Young Love

3

*TRIGGER WARNING (there may be a spider in this chapter🙃)

When Justin and Bella finally reach Pattie's house, it is 2:30pm. Of course, Justin meant to get there earlier but he seemed to have everything against him this morning.

"Sorry we're late ma." He wraps his mother into a warm hug, still holding on to his daughter's hand firmly so she doesn't escape.

"It's ok. How are you?" The woman beams at her son happily.

"I'm ok I guess, but I've been busy this morning." He chuckles, pointing to Bella. The little sandy-haired girl is staring inquisitively at something on the ground a few feet away, most likely an insect.

"Daddy what that?" She points, looking at the thing with wide brown eyes before giggling adorably.

Justin kneels down on the gravel path carefully and sees a fairly large spider crawling around on the stones.

The young father takes it in his hands gently and shows it to his little girl, who is staring in curiosity at the hairy creature, wondering who created such a strange thing.

"That's a spider." Justin explains, letting the little creature scuttle around on his palm for a while. "You wanna hold it?"

Bella looks unsure, but curiosity gets the better of her as she hesitantly nods and holds her tiny hands out for it.

Her daddy places it down on the child's small palm and cups her hands in his large ones so she doesn't throw or drop it in fright.

"She's very curious." Pattie observes, watching the little girl and her daddy with the slender creature.

The toddler suddenly starts to giggle hysterically, making both adults smile at her in admiration.

"It's tickly!" She squeals, throwing her hands up despite Justin's protest, letting the spider fall to the ground.

"Come on inside, lunch is ready." Justin's mom grins and leads them into the hallway of her little house. Bella gives the spider one last inspection before following the adults inside.

"Awh ma, you didn't have to make lunch!" Justin chuckles, hugging his mom again with the same tight grip.

"I know, but I figured you've had enough of making lunches." Pattie replies knowingly, smiling at Bella. She can see the obvious resemblance between her son and her granddaughter.

Justin smiles too and the three family members all crowd into the pleasant dining room for a lovely dinner, one of Pattie's specialities.

"So, how's life been at home?" The kind mother asks thoughtfully once the family have settled down and tucked into their food, twirling some noodles around her fork.

"Yep. It's good. Bella's keeping me busy. And I'm enrolling her in a new preschool soon." Justin grins at his brunette daughter who is stabbing her fork in some chicken nuggets, her face an image of concentration.

Justin's mom can see how much Bella means to her boy just by the way he looks at her so admirably and lovingly.

"Is that nice Bells?" Pattie asks fondly, glancing over at the obnoxious child. Bella nods and chews on some chicken, not caring at all for table manners. What can anyone expect? She is only four years old.

"I was thinking we could go shopping after lunch?" Justin offers, looking at his mom with a small smile.

Pattie chuckles lowly and nods her head in response, passing her plate to her son who has stood up to clear away the dishes.

"Aren't I a lucky mom?"

—

short af 😫