Wheelers estate
They chose to do the small party at the pool. It was cold but the chimney was giving heat so it was not uncomfortable, they were doing a barbecue as well with drinks set on a long table. The people invited were especially family and very close friends. Every one of them could have invited their friends but Jennifer and Brianna were the only ones that were acquainted with some people in Chicago. Kyle didn't bring any friends as for Winter, she didn't think of it.
"Why didn't you tell your friends to come?" Kyle who was drinking wine asked his cousin who was siting on a chair relaxing with the cat on her lap
"I forgot" she simply answered
"They will be angry to know that there was a party here and they weren't even invited"
"I met Jane at the place Liam and i had eaten this late morning, let's say she's surely occupied with someone at this time"
"Again? she just returned from England last summer and already has a new boyfriend" he was shocked
"That's how she enjoys life. I think i should do like her don't you think so?" she joked
"Liam will make a fuss about it"
"He doesn't have to know every single thing i do" She looked at the people who were welcomed by Jennifer
"What about Hannah and Beck?"
"They may come, they live nearby and they surely already heard about this party"
"See?" She smiled seeing two girls who just arrived
They wore matching jogging clothes. The one was a small cute girl with very short black hair while the other was taller with mid-length brown hair, she was a beautiful black woman with charming brown eyes.
"Did they just come back from the gym?" Kyle commented seeing them
"I wonder too" Winter laughed seeing her friend frowning as she didn't like the mocking look on the few people's face
When Beck noticed Winter she strode to her with a not so pleased look
"Bring me to your room and lend me some clothes" She immediately said without any greetings
"Hello Beck i'm doing fine, thanks for asking" Winter ironically said "i think this attire suits you perfectly" she devilishly smiled
"It's not even funny" she grunted
"Chill Beck i think you're very cool" Kyle teased her "But why are you wearing these?"
"We were at the gym working out till afternoon, my mother forced me to do a lot of exercises for the coming of age soiree" she was pissed
"Why didn't you both went home to change then?"
"Winter! " Hannah called out loud when she finally finished greeting Jennifer and Brianna
"Hello shorty" Winter laughed seeing the girl pouting
"I'm 154 cm, you are the one who is abnormal with your height" she replyed
"Brianna told me that we can go to your room to borrow some clothes" She told "We went here right away after learning you came back yesterday. My mom wouldn't have let me go here if i came home first, she became too strict these days" she said in one breath
"It will be disappointing if you change your clothes so soon, you both look cute" Kyle teased
"Shut up puberphobia" Hannah stuck her tongue out
She called him that since his voice didn't deepen until now although he was already nineteen
Kyle instantaneously dropped his smile "This dwarf" his nosetrils flared
"who are you calling dwarf?!"
"Stop you two, let's go to the room and not embarass ourselves more" Beck dragged Hannah who wanted to commence a fight with Kyle who was clearly upset
The girls entered the house and went upstairs on the floor where Winter's room was located
"This room is so like you" Hannah inspected the white painted bedroom which contained a large shelf with many branded baskets on each one of them. She was a shoes collector as she was a sportsgirl and a good dancer. The bed was neat and outside a big balcony was attached to the room that viewed the pool. There were posters on the wall and a boxing gloves where hanging near the nightstand
"Aren't you two going to take a shower first?" Winter inquired as she lay on the bed
"We already have" Beck touched one of the many baskets. She collected shoes as well but high heels ones
"Just go to the closet and find what will suit you" She said and looked at Hannah "i doubt there will be anything on your size though"
"You don't have to worry about that, i'll choose wisely"
"Your hair is growing fast"
"And that's a relief, i'll never do that kind of stupidity because of a guy anymore" she looked at her hair in the mirror
After she broke up with her boyfriend she cut her hair because he always praised how pretty they were. Now she had a boyish cut hairstyle
"Now i regret" she opened the closet and looked for a set that could fit her
"I told you it was stupid" Beck caught all the clothes Hannah was throwing away
"You both will tidy up the mess after" Winter rose from the bed and went to the balcony
There were around twenty people present
She scanned the known and unknown faces in the venue. She still wore the black pants and a contrasting leather top with a perfecto faux leather and warm beige fur matched with baskets from this morning.
Her eyes caught someone's gaze who was looking in her direction. She smiled seeing it was a person she remembers too well.
The man smiled back. His face had a soft look. It was the son of her grandfather's assistant, they were very close before. He was three years older than her. A childhood friend or sweatheart?
Winter Chuckled at her thoughts
Their eyes broke away from each others when a woman stroke up a conversation with the charming man
Winter went back inside the room
"How do i look like?" Hannah wore a white jumpsuit that fited her perfectly accompanied with the same shoes she wore with the former Jogging set
"Ah, that was a gift from Mom, four years ago i think no wonder it fits"
Hannah just rolled her eyes
"I have a shawl that will go with it" she rummaged through her wardrobe and found a black piece of clothing.
Hannah hesitated before taking it. She envelopped herself with it and said "It's not that bad" she looked at herself in the mirror
"I'm not as good as Jane but i'm still trendy" Winter proudly said
"Talking about her, where is she?" Beck who tried to assemble a good match of outfit probed
"The reason she isn't here starts with a D"
"A D?" Beck furrowed her eyebrows in wonder "What's that again?"
"Daniel" Winter stated
"Who's that?"
Winter didin't say anything further
"That's certainly a boy" Hannah sat on the bed "She didn't say anything about that guy to us though"
"I encountered her this morning, she said she had a date. That Daniel is the son of a renowned Chef here"
"Do you think they're doing something naughty as we speak now?" The short haired girl instantly jumped from the bed
"She would never go that far with a guy, she would just go on date and that will end there" Beck finally took the clothes she chose and changed in front of her friends. They were used to that. She chose high waisted jeans with a classic top and took a trench to match
"Let's stop talking about it, she said she will call but it seems she won't" Winter checked her phone
"Those three girls aren't back yet? We're about to begin" Freya asked her niece
"They're certainly fooling around upstairs" Brianna said
"And where is Liam?"
"There he is" Brianna pointed at his direction
After bringing Winter home, he came back to his house to take his wife.
The woman walked alongside him with a little girl around five who clung to her mother. She was a redheaded woman with a good figure, she was tall and it was obvious she work out a lot. She wore casual clothes with boots.
"With the little demon" Kyle muttered beside them
"Don't talk about my sweet granddaughter like that" Freya scolded
"Why? that's true" He retorted
"Jarine, i'm so happy to see you" Freya warmly welcomed her daughter-in-law
"Mother, How are you?"
"i'm doing well, and hello sweetheart" the middle aged woman crouched to greet the small girl
"Hi Grandma!" The little girl smiled broadly with her baby teeth
"Welcome back to Chicago Brianna and Jennifer" Liam greeted his cousins and Jarine did the same
The two women responded them with thanks
"Where is that sister of mine again?" he looked around but didn't find her
"She is in her room with her friends" Kyle answered him
"I want to see Winter too" the small girl spoke out
"She'll come down soon Abi" Brianna patted her small head "Aren't you happy to see your auntie who's here with you?"
"I'm happy, but she promised that when we see each other again she will teach me how to dance like her" she beamed
"She said that?" Jarine chuckled
"Your great grandmother will never agree to that" Liam told his daughter "Where are the elders?"
"They went to visit their old friends at the retirement home nearby" Freya as she checked the time "We should begin"
"Go tell the girls to come back now" Jennifer hurried Kyle
"Why me?"
Jennifer gave him a glare
"Fine, i'll go" he grunted