To Color Your Life

The Evans family home was not as grandiose as Emily had anticipated. It was certainly much larger than her grandmother's house. Maybe larger by three times. But this did not create the feeling that this is a place for the elite.

Justin noticed Emily's surprised and interested look as they entered the premises and stopped near the entrance. "You look like you expected to see a medieval castle and are glad you were wrong," the man laughed.

"If it turned out to be a castle, I would be afraid to even go inside," the girl confirmed his guess. Marrying a prince was definitely not part of her plans. She did not wait for the man to open the car door for her, although such gestures from him were always pleasant.

What if someone thinks that she is too mannered? And in general, what manners are adopted in this family? Small talk, restraint? Or a homely, cozy atmosphere? Emily hoped very much for the latter.

"I already told you, there is nothing to worry about. I have a normal family. Well, with the exception of grandfather," Evans chuckled, "He likes to piss people off to test their real true personality, but usually this only applies to business partners."

"Somehow it doesn't really calm me down." Emily lifted her head to look at the three-story house. More precisely, there were two floors, the third was a residential roof, judging by the windows on the pediment. In front of the house, there was a spacious lawn lined with the grass-plat.

Her grandmother would have planted so much space with rose bushes long ago, but there was a children's slide, a swing, a trampoline, and some other things intended for a child to play. Emily had no acquaintances with small children, and she did not communicate with children very closely, so many objects in this mini-Disneyland were like ancient artifacts for the girl.

You seem to see a thing, but you have no idea how to use it properly.

"Is this all for Melonie?" As far as Emily knew, there were no other small children in this family.

"Yeah, this is her personal kingdom. It seems to me that my grandfather did not even spoil Zoya as he does to little Mel."

"When will your sister return from her trip?"

"Zoya? Hmm, it takes a good reason to drag her back into the house," Justin's sly smile made him look like a teenage tomboy. "She's obsessed with bridal bouquets. She said that she would take up her personal and work life only when she caught one."

How interesting, Emily thought. The more she heard about the boss's sister, the more she resembled one of her familiar red-haired she-devils. By the way, Kelly also booked a bouquet for herself. Will Emily really have to make two of them? Otherwise, the usual tradition threatens to develop into a life-and-death battle.

"Justin is here!" a little curly-haired angel flew out of the house into the yard and ran in their direction.

"Ouch," she stumbled on one of her sandals and plopped down on the ground.

Emily had already prepared herself for a heartbreaking cry (does it usually happen that way?), but little Mel rose briskly to her feet and continued her confident approaching.

With a happy laugh, she jumped into Justin's outstretched arms and threw her arms around his neck.

"God, look at you! All grimy again," he wiped her nose, which was all dirty from the ground, and brushed off her dress.

"I drew a gift for your fiancee!" Melonie reached into the pocket of her dress and after a diligent search pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, "This is for you," she handed it to Emily.

"Thank you," Emily took a present from her small hand. The sensations were pleasant and unusual. She unfolded the piece of paper. Incomprehensible scribbles, similar either to a hairy monster or to a bearded woman, were surrounded by blue clouds, suns of different colors, and crooked circles.

"It's very... nice," she smiled at the girl, not knowing how to react to such a work of art. Maybe she needs to make some compliment?

Emily felt a little confused, but Justin, on the contrary, looked happy, like a well-fed cat. He clearly had a lot of experience in dealing with children.

"Wow, darling, what's that you got here? Bride in a veil? How beautiful!"

"Aha!" beamed Melonie, having received a compliment from her uncle.

Uh? Bride in a veil? Emily looked again at the "painting" she had received. Boss, do you have some kind of superpower to decipher secret symbols?! How can you see the bride in THIS? Yes, and even in a veil!

"Melonie, get off Justin and come here!" Melissa appeared in the doorway. She confidently walked towards her daughter, intending to pick her up.

"I won't go to bed! I want to go to the wedding! I'll be a bride too! I'll have my own Justin too!"

Melissa sighed and rolled her eyes. "She's been saying it for three days that since Emily took her Justin, she should give her another one instead."

"Seriously? Wow, these are quite big requests!" Evans laughed and pinched the baby on the cheek, "Aunt Emily and I will think about your proposal, huh Em?"

"Y-yes, of course," Emily said, a little confused. When did they manage to skip the wedding from talking about the bride and make plans for the children? She began to get the feeling that this family was solving issues before they even arose.

Melissa looked at Hayes with gratitude, her daughter clearly calmed down, having received confirmation of the reservation for the future husband.

Justin lowered the girl to the ground and stroked her head, "But when he appears, you will be the eldest. And as the eldest you will need to lead him by showing a good example, don't you agree? Go get some sleep. Did you know that when you sleep during the day, you dream of various miracles?"

"Really?" Melonie opened her eyes and stared at her uncle with awe.

"Really. You just need to fall asleep before 12," he looked at his watch, "Oh, there are five minutes left! Common, hurry up, otherwise, you will miss it!"

Melony gasped and rushed back into the house like a bullet. Melissa nodded and hurried after her daughter.

"You treat children so well," Emily was pleasantly surprised to discover a new quality in Evans. Not every man can do this. And the woman too. She definitely couldn't. At least for now.

Justin laughed and leaned over to her ear, "To be honest, I'm in shock myself. Before Melonie came along, I had no idea that I loved children. So..." He looked at Emily ambiguously, "I don't mind having my own kindergarten."

"What?!" the girl could not hold back an embarrassed smile, "Justin Evans, what kind of kindergarten are we talking about? Shouldn't you propose to me first?"

"Hello, Hayes, you owe me five trillion dollars, have you forgotten? You should beg me to marry you!"

"Are you completely crazy or something?!" Emily tapped the man on the shoulder and laughed, "I'd rather be paying your predatory fine all my life than marry such a shameless insolent man!"

"OK OK. So be it. I agree to make a discount in exchange for three or four heirs," he said.

They had already reached the door, and Emily realized that her anxiety had almost disappeared.

"I love you. Don't be afraid," the man whispered and kissed her on the cheek. "You can think about names for now, at least three if you want a discount."

How can you be afraid of something when you are offered such favorable conditions?

Emily squeezed his hand and walked into the house confidently.