“You're back, huh?" he said, addressing them.

Leonel quickly set aside his magazine and stood up. “Yes!"

Waylen removed his coat, which Leonel smoothly took to place on the sofa. Waylen, with an easy smile, teased, “Hey, when did you become so thoughtful?"

Rena cast a glance his way, chiding, “Leonel's just returned. Let's not dredge up past mistakes."

Although Waylen kept smiling, a hint of his fury from meeting Kenneth lingered in his expression, a detail only Rena, being so close to him, could pick up on.

Rena's eyes flickered with realization about where he might have been, but she chose to remain silent.

Waylen settled down, sipped some tea, and then declared, "Time to eat!"

Elva, their little daughter, clung to his arm. "Dad, I'm so hungry!

You were gone all day, and Mom thought you might've found yourself another woman!"

Gently patting her head, Waylen seated her beside him for dinner, with Leonel on his other side.

Leonel seemed a bit uneasy.

Uncorking a prized bottle of liquor, Waylen encouraged, “Let's have a drink."

Rena, noticing the generous pours, cautioned, “It's just an ordinary day. Go easy on the drink."

As Waylen filled a glass for Leonel too, he playfully retorted to his wife, “Who says it's not special? Maybe I did find myself another woman."

Rena filled Waylen's cup herself.

“Then you really should drink up," she retorted.

Waylen, his face flushing, turned to his children. "See how your mother fusses over me? She's always keeping an eye on me. That's what it's like being married to a successful man," he joked.

As Rena served him food, she playfully shushed him.

Waylen was eager to share a drink with Leonel. “You've been abroad for so long, probably used to beers or something. I wonder how you'll handle this Liquor," he challenged.

Leonel responded by taking a small sip.