The Watson mansion was usually a place of high-level strategy and serious business, but today, it felt like a battlefield of baby gear. Keifer had been spending an unusual amount of time in his study with the door locked, which Jay-jay knew was a sign of impending trouble.
"He's been on the phone with a custom textile manufacturer in Italy for three hours," David whispered, leaning against the kitchen counter. "And he's using the encrypted line."
"Is he ordering bulletproof strollers?" Felix asked, pouring himself a coffee.
"Worse," David sighed. "He's ordering blankets."
The next morning, a courier arrived at the front gate with a package marked Urgent & Confidential. Before it could reach Keifer's study, Jay-jay—who had developed a "sixthsense" for Keifer's nonsense—intercepted it at the front door.
I'll take that, thank you," Jay-jay said, flashing a sweet smile at the courier.
She walked into the living room, where the Section E boys were gathered, and tossed the package onto the coffee table. "Alright, let's see what the 'King' has done now."
She ripped open the box. Inside were two of the softest, most expensive cashmere blankets she had ever touched. They were beautiful—until she unfolded them.
Embroidered in elegant, gold gothic script on the first blanket was the name: CARETAKER.
On the second blanket, in matching gold thread, was the name: WATCHER.
The room went silent for exactly two seconds.
He actually did it," Josh wheezed, covering his mouth. "He really committed to the bit."
It looks like something you'd find in a haunted asylum," Ci-N giggled, picking up the 'Watcher' blanket and wrapping it around his head like a cowl. "I am the Watcher! I see you eating the last slice of pizza, Felix!"
At that exact moment, Keifer walked down the grand staircase, looking refreshed. "Jay, did a package arrive? It contains essential items for the—"
He stopped dead when he saw Jay-jay holding the 'Caretaker' blanket like a piece of evidence in a court trial.
" Mark Keifer Watson," Jay-jay said, her voice dangerously calm. "Explain this."
Keifer cleared his throat, adjusting his sleeves. "They are high-quality, 100% organic cashmere. They provide optimal thermal regulation for the heirs."
"I'm talking about the names, Keifer!" Jay-jay marched up to him. "You actually spent thousands of pesos to embroider 'Caretaker' on a baby blanket? People are going to think we're hiring staff, not raising children!"
"It's a title of respect!" Keifer argued, though he was slowly backing away as the boys started howling with laughter in the background. "A Caretaker maintains the world. A Watcher observes the truth. It's poetic!"
"It's a tragedy!" Jay-jay countered. "If I see these blankets in the nursery, I am donating them to the Section E house so the boys can use them as dishcloths."
"Hey! Don't look at us," Felix laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. "Even we have standards. We aren't letting our nephews be called 'The Janitor Duo'."
"Actually," Ci-N chirped, "I already have a better idea! If the Boss wants cool names, we should name them Sniper and Tank!"
"No," David pushed his glasses up. "Obviously, they should be Java and Python. Very modern. Very efficient."
"How about Pizza and Burger?" Josh suggested.
Jay-jay looked at the group of "uncles" and then back at Keifer, who actually looked like he was considering 'Sniper' for a second. She rubbed her temples, feeling a fresh wave of pregnancy fatigue.
From now on," Jay-jay declared, pointing a finger at Keifer, "all custom orders must be co-signed by me. And these blankets..." She looked at the gold embroidery. "...are going in the 'Memory Box' where no one will ever see them."
Keifer sighed, looking genuinely disappointed. "I already ordered the matching pacifiers."
"KEIFER!"
"Canceling the order now," he muttered, quickly pulling out his phone while the boys broke into another round of "Watcher" jokes.
The Watson twins weren't even born yet, but they were already the most talked-about members of the family.