...Even More Beautiful When You Smile...

A few minutes into the drive, Tasha asked, "Mama, where are we going?"

"To the Grande Restaurant"

The car was shaken by Cassie's loud shriek. The kids looked at her with question marks on their heads. Cassie's joy died down when she noticed that she was the only one in her 'Disney world'.

"Do you guys have to kill my joy?" she muttered sadly. "The Grande Restaurant is the best....." Cassie explained, her hands spread wide to deliver her point. "They have the best food... Oh, I love their seafood. Also, they have Ice-cream. The best you'd..."

"Ice cream!..."Tasha screamed happily. "I love ice cream"

After a second, both Cassie and Tasha seemed to have realized something. The smiles on their faces instantly melted into sad looks.

"Too bad..." Cassie said sadly.

"Mommy's not gonna let us have Ice-cream" Tasha chimed in. She was on the verge of a breakdown.

Nathan let out a subtle scoff at the ladies. He leaned back in his seat and shut his eyes.

Eleanor couldn't help but smile on seeing her little man's cold behavior.

***

The clique reached the Grande Restaurant in 15 minutes. Within that short time, Eleanor had heard an earful from Cassie and Tasha that her ears were now sore. It was a miracle that she had not gone deaf yet.

After finding a perfect parking spot, Eleanor took Nathan's hand, while Cassie and Tasha ran to go get a table.

Now he and his mother, Nathan asked, "Mum... You heard everything last night. Didn't you?"

Last night, as they spoke to Cassie, he had felt her presence. He knew she must have heard everything.

Eleanor looked down at his cute son. Lovingly, she ruffled his hair and flashed a beautiful smile at him. Her little man's sense of detection was very high. She didn't expect that he'd have noticed her presence, even though she had tried so hard to conceal it.

"Yes, baby..."

Nathan frowned at the word 'Baby'. He didn't like that word a bit. To him, he was a man, not a baby.

"Mum...I'm not a …"

"Baby.." Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Mommy's sorry."

This boy had a big ego. Damn!

Eleanor expected him to start on one of his bits of advice. Telling her not to be worried, but she was surprised when he said, "It's alright mommy. Let's go in now."

He held her hand tighter and pulled her towards the restaurant.

Eleanor had no words at all. She could not understand how her little man could be so mature. Deep down in her, a part of her was sure that Nathan must have taken after his father.

She looked towards him. Her heart clenched at the little boy's figure. He was so alike to his father; the black eyes, the pert nose, the wavy hair -even his body structure was the same as his father's.

Even though it was only a night, she had seen him stark naked.

Looking at him pull her with just the right amount of force, she smiled.

These tiny creatures were all she had. Their genuineness and love could not be measured and it was all she needed.

***

Nathan dragged his mother to the table where Cassie and Tasha sat.

The duo couldn't wait and were already going through the menu.

He shook his tiny head and pulled a seat for his mother. After which, he sat on his own.

"Thank you, Nathan." Eleanor smiled gratefully at his gentlemanliness. He had always been like this since he was younger. He was highly protective and caring.

And even though he was young, Eleanor always felt relaxed around him... she knew he will always take care of her.

Pushing her glasses to the bridge of his nose, Nathan nodded.

Eleanor turned to face the 'foodies who were engrossed in the menu. Her eyes narrowed a little. How Tasha and Nathan could be so different, even she couldn't explain.

While Nathan was always careful and thoughtful of what he did, he was also cold and didn't like to interact with people, Tasha was the exact opposite. The little girl was... well carefree. She was jovial and would easily get along with everyone... but she also did things without thinking.

But still, she loved them... more than life itself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the waiter who came to take their orders. After Cassie and Tasha had ordered a feast, he turned to Nathan who sat quickly watching the two ladies opposite him.

"I'd have a bowl of pasta. Thank you" Nathan said to the waiter.

He quickly wrote it down and turned to Eleanor. "Madam... What's your order?"

Eleanor looked up at him, then at the three people around her. After a second she looked up at the waiter and signaled him to bend a little.

The waiter understood this and bent. Eleanor whispered something in his ear and he smiled.

"Consider it done madam" He left the table.

The trio looked at her in confusion. But she didn't explain, instead, her lips curled into a mysterious smile.

Looking into her eyes, Nathan sighed. "Mommy, you should smile more... You look even more beautiful when you smile."

Eleanor felt her eyes getting moist. She flashed him a faint smile and turned back to her phone.

***

The girls shrieked when they saw the waiter pushing the trolley that carried their orders.

They weren't excited by the order, but, he was bringing ice cream... the glorious ice cream.

"Since you two are baby pigs, I figured a little ice cream would not harm," Eleanor said with a chuckle.

Cassie and Tasha shrieked even louder. For their love of ice cream, they had become oblivious to the people around them.

"I was feeling down you wouldn't let us have some ice cream," Cassie said. She was already salivating and licking her lips just by looking at the cup of ice cream. It was strawberry -her favorite flavor.

Ever since she had started to work with Eleanor, the ice cream had become as scarce as a black diamond. Eleanor always restricted her intake of ice cream since she found out about her sugar issues.

But being the cunning girl she was, Cassie would always sneak to have them.

"Well, I'm treating you guys."

"Why?" Tasha asked curiously.

Cassie and Nathan's ears perked up, wanting to hear her answer.

"Because I'm happy."

"Huh?" Cassie tilted her head. "Someone come to explain to me, I'm confused"

"Because you three are everything to me. And even if I don't tell you every day.." Eleanor paused. Her gaze became warmer as she said, "I love you all... dearly."

Cassie couldn't help her tears. It wasn't every day her boss became loving.

"Okay... Let's feast!" Eleanor said.

They all became excited again. Even though he acted cold and unbothered, Nathan could not hide his excitement when it came to the great ice cream.