Granger had just hung up the phone when Daisy came running over, clutching a smallntern. "Uncle, I want to video call Minnie!"


    Granger hesitated for a moment before agreeing, "Alright."


    The video call connected quickly, and Jasmine appeared on the other end.


    As soon as Jasmine answered, Daisy excitedly eximed, "Minnie, look! Myntern!"


    Concerned that Jasmine might not get a good view over the video, Daisy asked Granger to hold the phone while she stepped back a bit further to show off the entirentern.


    They were in a small garden, and the dim lighting made the glowingntern look even more magical.


    Jasmine watched, a familiar feeling tugging at her memory. Daisy returned, her eyes shining. "This was a Halloween gift from my aunt. Isn''t it pretty and cute?"


    Jasmine couldn''t remember much from a few years back, but seeing Daisy with thentern brought back some vague memories. "It is really pretty and cute," she agreed, pausing before adding, "I think I might have yed with something like that once." "Really? Don''t you have one now?" Daisy asked.


    Jasmine shook her head, "No, I don''t."


    The idea of running around the garden at night with antern seemed like so much fun. She couldn''t resist saying, "I''ll go ask Dad to get me one! Don''t hang up; we''ll chat again soon."


    Before Daisy could respond, Jasmine was already dashing upstairs, phone in hand.


    On New Year''s Eve, the Henderson family would have a few extended rtives over to celebrate.


    Thorne was mingling when Jasmine came running up to him. Excusing himself from the conversation, he picked her up and moved to a quieter spot. "What''s up, sweetheart?" "Aunt Daisy gave Daisy antern, and I want one too."


    "Antern?" Thorne asked, puzzled.


    "Not the ones we hang on the porch for Halloween," Jasmine rified, showing Daisy on the phone again. "Daisy, show my dad thentern."


    "Okay," Daisy replied, stepping back to reveal the wholentern.


    Thorne looked at it and said to Daisy through the video, "Got it, thanks, Daisy."


    "You''re wee," Daisy chirped.


    Turning to Granger, who was holding the phone, Thorne asked, "Got any ns forter?"


    Granger paused before replying, "I might head out for New Year''s Eve celebrations. How about you?"


    "I''ll be heading outter too," Thorne replied.


    Granger had a hunch. Given the special day, Thorne would likely be seeking out Vesta.


    Granger didn''t pry further and instead shifted the conversation, "Were you busy earlier?"


    "Yeah, we still have guests at the house," Thorne said.


    Being the head of the Henderson family meant Thorne had to y host, even during the holidays. Granger understood. "Alright, I''ll let you get back to it," Granger said.


    15:21


    Before handing the phone back to Jasmine, Thorne paused and smiled, "Happy New Year."


    "Happy New Year," Jasmine echoed.


    Thorne returned the phone to Jasmine, promising, "You two go ahead and chat. I''ll have someone get you antern." "Awesome!" Jasmine beamed.


    With that, Thorne walked away, and Granger handed the phone back to Daisy so she could continue her chat with Jasmine.


    When discussing ns earlier, Granger hadn''t asked Thorne where he was heading, just as Thorne hadn''t invited him to join for the New Year''s countdown. Theck of an invite suggested that Thorne intended to spend the evening without any interruptions.