158 The Special Dinner

"Dad, I want you to have another laboratory tests tomorrow. "

Mr. Wayne looked at Jim with knitted brows. "But I'm already okay. "

"Just wanna be sure. " Jim replied firmly but something else ran through his mind.

"Okay, then. " He nodded. How could he go against a doctor's order?

"By the way, Jia, please tell Tonton to have dinner with us. I will be ordering foods for dinner." He glanced at Jia who resumed to her sweet and romantic clingings to Jim.

She looked up to Jim before answering, her eyes seemed to ask for his approval.

Jim understood and he turned to Mr. Wayne who settled himself this time on a rocking chair.

"Yes, dad, I'll do it. " Jim replied.

"My bunny! Big boy would be disappointed with that. He was always looking forward to his dad's special dish for him every

weekend. " Kuya Nap replied with an amused look .

"Really? What's so special about that? " Mr. Wayne did not quite understood.

"Dad, everytime Jian goes out with Anthon, he always cook something special for him. What made our son so excited with it is the fact that the special chef of White Rose restaurant is cooking for him! " Jim made it clear to him with pride.

"Chef? But he's an engineer! "Mr. Wayne seemed to have misheard.

"Yes, dad but during his college years when the struggle of finances choked him, he worked part -time in the kitchen as the chef's assistant. Later on, the management and the chef himself discovered his potentials in cooking so every summer he was sent to culinary school for training. They thought that when the right time comes, he could be one of their chefs. "

Mr. Wayne got so unusually impressed and surprised.

"Really, then how did his employer

accept the carreer he choose instead? "

"Well, he build and renovate their buildings. Aside from that, he created the "Weekend Specials" as the restaurant's highlight every weekend.

"So, Nap, call up the restaurant and make an order for that special dish for our dinner. " He said excitedly but his clouded expression did not escape his son's eyes.

"Yes, dad. " He smiled sheepishly as he felt awkward in calling him dad for the first time.

Jim looked around to find his phone. "Sweetheart, where is it? "

"What? "She straightened up for few seconds then placed her head again in his shoulder.

"My phone. " He said while his eyes were roaming around.

"Use my phone, instead." She offered as she picked up her phone at the center table.

"Okay." He opened the security lock right away to call up Anthon.

"Ton, please come for dinner tonight. Dad prepared something special for you."

Anthon was so surprised that he couldn't find a word to reply.

"Ton, I know you're surprised. Just please come later. " Jim laughed.

"Okay, thanks. " Anthon finally replied.

Before the dark set in, the delivery man came in with Kuya Nap's orders. He also ordered Jian's favorite cheesecake and a special green salad for Jia. Then, Mr. Wayne came in to pay the bill.

Jia also stood up to prepare the table in the garden outside. It was such a beautiful weather and the skies would be lit up later with its millions of glittering stars. The moon would also be shining with its full glory tonight.

She carefully placed each dish in a platter, being conscious of Anthon's artistic manner in setting up a table. Then, she placed the basket of roses he brought at the center of the table.

Soon, the engine of Anthon's car was heard pulling off in front of the gate. Mr. Wayne was already sitting outside, enjoying the fine afternoon weather. Few seconds later, Jian was already bouncing with his box of new toy. He ran right away towards Mr. Wayne as he wanted to brag about his new collection.

"Lo, look at this. My transformer Lego Collections is almost complete! " He said, his pair of black eyes opened wide.

"Wow! Always be a good boy so that you will have more rewards. Lolo will also buy you one. "

"Yeheeey! Do you hear it, dad? " He said as he saw Anthon coming over.

"Yes. " Anthon smiled happily as he picked up Mr. Wayne's hand again and press it in his forehead.

"Ton, glad you're back. Dinner is waiting." He said as he stood up to lead the way towards the garden.

Kuya Nap and Jim followed while Jia brought along her chubby little one. Soon, she was surrounded by the men who were dying to pinch her hard until she cried.

" My bunny! You're sooo, sooo cute! " He grit his teeth in holding back his urge to pull out her doubling chin.

"Don't ever touch my princess until you get your hands washed! " The protective grandpa chuckled as he warned them.

Anthon walked over, as well, to look at the baby. As soon as he looked into her face, the cute bundle cooed and smiled as she looked back at him. Anthon giggled, lifting everyone's mood instantly.

" You're rewarding me with your smiles now? Do you know that you scared me to death? Do you know that I almost let my car fly because you almost made me an instant midwife inside the car? " He said as he took revenge by squeezing her tiny feet.

The baby smiled again making Anthon's grin reach to both of his ears. Jian, who was caught busy in assembling his blocks, looked up to him with sad eyes.

"Daddy Anthon, am I also cute when I was a baby? " He asked to get his attention.

His innocent question and act of jealousy made everyone laugh.

"Your dad can answer that for you."

Anthon respectfully returned the question to Jim.

"Does it mean I was not? " He already felt like crying as he felt he lost everyone's attention that was supposedly his alone.

Jim laughed as he picked him up into his arms. "My love, I'm sorry for not telling you this. That you're getting more handsome everyday as you grow into a big boy."

"Exactly! " Jia seconded. "You're a handsome kuya to your pretty little sister ."

"Big boy, that makes me feel bad. It only means that I am the ugliest here. " Kuya Nap pretended to cry.

Jian felt appeased with his statement that he started to smile.

"You're the most handsome uncle that I have." Who said that he did not, likewise, know how to flatter the adults?

"Exactly because I don't have someone to compare myself to. "

Kuya Nap was an only son and Jim's sibling was a woman.

Mr. Wayne was the happiest among them all. He was so overwhelmed by the essence of having a happy and a close - knit family.

Everyone of them were already seated around the table except Jim who placed the baby back into the stroller beside them. When he walked back to the table, he suddenly found a solution to a problem he was always thinking how to solve. The first step was already secured, the second one was, now, at hand.

"Ton, let me pick it up. " He said to the bewildered Anthon.

"Hmmn? " He responded with a questioning look.

"The white hair near your forehead."

He, then, plucked out the white hair carefully without waiting for his answer. Then, he placed it inside his pocket.

"I really do have occasional white hair growth. "

"That means, you have to get married already." Mr. Wayne commented.

"Right. " Jia seconded while stealing a glance to him.

"Jim, by the way, when is your church wedding?" His dad reminded him. It was a subject which seemed to have been forgotten already.

Jim looked at Jia with guilt before he answered. "Yes, dad. I and Miss Maxine have already discussed about it. She's coming over with her staff for the refitting. All other things are ready except for the printing of the cards and the venue. "