Chapter 208
Even during the Christmas holiday, heirs like Anabel and Alexander remained busy, with social obligations seamlessly woven into their lives.
Only families like the Carter family could truly kick back and relax, free from the burdens of family visits, indulging in whatever leisure activities they chose. Arthur and Alaric made time every day to teach Maria how to drive, practicing in the parking lot of their community with the car Avery had given Arthur.
They kept the speed excruciatingly low; one brother sat in the passenger seat, guiding Maria, while the other patrolled the area, ensuring that no pets or kids wandered in and caused an accident. Fortunately, the parking lot was mostly empty, with hardly a car in sight.
However, it quickly became evident that Maria wasn’t a natural behind the wheel. After several days of lessons, she could barely manage to crawl along, and it seemed unlikely she’d pass the driving test without failing at least four or five times. Alaric ruffled her hair, speaking earnestly. "Maria, this just proves you’re not cut out to be a driver; you’re meant to have someone else chauffeur you around. Keep at it, and one day you’ll have your car and driver." Maria could only respond with a resigned sigh. "Thanks for the pep talk, Alaric."
When they weren’t out practicing, brothers among them—Brandon often found himself engaged—the Carter boys, Zayn, Harry, and Rufus—often found themselves in the boxing ring, throwing punches and getting in some serious practice, while the rest of the crew cheered them on from the sidelines, shouting encouragement.
Brandon was also frequently engrossed in deep conversations with Penny and Nickle, as the three seemed to connect remarkably well.
Others from the V Group took people out for basketball or tennis. After burning off energy, they’d return for snacks and drinks, wrapping up their evenings with games.
Meanwhile, Wesley and Claire were frequently seen hand in hand, though no one really knew where they kept slipping off to—most likely off chasing some youthful romance. Avery, on the other hand, was usually glued to her computer, typing away, only breaking away to take her grandmother for leisurely walks.
By the fourth day of the Christmas celebrations, the folks from V Group were gearing up to head home.