Lisa pressed her lips tighter. Clearly trying very hard not to laugh. "Ma’am, Jimmy is... taking precautions."
"For what? In case I sprain my ankle?" Evelyn said carelessly.
"Well..." Lisa silently gulped, "just in case anything happens."
Evelyn can’t help but laugh. She glanced again at the car creeping behind them. She could only shake her head when she saw Jimmy give a thumbs-up as if his presence was completely normal.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered. "At this point, Axel might as well cancel his work and join us instead."
"Boss Axel is... concerned, Ma’am."
"Concerned about what? The path is safe. The cabin is ours. There are guards everywhere."
Lisa hesitated. Her eyes shifted forward, then back to Evelyn, unsure whether to speak.
Evelyn caught it instantly. "Lisa. Spill it."
"I... I cannot say everything. But the boss is worried you may not feel well."
"Oh co on, Lisa... You know, I’m perfectly fine."
"Yes, Ma’am."
"Then why is he acting like I’m going to faint in the woods?"
Lisa tried to arrange her words carefully. "Let’s just say... the boss thinks there is a chance you might be... um... a little more tired than usual."
Evelyn blinked. "What does that even an?"
Lisa smiled gently. "It ans... he cares."
Evelyn sighed in frustration, staring again at the slow-moving car behind them. "At this rate, he may think I’m pregnant."
Lisa tripped slightly on a rock.
"Are you alright?" Evelyn asked while trying to hold her hand.
"Yes, Ma’am," Lisa said quickly, as she steadied herself. "Completely fine."
Evelyn looked suspicious, but Lisa kept walking, refusing to et her eyes.
Ahead of them, Oliver shouted with joy as Ryan lifted him onto his shoulders.
The scenery was breathtaking, the air was perfect, and despite the absurd amount of overprotection around her, Evelyn felt her mood lift.
She smiled, thinking that today might actually be wonderful... even if her husband had apparently deployed half his people to make sure she did not trip.
When they arrived at the cabin, there was no ti to relax, as Oliver imdiately said he was starving like never before, which was entirely acceptable for a boy his age after nearly three hours of hiking for the first ti.
Evelyn was grateful that Laura and Lisa were there to help her prepare food for everyone. So everyone could eat much sooner.
This was not just a simple picnic with her son; it was a group outing with her house staff.
...
Lunch preparation in the cabin turned into a small festival of movent and noise.
Evelyn was busy chopping vegetables on the wooden counter. At the sa ti, Jimmy and Oliver are on the porch grilling at.
Ryan and Lisa helped unpack ingredients to prepare another al, and Laura fluttered between everyone like a general, making sure the troops did not burn down the cabin.
"Madam, let carry that," Laura said for the third ti as Evelyn tried to lift the bowl of salad.
"Seriously, Laura? It’s salad, not a sack of potatoes," Evelyn joked, sliding it onto the table before Laura could snatch it.
"But still," Laura insisted, worried eyes trailing her every move. "You’ve been looking tired lately..."
"I’m fine." Evelyn smiled. "I’m just a little busy with work..."
"Yes, ma’am, please, no need to tire yourself. Let Laura, Lisa, and handle this. Especially carrying anything..." Ryan is also adding.
Then, suddenly...
Oliver popped up beside them. "Laura, don’t worry. Uncle Ryan will carry everything for us. Daddy said so."
Ryan, who was starting to clean the ss in the kitchen, smiled as he looked at Oliver. "I did not agree to that, young master..." he teased.
"But you are strong, Uncle Ryan..." Oliver blinked at him.
"If the young master insists, then, I don’t have a choice..." Ryan smiles.
Lisa laughed. "Young master, no need to worry. He’ll carry it. He pretends to complain, but he always does it anyway."
"I heard that, Lisa..." Ryan said, though he did not deny it.
They all laugh.
After a fast and busy lunch prep, they finally gathered in the cabin’s cozy dining area.
The table was full: salad, grilled at, fresh fruit, and an impressive stack of burgers.
Jimmy sat stiffly at first, unsure if he should relax or act formal around the madam of the house.
But Oliver solved that in three seconds.
"Jimmy, tomorrow we’re riding horses. You can’t only watch... You need to try to ride Cloud..."
"? Ride, Cloud? I can’t ride a horse. I usually drive cars, Young Master." Jimmy answered.
"But you can learn! I’ll use my teacher to teach you," Oliver declared confidently.
"Alright, I will try... But if Cloud files a complaint, you can’t force ."
Oliver gasped, then hurriedly nodded, "Alright... I will make sure Cloud doesn’t complain."
Jimmy pretended to be scared. "Young Master, I’m not worried about your horse, Cloud, but I’m worried I might fall..." he said sincerely.
Oliver gave Jimmy a serious gaze. "If you fall, Ryan will catch you."
"Young Master," Ryan helplessly looked at Oliver, "Why am I always included in these suicidal missions?"
Lisa nearly choked on her drink while Laura pursed her lips, trying to hold back laughter.
Evelyn, who silently eats her grilled at, can’t help but chi in, "Ryan, you should be honored. Oliver trusts you more than physics."
"Great," Ryan said dryly. "I’ll inform gravity."
The table burst into warm laughter again.
While Oliver looked enthused as he told Jimmy about his horse, Evelyn chatted with Laura and Lisa about recipes and the beautiful autumn scenery outside the cabin.
Now and then, they all burst out laughing because of another comnt from Oliver.
"Jimmy, you can’t ride Browny. He can’t carry a big man like you. You’d hurt him if you did."
"Hahaha, no worries, young master," Jimmy laughed nervously. "I won’t. Riding Cloud already makes nervous because I don’t think it likes . I was terrified all the ti because it might toss or kick ."
Jimmy abandoned his lunch, now too anxious to imagine what tomorrow might bring.
Lunch stretched longer than any of them expected.
It was the first ti Evelyn felt such a lively, warm atmosphere with the people who usually worked silently around her. It felt like a small family outing, strange but comforting.
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