Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Anya said simply, "Taking advantage of people isn't cool. You'll end up with no friends."

Leo grinned, pulling his girlfriend close. "Thanks for the lesson, Ms. Anya. When Chad starts earning, we'll treat everyone to dinner and pay it back."

Later, Leo leaned in and told Anya, "Since we're the kids in the family, Grandpa, my uncles-none of them would let us pay for a meal before we graduate. What Mia said back then was just to tease me and keep me from airing Grandpa's dirty laundry."

Anya caught on. "So Grandpa really snuck some food?"

"Oh, definitely."

That night, in the Cedillo family's home, Mia stepped out of the bathroom, carrying their freshly bathed little dumpling. She spotted her husband reading a manual and called out, "Babe, what did Dad sneak this afternoon?"

"Ice cream," he replied.

Little Henry's face snapped toward his dad. "Daddy, Grandpa had bicream!"

Mia stifled a laugh. "Sweetheart, it's 'ice cream.' And don't eat it, or your tummy will hurt-see, Grandpa's tummy hurts now."

Henry, worried about Grandpa, insisted on going to check on him.

Hansen was already in bed, but Andre brought their son over anyway.

"Back again? I'm fine, really," Hansen protested.

Andre sat on the edge of the bed, setting Henry down. "Henry wanted to take care of you. He wouldn't take no for an answer."

Henry squeezed Grandpa's hand. "Squeezy!"

Later that night, Henry tried to sneak into Grandpa's bed, sticking one little leg under the covers, but his heartless dad scooped him up and carried him back.

Andre woke up several times that night to check on his dad. Hansen had to get up again with a stomach ache, and Andre gave him more medicine and helped him lie down. "Dad, you're not getting any younger. I worry about Mia eating the wrong thing at her age, and here you are sneaking snacks in secret. Did you forget how much it hurt last time?"

Hansen looked sheepish. "Old folks just can't resist a treat."

"I don't let you have ice cream in the summer, but you sneak it now? When you get sick, you're the one who suffers. We can't be sick for

17.

you, you know." Andre set a cup of

warm water by the bed before

leaving.

not

Back in their room, he found Mia tucking in their son. "Is Dad still feeling well? If it gets worse, we should take him to the hnoveldrama

together." Content bespie

"I just gave him some medicine. He looks better. If he's not okay tomorrow, we'll

go." Old folks sure know how to keep you up at night.

Andre lay at the edge of the bed, watching their son in the middle. "Did he kick the blanket off again?"

“Uh-huh," Mia said, holding their boy's chubby foot. "Short legs, but he's a blanket-kicking champion."

Andre grinned. "We should get him a sleeping bag and zip him in-see if he can kick his way out of that."

The next day, Hansen was back to normal, full of energy.

He sat in the living room, swiping photos from his daughter-in-law's Facebook, his daughter's Facebook and even his granddaughter-in-law's foodie posts, piecing them all. together to build up his own

Facebook page.

Soon, his phone buzzed. "Did someone like my post?"

He checked-yep, just as he thought. "Seth's always online. Every time I post,

he's the first to hit like."

Hansen opened the chat window. "Seth, what are you up to at home?"

Henry, now wide awake, ran over to 'help' Grandpa.

He brought Grandpa some water, spilling half of it along the way;

When Grandpa took his medicine, Henry thought he was sneaking candy and tried to grab it;

Then he handed Grandpa a piece of fruit, squished to mush in his tiny hands.