Carlos could feel the tension in the car long before they reached his office building. The twins, Alex and Alexa, had already been dropped off at school, and now it was just him and Olivia. She was focused on the road, her face calm as she navigated the morning traffic, but Carlos knew better than to think things were fine. The silence was heavy, the kind that spoke louder than words. As they pulled into the spacious parking lot of his office building, Carlos spotted a familiar vehicle ahead: a blue G-Wagon. His stomach sank. He didn't need this today. The G-Wagon belonged to Cedric, the same man who had put Carlos in the hospital a while back.The car came to a sudden stop just as Olivia was about to park. Cedric had swung his G-Wagon into their path, blocking their way. Olivia slammed on the brakes, her grip on the steering wheel tightening as the tires screeched on the asphalt.“What’s his problem?” Olivia muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she watched Cedric’s car i
Carlos leaned back in his office chair, exhaling a deep breath as the quiet hum of the computer died down. The day had been long— too long, in fact— but now it was finally over. He rubbed his temples, still feeling the dull ache from the confrontation that morning. Cedric’s fists had done a number on him, but he had managed to get through the day without raising too much suspicion. The pile of work on his desk was neatly organized, and with a satisfying click, he shut his monitor off. The office was eerily quiet at this hour. Most of his colleagues had left, and the familiar silence that followed after a busy workday descended upon the floor. Carlos stood up, stretched his stiff muscles, and moved toward the door. He needed to inform Jenna, his assistant, about his upcoming vacation— his first in months. A trip to his parents’ place in Mississippi seemed like the perfect escape. He could already feel the tension starting to ease just at the thought of leaving everything behind for a
Carlos woke up to the sound of birds chirping faintly outside the window, the warm morning sun peeking through the blinds. He stretched his arms, blinking against the sunlight that filtered through the room. Beside him, Olivia lay nestled under the covers, her blond curls spilling over the pillow. He smiled, his gaze softening as he watched her for a moment, peaceful in her sleep. Gently, he slid out of bed, careful not to wake her just yet. Today was a special day— the long awaited family trip to Mississippi to visit his parents. It was a trip that had been delayed far too many times, and now that it was finally happening, there was an air of excitement in the house. Even Olivia, who had asked about meeting his parents several times over the years, was more eager than usual. Carlos quietly moved around the room, grabbing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. But just as he was about to leave, Olivia stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She stretched lazily, yawning as she looked up at him
Carlos clapped his hands together, playing along with the mood Olivia set. "You heard your mom. Let’s get to it!"With that, the kids dashed off towards their rooms to gather their toys and anything else they deemed essential for the trip. Olivia and Carlos followed, heading towards their own room to finish packing their bags. As they entered the bedroom, Olivia pulled open the closet, eyeing the travel bags stacked neatly in the corner."You think we packed enough for the weekend?" she asked, half teasing, half worried.Carlos leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, smirking. "You? Overpack? Never."Olivia laughed as she pulled out a couple of shirts and folded them carefully into the suitcase. "I just want to be prepared, that’s all. You never know with kids."Carlos chuckled and moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind as she continued packing. "Hey, that’s why I love you. Always thinking ahead." He kissed the top of her head, and Olivia smiled, leaning back
As soon as breakfast was over and everything packed up, Carlos called the kids, “Alright, Alex, Alexa, let’s go. Mississippi isn’t gonna wait for us!” The kids, still buzzing with excitement, darted toward the front door. Olivia followed close behind, her smile radiant. Carlos jingled the car keys in his hand and glanced at Olivia with a playful grin."Think we can survive the long road trip with these two?" he teased, nodding toward the kids.Olivia chuckled, tossing her bag over her shoulder. "Barely. But let’s get on with it before we change our minds."As they loaded up the car, Alex insisted on having the window seat while Alexa wanted to sit in the middle. Olivia stepped in with her arms crossed. "Alright, kids, no fighting. Alex, you’ll sit by the window for the first half, and Alexa will switch when we stop. Fair?”Alexa pouted. "I don't wanna sit in the middle!" "You'll get your window seat soon, sweetheart," Carlos interjected as he strapped them in. "Now, who's ready for
As soon as the front door opened, Carlos and Olivia stepped into the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Mississippi home. Raymond and Angelina were already waiting by the entrance, their faces lighting up with joy as they saw their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren standing before them.“Carlos!” Angelina exclaimed, rushing forward with open arms. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she embraced him tightly. "Oh, my boy, you're finally home!"Carlos wrapped his arms around his mother, lifting her slightly off the ground as he held her close. “I’ve missed you, Mom,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.Raymond, not one for grand displays of affection, patted Carlos’s back with a firm, fatherly gesture. “It’s good to have you back, son,” he said in a deep, steady voice, his stoic expression barely concealing the pride and relief he felt.Angelina pulled away just enough to look up at Carlos, her hands still gripping his arms. “And you’ve brought us Olivia!” She turned to Oli
'THE FOLLOWING MORNING'The early morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the guestroom. Carlos stirred, his body relaxing in the comfort of the bed, while Olivia lay beside him, stretching lazily before reaching for her phone on the nightstand. She pressed the power button, but nothing happened. Her phone was completely dead.She sighed, nudging Carlos lightly, "Babe, my phone’s dead. Where can I plug it in?"Carlos, still half asleep, mumbled, "There’s a socket behind the nightstand... and another one under the window across the room." He rubbed his eyes, blinking awake slowly as Olivia sat up."Okay, let me find my charger," Olivia said, rummaging through her overnight bag. Her brow furrowed after a few moments of searching. "Carlos, have you seen my charger? I can’t find it."Carlos sat up, stretching his arms above his head. "I haven’t touched it," he replied. "Are you sure you packed it?""I’m sure. I double-checked before we left," Olivia said, now
Carlos pushed his chair back slightly, rubbing his stomach. “That was some breakfast, Mom,” he said with a grin, leaning back. “Thanks again.”Raymond chuckled softly, dabbing at his lips with a napkin. “You should thank your wife too, son. She certainly knows her way around the kitchen.”“Thank you, Olivia,” Carlos added with a smile. Olivia returned his smile with a nod, but her focus quickly shifted as the kids were still squirming in their seats, their faces filled with excitement and impatience.“Grandad,” Alex spoke up again, his voice barely containing the energy within him. “Is it true you and Dad used to play baseball together when he was our age?”Raymond’s eyes twinkled as he glanced between his grandson and Carlos. “Is that what your father’s been telling you?” he teased, glancing at Carlos with a mock suspicious look.Carlos laughed, taking a sip from his glass. “I might’ve mentioned it once or twice.”The kids leaned in, their eyes wide with excitement. “So, it’s true?”