changed. My dad fell seriously ill, and we spent every last bit of our savings trying to save him. Despite our efforts, he didn't make it. Losing him was like losing a piece of ourselves. The shop closed for a while; it was too painful for Mum to keep it going without him.

But Mum is strong. Stronger than anyone I know. Eventually, she decided to reopen the shop, not just as a business, but as a way to keep Dad's memory alive. Every pie we bake, every customer who walks through those doors, it's like Dad is still with us, in every bite, every smile.