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“Noted.” Lena turns around and leads us through the airport with her hand wrapped around her son’s waist and since Xavier is significantly taller than her, his arm is placed around her shoulders.
Making it through the exit, I see a big white SUV in front of us. The driver gets out and opens the trunk for us to put all our luggage in.
“João!” Xavier exclaims.
“Hello, Mr. Valente,” he responds cordially.
“What did I tell you about calling Mr. Valente? It’s Xavier.” He smiles and hugs him.
João hesitates at first and then reciprocates the embrace.
Xavier pulls away with a pat on his back, leaving one arm on his shoulder, turning toward us. “This man right here has been with my family for eighteen years,” Xavier says happily.
“It’s been an honor, sir,” he responds.
“I am not the King of England. You don’t have to be so formal. Now go sit in the front while I put the suitcases in the back,” he tells him.
“But, sir, it’s my job—”
Xavier cuts him off. “Nope, go sit in the front and please stop calling me sir. That’s an order.” His tone is lively. The playful part of Xavier is at an all-time high today. Xavier’s finger is pointing at the front while João glances at him from the side.
João ends up giving in and walks to the front.
Xavier grabs all our bags from our hands, putting them down on the ground. Soon after, he evaluates the trunk situation with his hands on his hips. Noticing that none of us have moved, he looks in our direction. “You guys too.” He points at the front of the car again.
We move, knowing Xavier won’t let us help even if we tried.
Getting in the car, Lena sits in the front seat next to João. Closing the door, she automatically turns in our direction with a huge grin on her face.
Like mother, like son.
“I am so excited you guys decided to come out here. I’ve been wanting to practice my English. Xavier bought me classes a few years ago and my practice has become nonexistent.”
“Your English is really good,” Cleo says.
“Why, thank you,” she responds, flattered.
The trunk closes and Xavier hops into the seat right next to me, shutting the door behind him. Then the SUV starts moving.
“Filho, you’ve gotten so skinny since the last time I saw you,” Lena scolds him.
“Mãe, I’ve been eating well.”
“I don’t care. You are too skinny. I will make sure you are well fed. Christmas this year will be a feast since you brought friends with you and I refuse for my son to appear ghostly on my watch.”
“But,Mãe!” he replies.
“Nope, I will not hear it. If I have to shove the food down your throat, I will do so.”
He sighs in defeat.
Like he even had a chance.
“In other news, I just got your baby pictures back from the developer,” Lena says.
“Am I going to see baby Xavier?” Cleo gasps in delight. “Please tell me you have embarrassing photos so I can take pictures and haunt him for the rest of his life.”
“Nope, that’s where you’re wrong. I have never looked embarrassed in a photo in my life. Baby me was ravishing,” Xavier responds much to Cleo’s defeat.
