In the garden…


    Gabriel sat on the bench that is facing the fountain and he took deep breaths while trying to clear his mind. It''s not that he is always thinking about Victoria, but he is unable to shake off the suffocating gloomy feeling.


    Gabriel was startled when a little boy mmed onto his leg.


    The boy hugged Gabriel''s leg, looked up to him, and grinned.


    Gabriel''s heart softened at the sight of Oliver''s chubby cheeks and a smile that reached Oliver''s eyes.


    They met only a few times, but Oliver epted Gabriel right away, and it''s impossible not to fall in love with Oliver at first sight. Oliver is always full of positive energy and his smile is contagious.


    Gabriel remembered Oliver''s hearty giggles when Gabriel put him on his shoulders and held his hands spread wide while running around and making airne sounds.


    "Hey, little B. Did you get lost?", Gabriel asked while rubbing Oliver''s head.


    Before Oliver could respond, Ba''s voice came from the side: "Oliver! How many times I told you not to approach strangers?"


    Oliver pouted. "Gabbiey is not a stangey."


    Oliver talks well, but he struggles with the sound of <em>''r''</em> that frequently gets reced with random sounds.


    Gabriel nced at Ba and then he focused on Oliver. "Is that your new nanny?"


    Oliver shook his head. "That is my sissy. I like you moye. She is bossy."


    Gabriel stifled augh and he stopped it abruptly when he saw that Ba is ring at him.


    Gabriel cleared his throat. "So, you are Ben''s daughter."


    Ba scrutinized Gabriel. "Yes. I am Ba, and you are?"


    Oliver lifted his hands toward Gabriel, indicating that he wants to sit on the bench next to him, but he needs help because his legs are short, and he can''t reach.


    Oliver loves thepany of grown-ups. They treat him well, give him candies and other goodies, he does not need to share his toys, and grownups don''t try to dress him up or to force him to y games he is not interested in. In Oliver''s opinion, grownups are many times better than kids. As a bonus, he gets to learn new words while listening to their conversations.


    Gabriel lifted Oliver and helped him to sit on the bench while responding to Ba''s question.


    "My name is Gabriel. I work for Steve. Howe you are stuck with babysitting?"


    Oliver gestured to Ba to sit on the other side. "Sissy, heye…"


    Ba sat on the bench and looked at Gabriel over Oliver''s head. "I''m not stuck with babysitting. I enjoy spending time with my baby brother."


    Oliver pouted. "I am not a baby!"


    Ba rubbed his head. "Sure, big guy. Whatever you say."


    Gabriel noticed that Ba''s smile was sincere when she spoke to Oliver and that told him that she really likes the little guy. Well, everyone likes Oliver.


    Gabriel observed Ba and how she interacts with Oliver. She is young, yet she looks mature. Gabriel knows that Ben is earning nicely at the White corp. and considering that Ba''s parents are divorced, he would expect that she is spoiled. But just after one nce, Gabriel can see that Ba is down to earth, and he was curious to find out more about her.


    "Howe you enjoy taking care of Oliver? Shouldn''t a girl your age prefer things like going out, partying, and experiencing new things?"


    Ba was surprised by these questions. She didn''t like that Gabriel is stereotyping her. Ba takes pride in putting herself in a category of mature teenagers. She decided to answer and rify a few things.


    "My parents divorced when I was young. For more than ten years my mom dragged me with her across the world as she changed her lovers. My mother got custody of me and she didn''t allow me to stay with my dad out of spite. I looked forward to turning sixteen and being old enough to stay on my own. I craved for stability, a ce to call home, and to focus on school. Watching over Oliver is rxing, and I can''t wait to find someone who will treat me well and start a family of my own…"


    Ba stopped talking abruptly when she realized that she is oversharing. Why is she telling all these things to a guy she just met? Well, she heard about Gabriel from Ben, and she knows that he is Steve''s assistant, but technically, they just met.


    Gabriel listened to Ba and subconsciously he wasparing her with Victoria who always avoided addressing topics rted to kids and family or anything long term. He found it interesting that Ba (who is obviously a teenager) is talking about it seriously while Victoria who is in her mid-twenties was shunning those topics like they are something shameful.


    Ba fidgeted under Gabriel''s keen gaze. "Uhm… Why are you looking at me like I said something weird?"


    "Sorry. Not weird. It''s just… You are too young to have such mature thoughts. Shouldn''t you be going to school and dating and figuring out what works instead of thinking about a lifelongmitment?"


    Ba was insulted by his remark. "I am eighteen years old. Maturity does note with age, ites with experience. I had my share of traveling and parties and what I want is a rock that can''t be moved by the storm. Boys my age can''t provide that, so I am left with waiting for them to grow up. And who said that I''m not going to school? I''m starting UCLA in September. Going to school will not sh with my other interests.", Ba said proudly before adding: "Since you used me of sounding old, I could say the same about you. If I don''t see you with my own eyes, I would think that you are ancient and grumpy… or at least ugly."


    Gabriel was shocked. This is the first time someone called him old… and did she say <em>''ancient''</em>? And there was one more thing… "Now that you can see me, you can confirm that I am not ugly. Does that mean you think of me as handsome?"


    Ba blinked. "Really… does a man with your looks need to ask forpliments?"


    Gabriel smiled. "You didn''t answer my question."


    Ba was getting irritated. "You are not looking for answers. You are up to something else, but I am not sure what…"


    Gabriel''s smile widened. "You are smart. Inexperienced, but smart."


    Oliver''s head was tilting left-right as Gabriel and Ba spoke. It looked like he is following a tennis match from the front row.


    Ba narrowed her eyes at Gabriel. "Great. I am being nice, and you insult me."


    "Being inexperienced is not a bad thing. Everyone was there at some point. It only means that you are young."


    "Young,pared to what?", Ba asked angrily.


    Gabriel was not sure how to answer this, but he found her exaggerated reaction amusing.


    Ba saw that Gabriel is shaking while trying to suppressughter and she was confident that whatever she says, she will only make it worse. She decided to leave.


    Ba stood up abruptly. "Oliver, we are going inside! I''m sure that dad finished his meeting by now!"


    Gabriel looked after Ba who was practically dragging Oliver after her and he paused when he realized that in thest ten minutes, he didn''t think about Victoria and he was not gloomy… and he evenughed. It''s such a small thing, but at that moment, it meant a lot.


    ---


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