Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

It was the third day of the holiday. Trevon, Natalie, Olivia, and Jasper arrived early at the cemetery, waiting for the members of the Turner family. They arrived early and cleared the weeds around the cemetery. The two children were diligent, working together, and neither Olivia nor Jasper was idle. Jasper also wiped clean the tombstones of Barron, Lena, and Jenny. He wiped them repeatedly, over and over, until he reached out to touch them, and his fingertips encountered no dust. Only then did he stop.

"Jasper, Olivia. Take a break," Natalie said, placing the flowers and sfruit baskets in front of the tombstones.

Next to Barron's tombstone, there was an additional black one. After Harry's death, Natalie and Trevon went to collect his ashes. Since Harry was Barron's son, they decided to bury him not far away from Barron's resting place.

Tucker took away Elena's ashes and buried them in a place unknown to others. Every year, he, along with his wife and daughter, visited the cemetery where Elena had been buried. He also deliberately chose a different tto pay respects to Barron here. Natalie understood her brother's actions. Faced with their uncle, Tucker did not know what to say, so he simply avoided the tfor visiting the cemetery. The disputes among the elders had nothing to do with the young generation. Natalie stopped pondering and spoke up, "Cover and pay your respect to your great-grandfather." The two children responded, "Sure." They clasped their hands together praying, bowed, and then turned back to their original positions.

Soon, the footsteps of several people were heard. Looking over to the source of the sound, it was the Turner family. Natalie stood up and called out to the approaching people, "Hello, you guys are here. George has grown so much taller. It hasn't been long since we last met." Natalie smiled, patting George's shoulder, who was taller than herself.

The Turner family were all dressed in formal black attire. They were here to pay their respects to the deceased family members. In the era of the internet, during this kind of occasion, many young people could be seen either listening to music with headphones or engrossed in short videos and playing games with their phones. It was common to see individuals extravagantly dressed. Instead of showing respect, it looked as if they were at the cemetery to make a show, merely going through the motions.

At this moment, Christina and Joseph were wearing matching suits, and even George was wearing the same.

George's height was the sas Joseph's, with facial features resembling Christina's. The aesthetic strengths of the couple converged on their child's appearance.

George's personality was like Joseph's. He was quiet, emotionally stable, and usually liked to dress casually. The politeness of all the children was excellent. They greeted the elders, and then the three children gathered to chat, with Olivia mostly doing the talking while the other two listened.

Daniel apologized, saying, "We planned the timing carefully, but ended up stuck in traffic. This is something that can't be accurately predicted. We'll have to leave even earlier next year." Trevon comforted him, saying, "We just arrived a little while ago." However, Emma glanced around at the surroundings and knew Trevon was lying. She speculated the Wilsons were at least an hour early and spoke softly, "We just cto pay respects. Sorry that we did not help much." Natalie replied, "Grandpa and Lena know you cfar away just to see them. They would surely be happy about it." Christina squatted down to help take the things from Natalie's hand and arrange the flowers they brought. She leaned over and whispered to Natalie, "Jasper is just a copy of Trevon." "George is a replica of Joseph, handsome, and has grown as tall as Joseph," said Natalie.

Christina smiled. She could not find any faults with her son. He hadn't caused her any worries from childhood to adulthood.

"Christina, you should have had another child at that time," Natalie commented.

"Joseph said one is enough. Don't be fooled by Joseph's gentle appearance. He can be quite assertive in saspects, like childbirth. However, | also think one is perfect. | don't want him to worry too much," said Christina.

Joseph squatted down, knocked on Natalie's head gently, and said in a gentle tone, "Are you trying to deceive Christina into having a second child? I'm not young anymore. Should I still have another kid?" Natalie laughed as she replied, "It's not like that. | know your thoughts. It was just a joke with Christina." Daniel and Emma laughed while watching Joseph and Natalie playfully. As cousins, as long as their relationship was good, Joseph and Natalie could play around no matter their age.

Jasper and Olivia paid their respects in front of the tombstone for about ten minutes. When George saw them finished, he also went and showed his condolence.

The Turner family left without offering any condolences to Harry, not even a glance. Sthings and speople could find solace, while others could not. To Daniel, the harm and plot resulting in his sister's death caused by Harry were unforgivable. Even if he were to step into the coffin, forgiveness would be unattainable for him. In the end, only the children called Harry "Grandpa." As for Natalie and Trevon, they just offered their condolences without saying a word. Natalie could not remember how she used to address Harry as "Dad"; it felt too distant.

An hour later, the group left and headed to the Lopez family's cemetery. In the afternoon, the Turner family went to the Yamin family's cemetery without taking a break, very busy.

Around three o'clock, they arrived at Athana Airport. The Wilsons, the Roberts, and the Yamins bid farewell to the Turner family. The children said goodbye to George, and Olivia invited him, saying, "George, cover during the summer vacation." George replied, "Sure." He had already discussed with his parents about staying in Athana for the summer vacation, and they had agreed.

Joseph smiled at the affectionate group of children. "Mainly, George has to go to school tomorrow; otherwise, he could stay. There will be plenty of opportunities, and during the summer vacation, you can all cto Sapphire City to play." After saying that, he patted his son's shoulder.

Ava hugged Emma for a while and then hugged Daniel with reluctance. "Goodbye, Mom and Dad." Daniel and Emma were also reluctant to part with their daughter. They helped her tidy her hair. "Call Mom and Dad if you need anything." Grace also invited Daniel and Emma. "Cover during the summer vacation. William has been looking forward to playing chess with you." Upon hearing this, Charlie interjected, "This won't work. | talked to Daniel about playing chess this afternoon. You need to take turns; there has to be an order. You're behind; you'll have to wait in line at the back." He was addressing this to William. Everyone laughed as they watched the two old men banter, both well over a hundred years old combined.

William chuckled generously, saying, "Look at you. How petty. | am a decent man, never cutting in line. Right? Nona, Cyril." Cyril did not answer, just shrugged. It was clear he did not agree. Nona sweetly held his grandmother's wrist and replied, "Yes, indeed." Caleb said, "Next tyou cto our place accept our hospitality. | apologize for not taking better care of you this time." Rachel smiled at Emma, also extending an invitation.

Daniel instantly beca popular chess companion. "Next time, we must arrange it. Let's go. Don't just stand there." Frank embraced Ava, bidding farewell, saying, "Daniel, Emma, and Joseph. | will take good care of Ava." Daniel and Emma nodded, Ava smiled, and Christina said, "Daniel, Emma. You should go back. The two kids are still studying at home." Leia did not come. During the three-day holiday, she and Stella held their ground, still working hard with endless tasks.

After bidding farewell for a few more minutes, the Turner family boarded the plane. Their bodyguards followed behind, and as the plane took off and soared into the clouds, the group left the airport only when the aircraft was no longer visible.

In the parking lot, several cars were parked side by side. Caleb drove and took Rachel back, waving at everyone.

"We'll be leaving now." The elders nodded. Charlie raised an eyebrow at William, saying, "Let's go. There are still two young ones at hstruggling. | have to look after them for Leia." Upon hearing Charlie's statement, William's confidence was not very high at the moment, mainly because one of his grandsons’ grades were not very good. "Okay, let's go. Nona's grades don't need extra tutoring at all, saving money and still ranking first in the grade." If Cyril were not present, Charlie would surely ask William if Cyril was also ranked first in the grade. However, with Cyril present, Charlie did give sface to the young man. Therefore, Charlie just smiled without paying attention to William's showing off. He got into the driver's seat and drove away from the airport, carrying Angie.

Grace glanced at the children. "Nona, Cyril. Are you going back with Grandpa and me, or are you going to stay to play with Olivia and Jasper?" Nona glanced at Frank, who nodded. Then Frank asked Cyril, "Is your homework done?" Cyril replied, "Done." Ava did not quite believe him. Every tCyril claimed to have finished his homework, the next day, the teacher would always point out sassignments he had not completed. So she asked again, "Are you sure you checked?" The meaning of this was clear. Ava gave her son a look, meaning if you lied, your dad would be angry.

After scontemplation, Cyril repeated, "I'm sure | finished." Seeing Cyril say this, Grace knew that the child planned to go out to play. "We'll leave first." Natalie bid farewell. "Goodbye, William and Grace." Olivia also followed, saying, "Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, goodbye." William and Grace responded in unison, "Goodbye." With two cars remaining, Trevon looked at his son and then at the cars, asking, "Shall | take you to the destination, or will you drive yourself?" Jasper, hands in his pockets, his windbreaker swaying with the breeze, had an indifferent attitude, replying, "You go ahead. I'll catch a cab with Olivia and the others." Frank sneered, saying, "Your dad's car is too old-fashioned. You can take my car. Have your dad drop it off tomorrow." Trevon glanced at Frank, extremely unwilling. "I'm not free. If you lend it out, you'll cget it yourself." Frank shrugged his shoulders and did not argue with him. "Alright. I'll have Benjamin cand get it." With that, he threw his car key to Jasper. Today, Frank drove a handsoff-road vehicle, the one that Ava liked, while Trevon drove a recently acquired Bentley. Jasper caught the keys in the air, opened the driver's door without hesitation, and sat inside. Olivia took the front passenger seat, while Nona and Cyril sat in the back.

Starting the car, and preparing to leave, Jasper opened the window and said in a casual tone, "Mom, we won't be having dinner at home." Frank tongue-in-cheekly smiled as he said to Trevon, "He's just like you. Let's go, Trevon." With that, he grabbed Ava's hand and opened the door of the Bentley, sitting inside with her.

Trevon laughed and scolded, "You brat. You ignored me. Don't you need to tellas well before you leave?" Natalie followed with a laugh. "At most, let Jasper call you 'Dad' a few more times when he comes back in the evening. Usually, it's Mom and | arrange the kids' dinner. Is it necessary to inform you? Let's go." Trevon, pushed into the car, looked into the rearview mirror after getting in. He saw Frank, who was sitting lazily in the back, playing with his wife's fingers. Disdainfully, Trevon asked, "To the company?" "Do | still need to take your car if | am going home?" Frank retorted.

Whether it was Ava or Natalie, they were accustomed to the way the two of them got along. No one intervened; they just listened with their ears.

Trevon said, "It's a free ride, so be a bit more polite to me. By the way, how can you be a good dad without buttering up Jim? His wife is the homeroom teacher of the first class in ninth grade." Ava and Frank's faces showed no surprise. Apparently, they had known about it for a long time. Frank sneered and said, "You're outdated. I've known since my son entered this class." At this, Trevon raised an eyebrow, not surprised at all. "So calm. Are you really planning to raise him freely?" Frank did not answer how he planned to raise Cyril. He just expressed his own opinion, "Jim's wife is too gentle." Deep in his mind, he thought, 'Not fierce enough to control my son.' Natalie agreed with this point. Having seen Jim's wife a few times, she was always soft-spoken and gentle. Cyril was indeed not feeling intimidated by her.

As for Ava, she answered Trevon's question directly, "Trevon, | have already formulated a study plan for Cyril with Frank." Natalie remained silent as she thought, 'Cyril's good days are probably coming to an end.’ Trevon just smiled and didn't press further on what the plan was.

Ava was quite concerned about her son's study performance. Given Harper's grades, it seemed unlikely he would get into university this year. Edward and Rose were already planning to have Harper repeat a year. Ava and Frank did not want Cyril to follow Harper's path and planned to help him in advance.