𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 23

"To family and success," we echoed, the clinking of glasses punctuating the start of the meal.The dining room was filled with the warmth of laughter and the comforting aroma of a home-cooked feast. Each dish on the table was a testament to our collective effort, a reflection of the family's heritage, and a celebration of the bonds that held them together. As we settled into our seats, the lively conversation resumed, weaving a rich tapestry of stories, memories, and future dreams.

"Well, I thought at least one person would be excited to see me," a familiar voice echoed across the room. "Lowie!" I jumped up to give him a hug. "Hey Soph," he hugged me back, "It's been far too long."

"Maybe if you squint a little more, you might actually land a shot," Grandpa spoke up, pointing his glass to Nicolas. What is his deal? I thought to myself, only to be disrupted as Chloé hauled the three of us down. "Lo-Lo," she smiled giddy. "Twin sis," he hugged her as we tried getting back up.

Lowie gave Grandpa and Nicolas a hug, getting to Zaina last. "And who might this lovely lady be?" He briefly kissed her hand. "Zaina," Chloé answered, a sudden edge in her voice. Lowie and Chloé gave each other a knowing look, one I had grown quite familiar with.

Oh. Ohh...

"Well then, shall we get back to dinner," Nicolas spoke through the silence.The clinking of cutlery and the hum of conversation filled the room as we dug into the feast before us. After dessert, Grandpa excused himself from dinner, leaving the rest of us to enjoy the private lagoon out back.

"Last one in is a rotten egg!" Lowie shouted as he left his towel on a rock pillar. "Oh, you are so on," Chloé ran bypassing him.

I laughed, watching the two of them race towards the water. It was as if no time had passed at all since our childhood summers spent at this very lagoon. The rest of us followed more leisurely, enjoying the cool evening air and the sounds of nature that enveloped us.

Zaina, still looking a bit puzzled from the earlier exchange, hung back with me. "Hey," I approached her. "Sophia. We haven't had a moment to catch up," she pulled me in for a hug. "Not much to say, really. I've just been spending almost every minute with my husband," I replied. "There's no need to pretend anymore, you know. We all know, remember?" She reminded me. I hadn't realised that I was still looking at Nico until she brought me out of it. This ploy is clearly starting to get to me. "Right. Sorry," I laughed off. "It's good though that you know to act the part," she emphasised her words on the 'act' part.

The sound of laughter and splashing water drew our attention back to the lagoon. Chloé and Lowie were already in the water, teasing and dunking each other like old times. Grandpa's earlier remark about Nicolas still puzzled me, not to mention my prior conversation with Zaina, but I decided to brush it off for now and enjoy the moment.

"Come on, Soph! Get in!" Chloé called out, waving at us from the water.

Zaina and I exchanged a glance and shrugged, deciding to join in the fun. We dropped our towels and waded into the lagoon, the cool water a refreshing contrast to the warm evening air. The night was filled with laughter, playful splashes, and the occasional yelp as someone got dunked unexpectedly.

As we swam, Nicolas swam over to me. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, concern in his eyes.

"Yeah, just thinking," I replied, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's been a while since we all were together like this."

He nodded, understanding. "Family gatherings always stir up memories, don't they?"

"Yes. Yes, they do."

Eventually, we all climbed out of the water, dripping and laughing, and wrapped ourselves in our towels. We gathered around a fire pit that Grandpa had set up earlier, the flames dancing and casting a warm glow over our faces. The conversation turned to old stories, the kind that started with "Remember when..." and ended in fits of laughter.