My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

Part 48.

Clara woke up earlier. She went straight to the kitchen. There were Mbok Iyem, Mbak Anik, and Mbak Cici preparing breakfast.

“Clara, would you like some hot chocolate?” Mbok Iyem offered. She remembered the girl’s favorite drink.

“No, Mbok. I’m here to help prepare breakfast!” Clara replied.

“No need, dear. Mr. Joe will get angry later!” Mbok Iyem cautioned, while the other two servants just looked at Clara in surprise.

“Mbak Iyem, Mbak Anik, and Mbak Cici, my family will pick me up next Sunday, and I will stay with them. Before I leave, can I help you?” Clara offered. She just wanted to get closer to the people living in Joe’s house.

Mbak Cici looked at Clara. She was indeed on the girl’s side. While Mbak Anik, she preferred Vivian. The servant always reported everything happening in the house to the woman who was currently Joe Sebastian’s ex-wife.

Mbok Iyem chose to remain neutral and not take sides between Clara and Vivian as the two servants argued about it.

“Clara, prepare some plates, spoons, and forks!” Mbok Iyem instructed. She handed Clara a cloth to start drying the utensils.

Clara obeyed what Mbok Iyem told her.

“Clara, where is your family?” Mbok Iyem asked curiously.

“I don’t know, Mbok. Uncle Joe hasn’t told me,” Clara replied. “By the way, Mbok Iyem, what gift would you like from me?” she offered.

“I don’t need anything, dear. I just want you, Clara, to come here often!” she said.

Clara smiled, her gaze shifting to the woman beside Mbok Iyem who was busy frying fish. “Mbak Anik, what gift would you like from me?” she offered. Although she knew Mbak Anik never acted friendly towards her, Clara remained kind.

“No need, Mrs. Vivian often gives me expensive and nice things,” she refused without looking at Clara.

“Well, alright. How about I get something for you, Mbak Cici?” Clara offered, turning to Cici who was cutting green vegetables.

“Anything, dear,” she replied with a wide smile.

“Alright,” Clara said. She had finished drying the tableware and took them to the dining room.

Then, Clara returned to the kitchen. She prepared apples and strawberries, Joe’s favorite fruits.

She peeled the apples while recalling the events from last night when Kimmy caught her and Joe kissing. Clara smiled to herself. Warm feelings spread through her heart.

“Clara!” a baritone voice called from behind. She was sure it was Uncle Joe’s voice.

Clara lowered her head, pretending not to hear, embarrassed because there were three other servants in the kitchen.

“Clara! Can’t you hear me?” Joe whispered, suddenly standing behind Clara.

“What’s wrong, Uncle?” Clara replied. She turned around, their eyes meeting.

“Make me some coffee, bring it over there!” Joe pointed to a seat next to Vivian’s pool.

“Alright, Uncle!”

“Don’t take too long!” he teased with a mischievous glance.

“Okay.”

Clara took a glass and made coffee for Joe. Meanwhile, the other three servants remained silent, not used to seeing Joe this close.

“Also, bring these cookies, dear. Mr. Joe likes these biscuits!” Mbok Iyem said, handing Clara a small box of cookies with strawberry jam.

“Thank you, Mbok,” Clara accepted it and then carried a cup of coffee and snacks to the backyard.

Clara walked slowly, while Joe stared at her with a teasing look.

“Here’s the coffee and here are the cookies, Uncle!” Clara said, placing the tray in front of Joe.

“Thank you, my dear Clara,” Joe said, staring at the girl without blinking.

Clara nodded and turned to go back to the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” Joe asked, reaching for Clara’s hand, stopping her from leaving.

“I’m going to the kitchen, Uncle,” Clara replied.

“Who allowed you to go to the kitchen! Come here, sit here!” Joe commanded.

Clara looked at Joe, there was only one chair there. The chair Joe was sitting on.

“There’s only one chair, Uncle, besides, I still have to peel fruit in the kitchen,” she excused herself.

“Who told you to sit on the chair? Come here, sit here!” Joe ordered, patting his thigh.

“But, Uncle…” Clara protested. She was afraid the servants in the kitchen would make her the subject of conversation.

“But what!” Joe pulled Clara’s hand, and the next moment Clara was sitting on his lap.

Joe embraced Clara in his arms. Ignoring the three servants who might be watching them.

“Please let go, Uncle,” Clara pleaded softly.

“Be quiet, Clara, don’t protest. Why do you always contradict me? Just sit and be quiet, I want it like this, just for a moment!” Joe whispered. Holding Clara tightly in his muscular arms, making her unable to move.

Clara remained silent, sitting in Joe’s lap. It was useless to resist or try to break free, her strength was nothing compared to his.

“Clara,” Joe whispered, with no intention of releasing his embrace.

“Yes, Uncle,” Clara replied. Slowly, she began to feel comfortable in the man’s embrace.

“If every morning could be like this, I would surely be happy, Clara,” Joe said.

Every moment spent with Clara was precious to Joe. Especially now that Joe knew Freddy Lim’s profile. He probably wouldn’t approve of his relationship with Clara. Truly, Joe also felt this was unfair, why didn’t Clara’s family ask her to come back from the beginning! Why now, when Joe had already harbored feelings of love for Clara.

“Uncle, please let go, Uncle,” Clara requested. “Someone might see us, Uncle,” she added. Truly afraid that Mrs. Linn or Mr. Bond might suddenly come.

“Why does it matter!” Joe didn’t loosen his embrace, but instead held Clara tighter.

“I’m scared, Uncle!” Clara insisted.

“Why are you scared, Clara? They’re not ghosts!” Joe replied.

“Uncle, I’m scared!” Clara complained.

“Alright, I’ll let you go, but you have to accompany me to the office this morning, okay?” Joe offered with sparkling eyes.

“No, Uncle, I want to go shopping. I need to find something to give to Mbok Iyem, Mbak Cici, and Mbak Anik. I want to give them souvenirs,” Clara explained.

“Oh, so you prioritize them over accompanying me to work?” Joe asked.

It felt very heavy. Even though there were still six days left, the feeling of loss had haunted him since last night.

“No, Uncle,” she replied.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“In that case, accompany me to the office, and I’ll accompany you shopping, how about that?” he suggested.

“Alright,” Clara replied.

“Okay, you go shower first, and I’ll shower later. We’ll have breakfast together, and then you’ll accompany me to the office, okay?” Joe confirmed.

“Yes, Uncle.”

Clara stood up. Joe grabbed her hand again.

“What else, Uncle?” Clara asked.

“I wouldn’t mind if we showered together!” he joked, with a teasing smile.

Clara shook her head vigorously, rejecting Joe’s offer.

==❤==

Clara, Joe, Mrs. Linn, and Mr. Bond were enjoying breakfast. Joe finished his morning meal with a glass of water.

“We’re leaving now, Clara!” Joe said, glancing at his wristwatch. He was wearing his work clothes: a dark gray suit with a maroon tie hanging from his collar.

“Yes, Uncle,” Clara replied.

“Dad, Mom, I’m taking Clara to the office so she won’t be bored at home!” he explained.

“Yes, but Clara must be brought home on time, don’t stay out late, especially don’t take her back to your apartment, Joe!” Mrs. Linn cautioned.

“Yes, Mom! Don’t worry too much! I’m experienced!” Joe replied as he led Clara out of the house.

Mrs. Linn shook her head, her lips trembling as she watched her son’s behavior. “Does Joe forget that he’s not a teenager anymore, or does everyone who falls in love become irrational?” she sighed.

Mr. Bond just smiled.

.

.

Mr. Joko opened the car door for Joe.

“I’ll drive my own car! You can rest this morning!” Joe said. He led Clara to his black McLaren, his favorite.

“Yes, sir,” Joko replied.

Joe opened the door for Clara. Then, he went around and took the driver’s seat.

“Clara, buckle up!” Joe ordered. He then drove the car at a moderate speed towards Blue Jewelry.

==❤==

Later that day.

At Mr. Bond’s residence.

The doorbell rang. Vivian stood at the door. She wanted to check on Kimmy and make sure about the news regarding Clara, who was supposed to stay with her actual family.

“Come in,” Mrs. Linn invited Vivian to sit in the living room.

“Thank you, Mom.”

Vivian entered and sat in front of Mrs. Linn.

“Where’s Kimmy?” she asked.

“Kimmy is in her room!” Joe’s mother replied curtly.

“Where’s Clara, Mom? I heard her family wanted to take her home, finally, there won’t be any interference anymore, separating me and Joe!” she said proudly.

“Clara is currently out with Joe. For now, it seems like you’re the one causing interference in their relationship. Joe has told me everything, and you’re no better than Clara!” Mrs. Linn replied.

“What do you mean, Mom?” Vivian asked, with an incredulous look at what she just heard.

“Your relationship with Joe is over, even though it’s hard, Joe has managed to move on. And don’t forget, you were the one who filed for divorce from Joe. Why do you also want to reconcile? It’s the same as licking your own spit, Vivian!” Mrs. Linn explained.

“What do you mean, Mom?” she asked again. Refusing to accept the reality she just heard.

“You’re only allowed to come to this house to meet Kimmy, not to ask Joe to reconcile! Understood!” Mrs. Linn stood up and went to her room, leaving Vivian alone in the living room.

Vivian took out her phone. Intending to call Alex.

To be continued.