anwhile...
[Anteca: Mama Restaurant]
"Is that all?" Lola smiled, standing behind the cashier as the custor placed their order. "Alright."
She handed over the receipt, assuring the custor their food would be served shortly. Then she smoothly moved on to the next person in line, welcoming them with the sa bright smile and polite tone as she took their order.
anwhile, Jessa, Allison, and Penny watched her from the sidelines. Jessa crossed her arms and raised a brow, studying Lola’s efficient rhythm. A few mbers of their family had stood behind that counter before, but only Lola seed born for it.
Penny tried it once, but deliberately botched everything so she’d be reassigned to the kitchen. Atlas had also tried working the cashier, but the custors walked away traumatized, not him. His face and aura alone turned the simple act of ordering food into a life-or-death decision.
But Lola? She did it like she had been running the place for years.
Monts later, Lola finished taking the last few orders and passed the receipts to the kitchen. Then she turned, adjusting her apron before joining the ladies for their late lunch.
"Lola, you’re good," Jessa mused as soon as Lola sat down.
Lola chuckled. "Thanks, Aunt Jessa. I actually worked part-ti as a cashier before. Had to support myself and school."
"Ahh... that explains it." Jessa nodded, satisfied, while Allison leaned closer.
"Lola, you don’t have to stay behind the counter," Allison reminded her gently. "The actual cashier just arrived."
"It’s alright." Lola bead. "I like it."
Allison’s expression softened as she reached out and rubbed Lola’s back. "Then let’s eat."
With that, the ladies dug into the al Jessa prepared. The Bennet family had been going out of their way to make Lola feel comfortable—partly because they wanted her to fall in love with them enough to overlook how "defective" Atlas was, but mostly because they genuinely enjoyed having her around.
Lola had been spending so much ti with them lately. Sotis she helped at the restaurant, other tis she stayed with Penny. So days she hung out with Nina and Kiara. Other tis she watched her kids, their cousins, and their four-year-old little "auntie" having chaotic play dates.
"Hey~"
In the middle of their late lunch, Nina’s gentle voice drifted across the room. All the won looked up as she approached and slid into the empty seat.
"Sorry I’m late. The eting ran long. I had to make a few adjustnts," she explained with a tired smile.
Allison sighed. "Nina, you should’ve grabbed a bite. Finn will be worried if you get sick again."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Jessa clicked her tongue dramatically. She opened her mouth, ready to comnt, until Allison shot her a glare sharp enough to slice stone. Jessa coughed and shifted tone. "Just eat, Nina. I actually prepared you and that fake daughter-in-law so really nice soup."
Nina laughed softly while Jessa and Allison exchanged one of their signature unspoken argunts. Lola watched them, amused by how motherly and chaotic they were at the sa ti. The longer she stayed with them, the more she realized she wasn’t just loved—she was cherished.
Motherhood, love, family... none of these had ever looked like this in her old life.
The Bennets already knew how dysfunctional her family was. Not that they were perfect either—Jessa had been pressuring Nina and Finn to have kids. Six years of marriage and still no pregnancy. The sa applied to Atlas’s second brother and his wife, except that couple chose not to have children. So, all the pressure fell squarely on Nina and Finn.
Jessa was about to bring it up again when Allison gave her another warning glare.
Lola chuckled quietly to herself. Despite this tiny flaw, nothing about her view of the family had changed. She knew Jessa’s concern ca from love, not cruelty.
"Sorry I’m late!"
A few minutes later, Kiara burst into the restaurant like a small tornado. She plopped onto the nearest chair and imdiately downed an entire glass of water.
"Huh?" Penny blinked. "Fake sister, where did you co from? Why are you drinking like that?"
Kiara wiped her mouth with her arm. "Office."
"Tsk tsk tssk..." Jessa clicked her tongue again.
And once more, Allison fixed her with a murderous glare. Jessa straightened her spine and corrected herself. "Just eat."
"Thanks!" Kiara clapped her hands as she eyed the food. "I’m starving. I got so busy with orders that I forgot I haven’t eaten—"
This ti, Allison couldn’t contain herself. "Kiara! How many tis have I told you to take care of yourself? Don’t wait until your whole body starts shaking! I left food at your house and in your office. All you have to do is reheat—"
"Ahem!" Jessa cut in loudly.
Allison shut her mouth and sighed in defeat. "Fine. Eat. Goodness."
Kiara snickered. "Thanks, Aunt Jessa."
Nina added, "Thanks, Mom."
Both older won exchanged exhausted looks, but the affection beneath it was unmistakable. They had been trying to stop nagging so much. Trying... and failing.
Penny pouted and leaned toward Lola. "Sis, they nag too, you know."
Lola raised a brow. "I doubt that."
"They do! Whenever they start, it never ends. Can’t you see the bias here?"
Jessa didn’t skip a beat. "Penny, you have work-life balance. You work hard, you eat harder, and you give birth hardest. What else should we complain about?"
Penny blinked, unsure whether she had been praised or roasted. Lola laughed until she noticed Allison and Jessa staring directly at her.
"Auntie..."
"Mom..."
Nina and Kiara called at the sa ti, followed by a synchronized, "Don’t."
But it was too late.
Allison and Jessa had found a new daughter to fuss over.
The attention shifted to Lola imdiately. They nagged her about her health, her eating habits, her sleeping schedule, her business—everything. Even as Lola shrank under the overwhelming motherly assault, her chest ward.
Because at the end of the day, Jessa and Allison were nothing like Jasmine or Loren.
Sohow... it makes happy.
Lola’s cheeks turned pink.
Jessa squinted. "Why are you blushing?"
Allison nodded seriously. "Lola, we are being serious here."
"I know..." Lola smiled sheepishly. "That’s why I’ll take care of myself. And I’ll make sure to wear earplugs around Atlas."
And together, in perfect motherly unison, Allison and Jessa declared:
"Good! Earplugs are a must!"
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