Chapter 25: Every Sunday After Church

Xavier's hands were tight on his steering as he drove his sleek black Audi. Meeting Isabella kept playing in his mind, her face, her voice, the way she looked at him with a mixture of excitement for her designs.

It has … something else. ... Hope? He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

As he neared the traffic, two children caught his eye. Just beyond the pedestrian crossing stood a picturesque ice cream shop with large bay windows.

Through the glass, he caught sight of two familiar faces - Skylar and Mickey, their noses practically pressed against the display case as they excitedly pointed at the varied array of flavors.

Xavier's foot hovered over the brake pedal. He shouldn't stop. He should not interfere. But before he could speak, he was pulling into a nearby parking space.

His heart was beating fast as he got out of the car, brushing a hand on his designer suit, out of nervousness than necessary.

Taking a deep breath he opened the door to "Scoops & Smiles", the jingle of jingle bells announcing his arrival. Trying to look natural.

He was immediately surrounded by the sweet smell of waffle cones and sugary candy. It took Xavier back to his summers with his grandmother, a bittersweet but comforting memory. His reverie was interrupted by two excited voices.

"Mom's working partner!" Skylar and Mickey exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening in appreciation and delight.

Xavier couldn't help but smile, their enthusiasm was contagious. "Well, hello there," he said, trying to keep his tone casual. “what a coincidence, who'd think I'll meet you two here again."

The twins left their place at the counter and rushed over to him with ice cream smiles. Skylar's braids bounced as she moved, while Mickey's glasses sat slightly askew on his nose.

"Did you come for ice cream too?" Mickey asked, staring curiously at Xavier.

Xavier nodded, his gaze moving to the woman standing nearby - Ava, he assumed. She watched the interaction with a mixture of surprise and wariness.

"I thought I'd treat myself after a long day," Xavier explained, addressing the children and Ava. "It's alright?"

Ava hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Of course, Mr. Stone. The kids were just deciding on their flavors."

"Call me Xavier, please," he insisted, then turned his attention back to the twins. "So, what's your poison? Chocolate? Vanilla? Something more sweet?"

Skylar giggled. "Poison? Ice cream isn't poison you fool!"

Xavier chuckled, warmth spreading across his chest at her innocent laugh. "It's just an expression. I was thinking, what's your favorite flavor?"

As the twins engage in a spirited debate about the merits of different flavors of ice cream, Xavier finds himself drawn into their world. He listened intently, asking questions and feigning shock at some of their weirder flavor combinations.

"Do you like sour ice cream?" gasped dramatically when Mickey mentioned it, causing both kids to dissolve into fits of giggles.

Finally, everyone approached the counter. Xavier motioned for the twins to order first and watched in amusement as they stood on tiptoe to peer into the display case.

"I'll have a spin with the unicorn!" Skylar stated, pointing to a pastel-colored mixture swirled with edible glitter.

"And I want the triple blast of chocolate fudge," added Mickey, eyes wide behind his glasses.

Xavier turned to the teenager behind the counter. "Two scoops of each, please. In waffle cones." He winked at the twins. "We can't forget the most important part, can we?"

While the waitstaff prepared their ice cream, Xavier perused the flavors himself. His eyes landed on a familiar favorite. "I'll have a scoop of coffee, please," he said with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

Cones in hand, they made their way to a nearby table. Xavier watched as the twins attacked their ice cream with gusto and their faces were soon smeared with the gooey sweetness. He took a bite and the rich taste of coffee flooded his senses.

He jerked suddenly, the cold intensity taking him by surprise. Mickey, attentive as ever, didn't miss a beat.

"Don't know how to eat ice cream?" the boy teased him, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Xavier laughed and shook his head. "No, no. It's just a moment," he admitted. "The last time I had ice cream was when I was about your age actually. My grandma used to take me every Sunday After Church."

A wistful smile played on his lips as he remembered those days - the feel of his little hand in his grandmother's battered, the way she always let him have an extra scoop "for luck".

Rose Stone was his everything! His mom, dad, nanny everything!

"Where is your grandmother now?" Skylar asked innocently, her ice cream momentarily forgotten.

Xavier's smile faltered slightly. “She… is no longer here,” he said quietly. “But I have wonderful memories of her.

The twins fell silent for a moment as if they felt the weight of his words. Then Mickey said, "We have a grandma too! Grandma Liz. She makes the best cookies!"

Grateful for the change of subject, Xavier leaned in conspiratorially. "Better than ice cream?"

Both children nodded emphatically and launched into a detailed description of Grandma Liz's famous chocolate chip cookies. As they spoke, Xavier found himself mesmerized by their animated expressions, the way Skylar's hands flew when she spoke, the way Mickey's eyes sparkled behind his glasses.

"You know," Mickey said suddenly, puffing out his chest proudly, "I know all the flavors of ice cream. I'm an expert!"

Xavier raised an eyebrow and an idea was born. "Really?" he said with a playful challenge in his voice. "How about we test it?"

Xavier looked at Ava and asked for permission, which she granted with a nod, and approached the counter again. He ordered a variety of small scoops, each with a different flavor, some common and some more exotic.

Xavier returned to the table with his haul and explained the game. "Alright, an ice cream expert," he told Mickey, then included Skylar with a smile, "and an ice cream expert in training. Let's see if you can guess the flavors…blindfolded!"

The twins' eyes lit up with excitement. Ava provided a clean tissue for him to use as a makeshift blindfold and the game began.

Xavier watched in amazement as the children correctly distinguished flavor after flavor. From classic vanilla to more unusual options like lavender honey, their palates have proven to be impressively demanding.

"Mmm… this is definitely a strawberry!" Skylar stated confidently, her blindfolded face scrunched up in concentration.

"And this… oh! That's a weird apple pie, isn't it?" Mickey uttered, he used his tongue to lick a stray drop.

When they finished their little game, the twins had correctly named more than ten different flavors of ice cream. Which makes Xavier amazed, he feels something deep in him. Something like pride.

Isabella did great.

"You two really are experts," he admitted, clapping softly. "I am impressed." He uttered.

The twins beamed at the praise, their earlier shyness towards Xavier completely forgotten.

The twins told Xavier about their favorite flavors, and Xavier felt at ease.

He never thought kids were blessings. And wish the moment would last forever.

Just then Mickey's eye shown with eagerness and mischief. The little boy whispered something to his twin sister who giggled and nodded in agreement. Xavier looks at them knowing they are up to something.

"Mum's partner," Mickey said, trying to sound innocent and failing miserably, "Now that we've guessed all the flavors, don't you think it's your turn?"

Skylar chimed in, "Yeah! We even picked the perfect flavor for you!"

Xavier already knows they are up to something but he agreed. "Okay," he answered, "but I have the right to spit it out if it gets too bad."

"Yes." The twins yelled running to the ice cream woman, they whispered to the staff as they giggled silently.

Minutes later they came back and handed Xavier a small cup of what looked like... green ice cream?

"Close your eyes and try it!" Skylar insisted, practically jumping with anticipation.

Xavier agreed, closing his eyes and taking a small spoonful of the green ice cream.

The moment his tongue licks the ice cream, making a funny face. Which made the twins burst in laughter.

"What on Earth...?" he spluttered, opening his eyes to see the twins doubled over with laughter. "What is it?"