Kaida reciprocated the handshake, her expression professional yet friendly.
"Yes, that's right," she replied, her voice smooth.
William's brow furrowed slightly as he struggled to recall her name. "Ka... ah..." he trailed off, chuckling good-naturedly. "Sorry, I'm terrible with names!"
Kaida mercifully intervened, her lips curving into a gentle smile. "It's Kaida."
William's face lit up with gratitude. "Ah, thank you! Yeah, I'm not so great with names, but I'll try to remember!"
As the exchange concluded, Kaida excused herself to prepare some refreshments in the kitchen, leaving Yuna, William, and August to continue their reunion.
William's natural affinity for connecting with children was evident in the way he interacted with August, but Yuna noticed a peculiar depth in her uncle's gaze when he looked at the young boy. It was as if August had captured a special place in William's heart, one that went beyond mere fondness.
Shaking her head, Yuna chose to overlook a lingering feeling and instead focus on the joy that August seemed to bring to her uncle's life. Plus it had been long since she had last seen her Uncle they had a lot to catch up on.
"Hey, Uncle Willy!" Yuna called out, her voice filled with excitement and a hint of playful reproach.
William responded with a gentle "Hmm," his tone inviting her to continue.
"Why didn't you inform me you were coming?" Yuna asked, her curiosity piqued. "I would have gone through the list I had planned for us," she added, her words laced with a hint of disappointment.
William's smile was warm and reassuring. "There's not much we can do anyway, I have to leave soon and plus I wanted my arrival to be a surprise." he explained, his eyes twinkling with understanding.
But he quickly turned her disappointment into excitement by promising, "But I promise, on my next vacation, we are gonna have a blast! We'll make up for lost time, and I'll make sure to plan something special just for us!" His warm smile and enthusiastic tone left Yuna feeling happy and content, her initial disappointment forgotten.
"Okay," she smiled, her face lighting up with joy, her eyes sparkling with delight.
They chatted for a while, catching up on lost times but Yuna's attention soon shifted to August, who had unsuspectingly drifted off to sleep.
"He's asleep already?" William asked, his voice filled with wonder, as he gazed down at the little boy sleeping peacefully in his arms.
William's eyes met Yuna's, seeking guidance. "Where should I put him?" he asked, his tone gentle, as he carefully cradled August's sleeping form.
Yuna gestured gracefully, leading them to her parents' room. "Here," she said softly, her eyes shining with warmth.
William gently placed August on the bed, his movements careful and tender. He pulled the blankets up to August's chin, his eyes lingering on the child's peaceful face. The room was filled with a sense of serenity, as if time had stood still, and all that mattered was this quiet, loving moment.
"Let's go," he whispered, his voice barely audible. They both quietly left the room, leaving August to his peaceful slumber.
As they approached the stairs, Yuna's enthusiasm bubbled over. "Uncle Willy, I've been working on something. Should I play it for you?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
William's response was laced with a hint of caution. "Not now. August is a very light sleeper. He could wake up at the slightest sound." Yuna's face fell, but she understood and nodded in agreement.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, William's expression turned mysterious. "I have something for you," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.