Paige Johnson

"Daddy!" Janey heavily ran like a kid and her husband kept close behind her, in case of anything. There's one thing Janey is known for and that is her clumsiness. "Hello, baby," he hugged her and soon lowered himself to her tummy, "and hello baby."

"Hi, daddy," I was next to run into his arms. His hold grew tighter and it felt like time stopped. "I miss you," he replied back with me too. "Hello to you too, Rui." The boys greeted with a solid handshake before dad pulled him in for an embrace. Dad loves hugs, he explained that it's a very special moment when you bond with the other person and you could feel their warmth.

When I grew older, I understood what warmth meant. He lost seeing them, listening to them but he also lost their warmth. Everything turns cold.

"Let's go home because a table of delicious goods are waiting to be eaten by my beautiful family," everything in and everyone buckled up, dad drove off from the airport. On the way home, we couldn't stop talking and updating dad about everything.

"She was late again. Almost missed her flight," Janey grumbled childishly and everyone chuckled. I told him what happened and justified it wasn't my fault this time. I was truly innocent and extremely unlucky today. "Should I find a four-leaf clover for my unlucky daughter?"

"or porridge?" I quickly disagree. I don't want porridge when dad cooks up something amazing. "No where in hell am I going to miss out on what you cook!" The ride was loud and noisy but it was a good noise - music to the ears.

"I've got the bathroom fixed and checked all the pipes. So we are safe," the door opened and it looked totally different from the first time we came here. That time, it was bare and stale but now, it feels homey and it smells amazing. It felt like watching coloured TV for the first time after having black-and-white TV for my whole life.

"Put them in your room while I'll set the tables," Rui and I went off to our rooms while Janey helped dad. "The house looks insane," I commented as we went deeper. "It really does. I love how the littlest things could make so much impact," Rui went on about the colours, the lighting, the decorations and so on.

"You did a good job," I complimented him and he shyly smiled. He was an interior designer and he played the biggest part in this transformation. He would go back and forth from his work just to make sure everything is going smoothly. Janey helped out but once we found out she was eating for two, she had to go back.

I stayed over to help but I had to leave because of the restaurant. After dad decided to move here and retire, I have been busy with the restaurant especially when we were planning to open a cafe with mom's recipe. Sweet Melody was what we decided to call the cafe. It would sell her cakes, cookies and other sweets.

Harper's name derived from the word harp and they play the sweetest sound ever. So to commemorate our beloved mom, we knew it was the best choice.

"I hope the leaks didn't ruin anything," he worries and leaves to give a quick check on his masterpiece. I opened my door and sighed at the relief of finally arriving home. At last, I was able to stay a little longer. The restaurant is doing fine, everything was running smoothly before I redeem my vacation.

We were fully booked on Christmas Eve and Christmas. I was worried but my dependable assistant and chefs assured me to relax because they could handle this.

I put my luggage at the side and went to the kitchen where the heavenly scent inhabited like an alluring siren calling for her victims. "I baked cookies!" everyone cheered, I placed them on the counter for full display and invited anyone to have a taste.

"I made some for the neighbours," I told him that I wanted to thank them for accompanying us in our stead.

"That's great, their son helped with the repairs. Good boy, good looking but don't talk too much. A good listener and a great tinkerer. I heard he's an engineer," he gave me a knowing look.

"Dad! You know I have a partner who loves me, right?"

"And he's missing out on an amazing lady. He shows no sign of taking my daughter," most dad won't let go of their daughters but dad is the opposite. He gets super excited when we would find love and he would be with us whenever we've got our hearts broken. Love is the very definition of this man.

"It's still not the right time," even if we've been dating for almost five years. "Let me tell you about time, it will slip away if you are hesitant. The right time is nonsense. No one can ever know when is the right time or the wrong time when it comes to love," he starts giving out his love lectures.

"You accepted his love not because it was the right time to fall in love. You did so because-"

"-because I love him."

"Exactly! You followed your heart because you know it's right and you were willing to venture the unknown for something with too many risks. And he confessed his love because he loves you, it is as simple as that!"

"Rui, why did you marry Janey?" he changed his target and Rui, being used to it, replied confidently while looking at my sister. "Because my heart told me that I need this girl. My heart would furiously beat when she's near. My mind would drown in her image, sound and smell when she's nowhere near me. I was crazy in love and insane would be my doom if I didn't take her."

"That's love! Tell Charles that," dad is a hopeless romantic but the other reason why he wants us to find someone is because he's afraid. His fear is letting us, his children, to experience what he did. He needed to know that his daughters are in safe hands before he departs like our two moms.

"I'll tell him, I promise. But before that, let's eat! I am famished for your cooking."