Yuna Inspired: Our Virtual Family

055

Almost halfway to the park, Hana looked around and saw that even though today was a Saturday, there weren't many people walking or spending their day out at all. Feeling lonely because she had gotten used to going almost everywhere with her friend, she skipped out on hanging at the park and would go shopping instead. She hovered her upper body to the side of the stroller and spoke to her son, "Lucas, should we go shopping instead? Let's go buy Lucas Jr. some shirts and you some diapers. I think we're almost out of them."

As if he understood, he clapped and laughed, agreeing that her idea was better than idly being bored at a park.

*

"Sorry," said Bruce, stepping out of the bathroom and into the living room with wet hair. "Did I take too long?"

Hugo smiled at him from the kitchen as he held onto two cups of tea. "You're fine. We still have plenty of time." He placed one of them down on the counter. "Here, for you."

The young boy took it. "Thanks."

"I gave it a thought yesterday as we got back here." Hugo grabbed a chair and sat on it and then placed his mug down. "I apologize for making you do something you don't want to do."

Bruce sat on the couch opposite Hugo. "Nah, it's all good. I mean, you do have a point. You only wanted us to know that you're not some person with a shady background."

"Was it that obvious?"

"Maybe not to my grandparents but having spent quite a while with you, I notice you have a verbal way of going around things."

"Sorry, that's what—"

"Lawyers do," the younger finished. "I've heard that before too."

"Who's this lawyer person that I haven't seen by the way? He's a friend of your grandparents?"

Bruce looked away, his expression turning dark. "He's a she."

"Oh, I'm—" He stopped speaking when he noticed Bruce's hand wrapped forcefully on the mug had turned red. He wondered what had triggered the young lad.

"And she was someone my grandparents knew."

Coming to terms that the subject of the lawyer friend was something taboo to Bruce, Hugo changed the conversation. "I'm planning to shop for a gift first. Mind if we do that?"

Bruce didn't speak. He paused and then nodded.

*

"Logan," Hailey shouted from inside the kitchen as she looked at the opened and filled refrigerator. "where else can we put this?"

Having heard his name, Logan ditched Seth and Jake, who were taping and painting poster papers out in the backyard on the cement as Logan had asked them to do so, and headed back inside the house. "Whoa!" He saw the dining table completely plagued with all sorts of foods and desserts and whatnot. He questioned, "What is this?"

"The foods you ordered."

He looked at her, confused. "I asked for two cakes, a cheesecake and a chocolate one; one tray of hot dogs and buns, another of mini hamburgers, and that's it." He sniffed the tray with baked salmon and drooled. "Well, this one can stay, but the rest...she's going to—"

"Don't worry. I ordered these because this party does not deserve just chips, hotdogs, and juice. We have to celebrate today's joint parties with much elegance." She walked back to where she was standing at, the opened fridge, and pointed to three covered trays of baked goods and sweets. "Where can I put these? Your fridge doesn't fit anymore."

"Just leave it there." He pointed to the counter. "She's going to be back in thirty minutes or so." He headed back to the backyard.

She followed him after closing the fridge. "Why are you making them stitch up those posters? You called it a carpet, didn't you? I don't think that matches today's theme."