Martha turned to Evelyn, grinning like a child caught red-handed.
They both burst into laughter as Evelyn walked over to hug her warmly.
"It's so good to see you again, Aunty Martha..." she said softly.
"Oh, sweetheart," Martha replied, brushing Evelyn's hair affectionately. "You look beautiful, and this little one is growing faster than weeds after the rain. I swear, I just saw him not long ago, and now he's practically a young man. A handsome one."
Evelyn smiled fondly. "You mean a young chaos maker machine."
Oliver puffed out his chest proudly. "I'm four now, Granny, Mommy. I'm not chaos. I've grown up. I know how to behave, even though sometimes it's boring."
After a few more laughs, Evelyn introduced Martha to the rest of the family and guests, making sure everyone felt comfortable.
Martha, as always, charmed the room effortlessly. Within minutes, she was chatting with Eleanor and teasing Axel's grandfather as if they'd known each other for years.
...
