Chapter 151: The Past Can't Be Reclaimed
The next morning, the whole family set out for brunch.
Except for one unfortunate high school student who only got a ride to campus—no brunch for him.
"Why didn't we do brunch yesterday when I had the day off, but now that it's Monday and I have school, that's when you all decide to go? Are you deliberately abandoning me?" Lucas complained from the passenger seat. He was deeply offended! This was an outrage!
Sophia glanced at him with amusement. "Relax, we'll get you a to-go order and drop it off at school. You won't miss out."
Lucas brightened immediately. "Sophia, I knew you loved me the most!"
"You're getting smoother with words as you get older. Who taught you that?"
"Michael did."
Sophia fell silent, unable to argue. Michael really did talk to her like that.
The sports car soon pulled up in front of Oakwood High School. Lucas unbuckled his seatbelt and said cheerfully, "Sophia, make sure to get me plenty, okay?"
Sophia gave him an exasperated look. "Got it. Now get to class."
" see you later, Sophia!" Lucas hopped out of the car, all smiles.
Sophia watched as he headed toward the building. A few guys glanced in their direction, then hurried to catch up with Lucas, throwing their arms around his shoulders.
Classmates, apparently.
The Johnson genes were undeniably strong—Lucas was clearly one of the popular kids at school now, drawing more than a few admiring glances from passing girls.
Sophia didn't linger. She drove off to meet the rest of the family at the brunch spot.
The brunch turned out to be ridiculously upscale—a single order of Eggs Benedict cost over twenty dollars.
But money wasn't a concern anymore. They could afford to indulge in whatever they wanted.
Eggs Benedict, French toast, waffles, bacon, sausage, steak—everything came in double portions.
Then there were the famous pancakes, fluffy and sweet, drizzled with maple syrup. Delicious.
Croissant sandwiches, chicken and waffles, blueberry muffins—all excellent.
Five people, plus a double order to-go for Lucas, and the bill came to over five hundred dollars.
"Splurging like this once in a while really isn't so bad!" Ray patted his full stomach, his smile deepening the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes.
James nodded in agreement. It had been a satisfying meal. He turned to Sophia. "Sophia, this is the only brunch place within thirty miles, and business is booming. Ever think about adding brunch service at Celestial Peak Hotel?"
Sophia sipped her coffee and considered it for a moment before replying calmly, "Celestial Peak has its own specialty menu, but I could consider opening a separate location."
Evelyn was packing up two to-go boxes for Lucas, eyeing the containers that were nearly bursting. "Let Lucas try it first. If he loves it too, maybe Sophia really will open one."
"That sounds like a hassle, though. You'd have to bring in chefs from the West Coast, and if they're relocating cross-state, you'd have to pay them premium salaries. The overhead would be huge," Ray said, waving a dismissive hand.
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Dad, think bigger. I don't necessarily have to recruit from the West Coast—I could poach a few people from right here. Or better yet, just buy this place outright."
James thought it over. "Would an acquisition be easier? Can I buy in as a partner?"
Mary couldn't help but laugh. "You two are something else. Just a minute ago, you were calling five hundred dollars 'an occasional splurge,' and now you're already planning to drop a few million on opening a restaurant?"
How did a simple family brunch turn into a business strategy session?
Now that the family's financial situation had improved and everyone had carved out some success in their respective fields, their conversations had matured accordingly. But in the process, they'd lost some of the easygoing warmth they used to have.
Lately, Mary sometimes felt like she didn't have much to contribute to conversations with her husband and children. Sure, her spa business had expanded to multiple locations, but she'd hired experienced managers to run things—she just checked the books occasionally.
So she still didn't understand much about business.
On top of that, she was a homebody at heart. She wasn't used to this busy lifestyle, where she spent more time with employees than with her own family.
She preferred the old days, when she was a stay-at-home mom, managing the household and cooking three meals a day for everyone.
Back then, when they came home from work or school, she'd have hot, delicious food waiting for them. That gave her far more satisfaction than watching her social media follower count climb.
But Mary kept these thoughts to herself, buried deep.
She knew her husband and children were all in the middle of building their careers. Everyone wanted to move up in the world. If she voiced these feelings, they'd drop everything to come home early every night just to spend time with her.
That would only add pressure to their lives.
If they wanted the family to keep improving, the past couldn't be reclaimed.
James, ever perceptive, caught the brief flicker of loneliness in his mother's eyes. He thought for a moment and quickly understood what was bothering her.
After considering a solution, he spoke up. "You know, we've never actually taken a family trip together. How about we all clear our schedules for Thanksgiving break? Lucas will be off school too. We could do a road trip."
The suggestion came out of nowhere. Everyone froze.
In the past, they would have agreed enthusiastically and immediately started discussing which city to visit, what to pack, which car to take, and who'd handle the planning.
But now, they fell into an uncertain silence.
Sophia found it odd. Once the kidnapping case was resolved, everyone's work would resume. James had just won an award—he'd be flooded with new projects after this. He wouldn't have time for a vacation.
Why would he suggest this?
She looked over at James and caught the faint smile in his eyes. Understanding dawned. She lowered her gaze thoughtfully, then said, "I'll do my best to clear the entire Thanksgiving week."
If the busiest person was willing to commit, Ray and Evelyn started to seriously consider it. Gradually, they all caught on to what James was really trying to do.
Ray thumped his chest. "I'm in! We're making good money now—it's high time we took a family trip and enjoyed life a little!"
Evelyn nodded. "I'll save up my vacation days. As long as nothing urgent comes up, I can go."