BXBX NOVEL Chapter 179: Comfort
The group of friends nodded in unity, ready to pour their emotions into the culinary task at hand. Kara paced around the kitchen, inspecting the ingredients with a discerning eye. She wasn\'t the perfect person for this job, but she had some culinary experience, especially with the things that Garnt liked because she knew that, as a woman, one of her best methods to enchant Garnt was through his belly.
"Garnt loves a good feast, so let\'s start with his ultimate comfort food – beef stew. It has to be hearty, rich, and filled with warmth. Let\'s make it reminiscent of home," Kara instructed his voice a mix of authority and tenderness.
A girl, holding a ladle, inquired, "Are there any special ingredients, Kara?"
Kara grinned, "Add a dash of love and don\'t forget the secret ingredient – the love we share with Garnt. Now, for a side, let\'s go with garlic mashed potatoes. Creamy and flavorful, just the way he likes them."
As the friends worked together, chopping vegetables and stirring pots, Kara lightened the mood with tales of Garnt\'s adventures from their childhood and shared laughter. The kitchen became a hub of warmth and camaraderie, a stark contrast to the earlier somber atmosphere.
After a whirlwind of activity, the final spread was ready. The beef stew simmered in a pot, its inviting aroma filling the air. Garlic mashed potatoes adorned a platter, and the table was set with care.
Kara surveyed the scene with satisfaction, "This, my friends, is a feast fit for Garnt. Let\'s hope it brings a smile to his face and soothes his heart. Now, let\'s call him in."
The aroma of the hearty feast drew Garnt\'s attention, and as he entered the room, he was not alone. Guni, Aran, and Mera followed closely behind him, their eyes widening with anticipation as they caught the scent of the delicious dishes laid out before them.
Garnt looked at the spread and then at the group of women who had worked tirelessly to create this culinary masterpiece. Kara, with Guni, comfortably settled in her lap, stood as a leader among them. Garnt smiled, appreciating the effort they had put into making this special meal for him.
"You all didn\'t have to go through so much trouble," Garnt said, his eyes reflecting gratitude. "But I won\'t say no to a feast like this. Please, sit down, everyone. Let\'s enjoy this together."
The women hesitated, glancing at each other, unsure of their place. But Garnt gestured for them to join, insisting they sit with him. Kara, still holding Guni, settled next to Garnt. The other women found places around the table, creating a circle of camaraderie.
As they sat down, Guni couldn\'t contain his excitement, "Dad, it smells so good! Can we start eating now?"
Garnt chuckled, ruffling Guni\'s hair, "Of course, Guni. Dig in." The children wasted no time filling their plates, their eyes gleaming with joy.
Taking a spoonful of the beef stew, Garnt closed his eyes, savouring the flavours. "This is incredible," he complimented, looking at the group with genuine appreciation. Guni joined in, "Yeah, it\'s really tasty! Good job, everyone!"
The women blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and happiness at being praised by their idol and his children. Garnt continued to express his delight between bites, engaging in lively conversation with everyone at the table.
Kara, seeing the children enjoying the meal, felt a warmth in her heart. She exchanged glances with the other women, sharing a silent understanding of the satisfaction their efforts had brought. As they laughed and chatted, the sombre atmosphere that had surrounded Garnt began to lift.
Garnt, with a full heart and a full stomach, looked at the group with gratitude, "Thank you all. This means more to me than you can imagine. And thank you, Kara, for taking charge. I appreciate it."
Kara smiled, feeling a sense of fulfilment, "It was the least we could do, Garnt. We\'re here for you."
He quickly realized what this was about and a wry smile came to his face, but then he looked around for a few girls that he didn\'t see. "Where\'s Ayra, Rona and Unami?" He asked causing Kara to answer him.
"They are busy, Garnt. Mother and Rona are preparing the warriors so none of them will die when we have to face a battle and Unami is out there hunting so we won\'t run out of food,"
Kara wanted to convey that she was also offering her support, ensuring that Garnt wouldn\'t misunderstand her as being lazy. However, he abruptly rose from his chair with a serious expression, expressing gratitude to all the girls.
"Girls, I think it\'s time for me to get back to work. I\'m thankful for all of this and once all these problems are solved, I will definitely reward all of you," Garnt said.
Kara, noticing the dark bags under his eyes, recognized his need for some rest. She discreetly whispered some suggestions to Guni, who promptly decided to implement them.
Guni, with her big innocent eyes, looked up at Garnt, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "Dad, you look really tired. Why don\'t you rest for a while? You can work after a good sleep."
Garnt chuckled, tousling Guni\'s hair, "Oh, sweetheart, I\'m fine. No need to worry about me."
Guni pouted, her eyes widening in an attempt to look extra adorable. "But Dad, if you don\'t rest, I won\'t play with you ever again. Promise!"
Garnt raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden seriousness in Guni\'s tone. "You wouldn\'t do that, would you?"
Guni nodded solemnly, "I mean it, Dad. You need to take care of yourself too."
Garnt exchanged glances with the other children who had gathered around, clearly on Guni\'s side. Aran chimed in, "Yeah, Father, we want you to be strong and healthy!"
Guni added, "And I have a surprise for you, but you have to rest first!"
Garnt couldn\'t help but smile at the earnestness of his children. "A surprise, huh? Well, I guess a little rest won\'t hurt."
Guni beamed, grabbing Garnt\'s hand, "Yay! Follow us, Dad!"
As the trio led Garnt towards Guni\'s room, Kara watched from a distance, a satisfied grin on her face. She exchanged a silent nod with the other women, acknowledging the success of their plan.
But she also looked rather guilty because they only got a single word of thank you from Garnt, but when she looked at them, Kara started to realise that a single word was all they needed since all of them looked like girls in love.
"*Tsk, my popular lover! What\'s with his charm on these girls?" She muttered to herself and followed Guni and Garnt.
Once inside Guni\'s room, the children excitedly showed Garnt a makeshift bed they had prepared for him. Soft cushions and blankets adorned the floor, creating a cosy spot for him to rest.
"See, Dad? It\'s so comfy! Lie down and close your eyes," Guni insisted, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Garnt hesitated, still not fully convinced. "I appreciate this, but there\'s so much to do, and I—"
Guni interrupted, "No \'buts,\' Dad. We want you to rest, and then we\'ll show you the surprise. Promise you\'ll close your eyes?"
Garnt sighed, unable to resist the adorable persistence of his children. "Fine, I\'ll rest for a bit. But only because you three are making such a fuss."
As Garnt lay down, the children surrounded him, ensuring he was comfortable. Guni, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, whispered something to Aran and Mera. The two nodded and quietly left the room.
Kara, who had been discreetly watching, gave Guni an approving thumbs-up through the slightly opened door. Guni giggled, her plan unfolding as intended.
But Aran and Mera had a question they wanted to ask their elder sister. "Guni, what\'s the surprise that you talked about?"
Guni looked confused but then remembered she had said something like that. "I don\'t know. My sister said she had one, so I just played along. Look, she is going to her room. Our job is done here, so let\'s go and help others with work."
Meanwhile, In Guni\'s room, Kara kept looking at Garnt who had already fallen asleep because of how tired he was and smiled. "Not sleepy, my ass! You were on the verge of fainting. Big idiot!"
She kept looking at his face, but suddenly she took a step and got onto the bed and hugged Garnt from behind while sharing her warmth with his body.
"I will be always with you. Don\'t worry, just sleep my darling," She muttered and both of them slept side by side wrapped in the warmth of the dimly lit room.