The Way Back Home's

Maple Bars

Seeing uncle gawking, Milo also chimed, “Libby is not separated from his doll, uncle. Don't take heart. Farrell has bought a lot of new dolls. None of Libby ever took a walk. Toto is still her favorite. Let it go.”

Uncle could only nod. “Ya, yes. Uncle understands. But, this is still an uncle's gift to you. Don't forget to bring, yes.”

Replace Libby who nodded.

On the table is petit four. They filled a three-level cake rack. Some have fruit at the top, some are covered in chocolate, some are sprinkled with cheese, some contain vla, and many more. As a friend of the dish, there is a teapot containing caramel-scented tea complete with jars of milk and sugar.

“So, tell me about your daily life,” pinta uncle while pouring tea for Farrell and Libby. “Milo just finished the story about his victory at the national level. I thought it was quite interesting.” Milo smiled at the uncle while feeding the cheese cake into his mouth. Uncle turned to Farrell, “What about you, Farrell? He said you were teaching at school. Teacher, eh?”

“Yes, I teach in elementary school. I have a friend who is a teacher there. He said the school was in need of help because there were some teachers who resigned last semester So, I helped there while waiting for the scholarship process to be completed.”

“Ah, finally... You so apply for the master study program?”

Not yet able to answer, Milo returned to chiming. This time was preceded by a deliberate cough. “Ehem. In school.”

“Hoooo... So, your teacher's friend is a girl, eh?”

Farrell rolled his eyeballs. “Milo, you know he's a boy. Her name is Maple, men are not women. You've met him.”

“Just kidding. Blame his name.”

“Ah, it reminds me something.” Uncle glanced at the bar table and called, “Remy!”

The young man, Remy, took a deep breath before exiting behind the bar table. His stature was small, his cheeks were mottled. Just like Emily and William, Remy also wore a neon green suit without a tie. His hands clenched tightly as he walked closer. While standing next to uncle, he again took a deep breath before speaking. “Yes, sir Albert? Do you need anything?”

Uncle started by introducing him, “Kids, this is Remy. Chef and in charge of the restaurant. Whenever you feel hungry, just come to her. He can make anything.  I seriously. Just say it.” Only then did he look at Remy. “Remy, do you still have a chocolate maple bar in the fridge? Bring here. Let these kids taste it.”

“Ba— Good, sir. Uh... I mean.. Good, Mr.”

After Remy left, the conversation continued.

“Uncle, why does the window here have two covers?” Farrell asked after noticing that every window in the inn had thick wooden shutters on the outside after the glass shutters. While at home, they only have glass shutters. Actually Farrell already had a guess that this was related to the storm, he just wanted to hear an excuse directly from uncle.

“We always prepare for the worst, Farrell.”

“To withstand a storm?” guess Libby while taking the cake with the clamp. “It looks like we went through a blizzard earlier when I slept. Farrell's car full of snow.”

“Wolf?” milo said after remembering the article he read last night. His words made Libby look at him with furrowed brows. “I heard around here many wolves.”

Uncle chuckles. “Where did you hear that? There's no wolf here, Milo. If there's a wolf, we won't get any guests.”

“By the way, uncle, I haven't seen a single guest here,” Milo said. “Isn't this the holiday season? I thought the inn would be crowded.”

“Oh? They're skiing? I would love to try it!”

“I have to let you down about that. Too bad, Milo, we've closed the track for a long time. Too many treatments. Ribet.” Uncle turned his head when Remy came out of the kitchen behind the bar counter. “Ah, that's it! Chocolate maple bars! Let's see how these kids react to your latest innovation, Remy. They must have been surprised” Uncle blinked at the chef.

Remy put the stainless steel tray in the center of the table. There's a neatly arranged brown-coated square white bar cut in there. Milo took one and put the whole thing directly in his mouth. Shortly after, he showed both his thumbs. Libby also ate it, chewing while nodding. But, Farrell flinching.

“What are the ingredients?” ask Farrell.

“Ba— Ba— What material?” Remy gasps when Farrell asks him.

“Farrell, the secret chef,” says uncle.

Farrell shook his head. “I don't intend to replicate the recipe, uncle. But, I'm allergic to coconut and it looks like—”

Milo muttered with his mouth full but clenched. After swallowing everything she just spoke again, “True, right! There is a coconut flavor in the white layer. Too bad, you can't seem to eat this. Though delicious, you know.” Milo smiled wryly at his brother.

“Thank you for the attention, but I don't want my vacation filled with hives. So I ate something else. Sorry, yes,” he said as he glanced at Remy. Beyond Farrell's expectations, Remy breathed a sigh of relief instead. His face lowered, his gaze attached to Farrell's plate still empty. “I tried fruit tart only,” said Farrell again while taking his first cake.

“Remy, remember that! Without coconuts! Don't let you make my nephew sick. Create a safe menu!” pinta uncle.

“Hah? Ha— Huh? I— I— Yes.” Remy left them.

Milo takes next bar, “Cute stuttering waitress.”

Uncle shrugs. “Yes. I wish I could be a better and more mature person. He was seventeen. Two years older than you.”

“Really? Only seventeen years old can you make a good cake like this? She's great.” Milo. “Oh, yes, uncle. Is there wifi here? I want to play online games and browse. But no signal here.”

Uncle laughed instead. “Yeah, today's children. Indeed there is no signal that can get here, Milo. Including TV signals. If you need to call out, you can use the phone at the reception desk. This place is perfect for seeking tranquility.”

Milo's mouth opened to hear the answer. “I need internet not phone.”

Libby nudged Milo's arm. “At least they still have electricity and phone network.”

“That sounds awful in my ear. What can we do here without signal, without TV, without games, without internet, even without skiing?”

“Welcome to my childhood,”sahut Farrell. “You can play hide and seek or get around.”

“Ya!” uncle agreed with Farrell. “There are many wonders scattered in this inn. You just need to open your eyes wide and observe the sekelling. Just try it, I'm sure you'll be blown away.”