One hour remained until Olivia arrived, and the Hart Estate was already bustling with activity. The first guests began to arrive just as the sun started painting the sky in golden and orange hues. Though we were expecting a large number of people, I never imagined how much chaos Olivia's family would bring. Lindsay and I were at the main entrance, greeting each member with polite smiles while trying to maintain some semblance of order.
The first car to appear was an antique Rolls-Royce driven by an impeccably dressed chauffeur. Out stepped Grandma Gladys, an elegant woman in a long purple dress and a hat adorned with feathers. She approached us with a dignified but curious demeanor.
"So, you're the famous Sack and Lindsay," she said, inspecting us as if we were rare specimens in a museum. "Olivia can't stop talking about you. According to her, you're 'the future of medicine.' Very impressive, though I doubt anyone could surpass Great-Grandfather Harold, who invented something called… what was it? Ah, yes, the 'improved tourniquet.' It saved many soldiers' lives during the war."
Lindsay laughed nervously.
"It's an honor to hear that, Mrs. Hart. We'll try to live up to the family legacy."
Gladys nodded, though she seemed more interested in her gift, which was wrapped in silver paper.
"This is a limited-edition pocket watch. I bought it at a private auction. They say it once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. I've always believed great leaders need reminders of time."
I was left speechless.
"Napoleon? That's… incredible."
"Or extremely fake," Lindsay muttered, covering her mouth to hide her smirk.
Gladys raised an eyebrow.
"Don't be so skeptical, dear. Life without mysteries would be boring."
After bidding us farewell, she left with a dramatic bow before heading toward the cocktail area.
Soon, another car arrived—a classic Cadillac. Out stepped Uncle Bob, a robust man with a gray mustache and a Hawaiian shirt that screamed "permanent vacation." He carried a long box and had a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Sack! Lindsay!" he exclaimed, shaking our hands enthusiastically. "Olivia told me you're brilliant. I hope you also enjoy hearing stories because I have quite a few to share. For example, do you know how I met Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas?"
Before we could respond, he was already deep into a detailed story about how he saved Sinatra from getting lost in a casino after a wild night.
"And then I told him, 'Frank, my friend, you must always follow your intuition.' And you know what he did the next day…"
Lindsay exchanged an amused glance with me.
"Uh, Mr. Hart, what's that you're holding?" she asked, pointing to the box.
Bob blinked, as if just remembering he had something in his hands.
"Oh, right! This is for Olivia. It's a saxophone autographed by Kenny G. I thought it'd be fitting since she loves music as much as I love telling stories."
We thanked him politely as he continued talking, now recounting how he learned to play the saxophone in just three days.
Next to arrive was a black sedan, from which emerged Cousin Jenny, a young woman with round glasses and an academic air. She carried a carefully wrapped rectangular package.
"Hi, I'm Jenny," she said, extending her hand to me. "Olivia mentioned you're very studious, Sack. I'd love to discuss medieval medical advancements with you sometime. It was such a fascinating era, full of innovation and superstition."
"Sure, that'll be interesting," I replied, trying to hide my confusion.
Jenny went on to explain how she'd spent months researching ancient manuscripts to find the perfect gift.
"I bought Olivia an exact replica of Joan of Arc's crown. It's made of pure silver and decorated with sapphires. It represents bravery and leadership—qualities they both share."
Lindsay smiled.
"That sounds like something Olivia will really appreciate."
Jenny nodded solemnly.
"I know. I just hope she doesn't use it to conquer countries. You know, she has that dominant spirit."
We both laughed as Jenny walked away, muttering something about crusades and Templar knights.
A red sports car caught our attention next. Two men stepped out: Uncle Frank, tall and serious, and Cousin Robbie, who seemed to have the same energy as Olivia.
"Hey, guys!" Robbie greeted, high-fiving us. "Hey, did you see Coldplay pass by earlier? What a surprise! I didn't know a famous band would be here."
Frank rolled his eyes.
"Robbie exaggerates. He doesn't even know who Chris Martin is."
Robbie ignored the comment and turned to us curiously.
"How did you manage to get Coldplay? That's epic."
Lindsay smiled proudly.
"We got lucky. We knew this would mean a lot to Olivia, so we contacted them, and well, they agreed to come. Seems they love special causes."
Robbie nodded, impressed.
"Wow, that's amazing. So, what about my gift?" He showed us a customized drone with Olivia's face engraved on it. "I figured it could be used to film important events. Plus, it's cool, right?"
Frank, on the other hand, handed over a small box.
"It's a vintage dice set. Perfect for board games. I know Olivia enjoys friendly competitions."
We thanked them both, though Robbie was already running toward the food area, shouting something about lobster.
Just when we thought we'd seen everything, a transport truck entered the estate. Out stepped Uncle George, accompanied by several workers unloading… a convertible sports car.
"Happy birthday, Olivia!" George shouted from afar. "This baby reaches 200 km/h in under five seconds. Perfect for her adventures!"
Lindsay and I looked at each other, incredulous.
"Do you think Olivia really needs another car?" I whispered.
"Probably not," Lindsay replied, laughing. "But when Olivia drives, she's a walking hazard. Remember that time she almost crashed into a mailbox because she swore it was a 'sudden twist of fate'?"
We both laughed, recalling similar anecdotes. Olivia had a unique driving style—a mix of adrenaline and optimism—that often left everyone's hearts racing.
As I watched Olivia's family interact with one another, I understood why she was so unique. Each member had an extravagant personality, but they all shared genuine love for her. Lindsay and I sat for a moment in silence, observing the commotion.
"I never thought I'd meet so many personalities in one day," I commented, surprised.
Lindsay nodded, smiling.
"It's like each of them represents a different chapter in Olivia's story. It's incredible to see how much they love her."
We stayed silent for a few minutes, simply enjoying the organized chaos that was the Hart family. I knew that when Olivia arrived, all of this would be worth it.