"The sour puss can wait." Carrington said with a dismissed wave at the car. "I don't get to see you guys all the time so it's a special event." Carrington had brought her car too, so they could pile the toys up in her trunk and her brother would be spared the hassle of two young children plus a trunk full of toys. She quickly went over to the car and explained the situation to Reinier.
"Babe...really?" He asked, "I thought you and me were going to go back to the hotel - "
"Your mom wants us to stay with them."
Reinier rolled his eyes. "I thought I was going to get to spend some time with my girl. You've been working so much..."
She gave Reinier a kiss, "I'll make it up to you later." She said, "Pinky promise."
Soon Reinier sped off in her car and the toys were put into the trunk of Jamie's car for the time being. Ada and Finny demanded that their father carry them to the cafe. "Aren't you worried about your car?" Jamie asked his sister as they walked.
"Nope, as long as no one gets hurt I don't care."
It was a short walk to the cafe but it was cold enough to turn the kid's cheeks, noses and ears red. The heat of the cafe was welcomed and the two kids practically jumped from their father's arms in order to get inside quicker. The kids chose a large booth to sit in, their aunt following them closely as their father left to use the bathroom...or whatever he said he needed to do, Carrington hadn't been paying attention. The kids talked a mile a minute about everything, well mainly Disney stuff since Sam had a knowledge (she told everyone about Samantha singing to her) and their aunt was the one that got them hooked on Disney movies. She was partially responsible for the kids' rooms back at Jamie's place. Without her helping her brother he wouldn't have finished the murals in time. Finny's room was themed around The Croods; it was his favorite and if asked he why he liked The Croods his answer was simple: it had Belt in it...and Chunky the death cat.
By contrast Ada's room was painted with the characters from Atlantis: The Lost Empire. "Auntie...can you paint my room? I want Elsa's castle." She grinned before looking at Samantha. "Um..." Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she gestured for Samantha to get closer. "I wanna play Frozen again."
Finny was happily playing with his toy; his back was pressed against his Aunt's side with his legs and feet taking up some of the space on the seat.
Jamie came back and sat next to Samantha in the available spot. "Ah...thanks for inviting us." He smiled, “It’s nice that there are still some good people in the world.”
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The scene before him was something he didn't expect to see but he guessed that it made sense that the owner of a toy shop was playing dolls with his daughter. "To work with children you must first have the heart of a child." Carrington commented before setting her nephew down so he could scurry over to his sister. "You don't need to get so embarrassed, Miss. Jamie and I played with toys until we were what...ten and fourteen? Yeah and the kids that come here probably love you because of it." Carrington smiled before she grabbed a few of the toys from her brother.
Jamie's cheeks and ears were red. Did his sister have to constantly poke fun at him in public every chance she got? He bent down to rest on his heels so Ada could excitedly tell him about the game she had been playing with Sam. '"You've got your hair braided?" Ada was a tomboy and anything remotely resembling anything girlie was her arch enemy. He knew there had been a few times that she asked him to braid her hair but he thought it was because she wanted the soft blonde locks out of the way.
"Yeah! You don't know how...so I asked her." Ada pointed to Sam with pink cheeks.
Jamie smiled and held his hands out to his daughter and son. "We better go get to the register before something happens." He sighed. The children latched onto his hands and giggled. Their aunt wasn't exactly the most coordinated of people.
Carrington spotted what looked like an old mural of sorts on the wall behind the register. It was faded and she couldn't make out what it used to say. "Is that a mural?" She gestured to the wall before placing the toys on the counter. "If you want I can re-paint it. I've got pretty much all month off and I do murals and displays as an occupation." Carrington would be bored to death if she couldn't do anything work related over her vacation. She was bit of a workaholic but she never had a bad day at work.
"In the waiting area you can paint the walls with chalkboard paint and let the kids draw on it when they wait for their parents." She suggested. Carrington, like Jamie, was a creative person and she couldn't help the ideas that sprang to mind.
Jamie and his kids approached the counter. Finny had a toy tucked in his arms and Ada was holding the toy she chose at her side. They would pay for their things separately since the toys already on the counter were going to charity. Finny and Ada listened to their aunt talk to Sam. "Do you think auntie would like the moral?" Finny asked, using the incorrect word once again.
"Yeah. Auntie loves morals." Ada said to her brother. "She works on them for the musem[1]."
"We should draw Sam - "
"You kids can't do that here." Jamie said as he looked at his kids. He already knew what they were thinking. They wanted to draw Sam a picture on the walls just like they did for Carrington.
NOTE:
1. This is how I picture Finny and Ada saying Museum. They are five and six so I don't think they'd have a super perfect vocabulary yet - like how Finny says morals instead of murals.~
Jamie's cheeks and ears were red. Did his sister have to constantly poke fun at him in public every chance she got? He bent down to rest on his heels so Ada could excitedly tell him about the game she had been playing with Sam. '"You've got your hair braided?" Ada was a tomboy and anything remotely resembling anything girlie was her arch enemy. He knew there had been a few times that she asked him to braid her hair but he thought it was because she wanted the soft blonde locks out of the way.
"Yeah! You don't know how...so I asked her." Ada pointed to Sam with pink cheeks.
Jamie smiled and held his hands out to his daughter and son. "We better go get to the register before something happens." He sighed. The children latched onto his hands and giggled. Their aunt wasn't exactly the most coordinated of people.
Carrington spotted what looked like an old mural of sorts on the wall behind the register. It was faded and she couldn't make out what it used to say. "Is that a mural?" She gestured to the wall before placing the toys on the counter. "If you want I can re-paint it. I've got pretty much all month off and I do murals and displays as an occupation." Carrington would be bored to death if she couldn't do anything work related over her vacation. She was bit of a workaholic but she never had a bad day at work.
"In the waiting area you can paint the walls with chalkboard paint and let the kids draw on it when they wait for their parents." She suggested. Carrington, like Jamie, was a creative person and she couldn't help the ideas that sprang to mind.
Jamie and his kids approached the counter. Finny had a toy tucked in his arms and Ada was holding the toy she chose at her side. They would pay for their things separately since the toys already on the counter were going to charity. Finny and Ada listened to their aunt talk to Sam. "Do you think auntie would like the moral?" Finny asked, using the incorrect word once again.
"Yeah. Auntie loves morals." Ada said to her brother. "She works on them for the musem[1]."
"We should draw Sam - "
"You kids can't do that here." Jamie said as he looked at his kids. He already knew what they were thinking. They wanted to draw Sam a picture on the walls just like they did for Carrington.
NOTE:
1. This is how I picture Finny and Ada saying Museum. They are five and six so I don't think they'd have a super perfect vocabulary yet - like how Finny says morals instead of murals.~
The scene before him was something he didn't expect to see but he guessed that it made sense that the owner of a toy shop was playing dolls with his daughter. "To work with children you must first have the heart of a child." Carrington commented before setting her nephew down so he could scurry over to his sister. "You don't need to get so embarrassed, Miss. Jamie and I played with toys until we were what...ten and fourteen? Yeah and the kids that come here probably love you because of it." Carrington smiled before she grabbed a few of the toys from her brother.
Jamie's cheeks and ears were red. Did his sister have to constantly poke fun at him in public every chance she got? He bent down to rest on his heels so Ada could excitedly tell him about the game she had been playing with Sam. '"You've got your hair braided?" Ada was a tomboy and anything remotely resembling anything girlie was her arch enemy. He knew there had been a few times that she asked him to braid her hair but he thought it was because she wanted the soft blonde locks out of the way.
"Yeah! You don't know how...so I asked her." Ada pointed to Sam with pink cheeks.
Jamie smiled and held his hands out to his daughter and son. "We better go get to the register before something happens." He sighed. The children latched onto his hands and giggled. Their aunt wasn't exactly the most coordinated of people.
Carrington spotted what looked like an old mural of sorts on the wall behind the register. It was faded and she couldn't make out what it used to say. "Is that a mural?" She gestured to the wall before placing the toys on the counter. "If you want I can re-paint it. I've got pretty much all month off and I do murals and displays as an occupation." Carrington would be bored to death if she couldn't do anything work related over her vacation. She was bit of a workaholic but she never had a bad day at work.
"In the waiting area you can paint the walls with chalkboard paint and let the kids draw on it when they wait for their parents." She suggested. Carrington, like Jamie, was a creative person and she couldn't help the ideas that sprang to mind.
Jamie and his kids approached the counter. Finny had a toy tucked in his arms and Ada was holding the toy she chose at her side. They would pay for their things separately since the toys already on the counter were going to charity. Finny and Ada listened to their aunt talk to Sam. "Do you think auntie would like the moral?" Finny asked, using the incorrect word once again.
"Yeah. Auntie loves morals." Ada said to her brother. "She works on them for the musem[1]."
"We should draw Sam - "
"You kids can't do that here." Jamie said as he looked at his kids. He already knew what they were thinking. They wanted to draw Sam a picture on the walls just like they did for Carrington.
NOTE:
1. This is how I picture Finny and Ada saying Museum. They are five and six so I don't think they'd have a super perfect vocabulary yet - like how Finny says morals instead of murals.~
Jamie's cheeks and ears were red. Did his sister have to constantly poke fun at him in public every chance she got? He bent down to rest on his heels so Ada could excitedly tell him about the game she had been playing with Sam. '"You've got your hair braided?" Ada was a tomboy and anything remotely resembling anything girlie was her arch enemy. He knew there had been a few times that she asked him to braid her hair but he thought it was because she wanted the soft blonde locks out of the way.
"Yeah! You don't know how...so I asked her." Ada pointed to Sam with pink cheeks.
Jamie smiled and held his hands out to his daughter and son. "We better go get to the register before something happens." He sighed. The children latched onto his hands and giggled. Their aunt wasn't exactly the most coordinated of people.
Carrington spotted what looked like an old mural of sorts on the wall behind the register. It was faded and she couldn't make out what it used to say. "Is that a mural?" She gestured to the wall before placing the toys on the counter. "If you want I can re-paint it. I've got pretty much all month off and I do murals and displays as an occupation." Carrington would be bored to death if she couldn't do anything work related over her vacation. She was bit of a workaholic but she never had a bad day at work.
"In the waiting area you can paint the walls with chalkboard paint and let the kids draw on it when they wait for their parents." She suggested. Carrington, like Jamie, was a creative person and she couldn't help the ideas that sprang to mind.
Jamie and his kids approached the counter. Finny had a toy tucked in his arms and Ada was holding the toy she chose at her side. They would pay for their things separately since the toys already on the counter were going to charity. Finny and Ada listened to their aunt talk to Sam. "Do you think auntie would like the moral?" Finny asked, using the incorrect word once again.
"Yeah. Auntie loves morals." Ada said to her brother. "She works on them for the musem[1]."
"We should draw Sam - "
"You kids can't do that here." Jamie said as he looked at his kids. He already knew what they were thinking. They wanted to draw Sam a picture on the walls just like they did for Carrington.
NOTE:
1. This is how I picture Finny and Ada saying Museum. They are five and six so I don't think they'd have a super perfect vocabulary yet - like how Finny says morals instead of murals.~
He had wondered where his children could have gone off to and judging by the knocked over tower of stuffed bears, they had been there recently. "I'm sorry about them..." Jamie said as he approached the blonde and helped her pick up the bears. "They just get really excited and like to play hide and seek...I'm sorry." He handed her the last bear before looking at the display. Jamie was embarrassed, so many people had told him that he needed to control his children better and to show them some discipline. He wondered if the woman would be the same way too.
As he looked at the display he decided to grab two of the stuffed bear. One was white with little black eyes and a pink little nose and the second was black and white like a panda. He tucked the bears safely under his arm before extending his hand towards the girl. "The name's Jamison Carter, those little monsters that ran by are Finnegan and Adalira - my kids."
Jamie nearly knocked over the display they had finished picking up when his children screamed. Their screams slowly melted into wild laughter as his sister, older sister mind you, came running with them on her back, down the aisle singing "Let it Go."
"Let it go, Let it gooo~"
Jamie winced as his sister made a quick stop in front of him. Ada and Finny hung off her shoulders with wide smiles on their face. "This is Sammy!" Finny said as he tugged gently on his aunt's hair. "She's really nice....we knocked over the teddies and she didn't even get mad!"
"Uh-huh, she's nice. Daddy can she come play with us?" Ada said as she looked at her dad with a pout. At the end of the isle Reinier was waiting with his arms full of toys that they needed to ring up. He didn't look happy with the situation at hand. Jamie sighed and he shook his head.
"I don't think she can. She's working." Jamie said as he grabbed Ada from his sister. Finny refused to let go of his aunt and Carrington didn't seem to mind the little boy on her back.
"Aww but daaaddddyyyy!" Both children said with matching pouts and wide, watery eyes.
Carrington laughed, "Come on you little munchkins. Give your dad a break; maybe we can come back tomorrow and -"
"Don't encourage them Carrington!" Jamie said, he was losing an uphill battle. He looked back at the blonde with a sheepish smile. "Sorry about my sister as well. She was dropped on her head as a baby."
"I'm older than you. Now we’ve got to get a few more things so if you will excuse us, Finny and I will be shopping some more." Carrington and her nephew, who was still secured on her back, went skipping down the aisle to find a few more toys. Jamie could hear them both resume singing Let it Go when they disappeared down another isle.
Reinier sighed heavily and deposited the toys in front of Jamie. "I'm going to the car." He really, really did not like being in a toy store...or the fact that his girlfriend was actually showing something other than restrained nervousness.
Adalira looked up at her father before looking at Samantha again. "Can I help her daddy?"
Jamie nodded and let his daughter down so he could pick up the toys that Reinier had left. "You don't get into any trouble, Ada."
The little girl nodded before lightly tugging on Samantha's shirt and asking if she could help.
As he looked at the display he decided to grab two of the stuffed bear. One was white with little black eyes and a pink little nose and the second was black and white like a panda. He tucked the bears safely under his arm before extending his hand towards the girl. "The name's Jamison Carter, those little monsters that ran by are Finnegan and Adalira - my kids."
Jamie nearly knocked over the display they had finished picking up when his children screamed. Their screams slowly melted into wild laughter as his sister, older sister mind you, came running with them on her back, down the aisle singing "Let it Go."
"Let it go, Let it gooo~"
Jamie winced as his sister made a quick stop in front of him. Ada and Finny hung off her shoulders with wide smiles on their face. "This is Sammy!" Finny said as he tugged gently on his aunt's hair. "She's really nice....we knocked over the teddies and she didn't even get mad!"
"Uh-huh, she's nice. Daddy can she come play with us?" Ada said as she looked at her dad with a pout. At the end of the isle Reinier was waiting with his arms full of toys that they needed to ring up. He didn't look happy with the situation at hand. Jamie sighed and he shook his head.
"I don't think she can. She's working." Jamie said as he grabbed Ada from his sister. Finny refused to let go of his aunt and Carrington didn't seem to mind the little boy on her back.
"Aww but daaaddddyyyy!" Both children said with matching pouts and wide, watery eyes.
Carrington laughed, "Come on you little munchkins. Give your dad a break; maybe we can come back tomorrow and -"
"Don't encourage them Carrington!" Jamie said, he was losing an uphill battle. He looked back at the blonde with a sheepish smile. "Sorry about my sister as well. She was dropped on her head as a baby."
"I'm older than you. Now we’ve got to get a few more things so if you will excuse us, Finny and I will be shopping some more." Carrington and her nephew, who was still secured on her back, went skipping down the aisle to find a few more toys. Jamie could hear them both resume singing Let it Go when they disappeared down another isle.
Reinier sighed heavily and deposited the toys in front of Jamie. "I'm going to the car." He really, really did not like being in a toy store...or the fact that his girlfriend was actually showing something other than restrained nervousness.
Adalira looked up at her father before looking at Samantha again. "Can I help her daddy?"
Jamie nodded and let his daughter down so he could pick up the toys that Reinier had left. "You don't get into any trouble, Ada."
The little girl nodded before lightly tugging on Samantha's shirt and asking if she could help.
I'll try to get a reply up tomorrow. All of my partners decided to reply today so I'm taking it one roleplay at a time.
Finny and Ada would always ask about their neighbor but their dad would just shrug his shoulders. He assumes that it's probably a little old recluse lady or something living there since he'd see the lights on occasionally at night.
Ahaha, I love it!
"Finny! Ada!"
The five and six year olds bounced into the room with large smiles. They had known for a week that their aunt was coming back to town so they had decided to draw her a picture. The problem was they didn't know where their dad kept the paper and they didn't want to use their coloring books so the wall was the next best place for them to draw a picture for their aunt. The two young children clasped their hands behind their backs and looked down at their bare feet. Their father stood before them, pointing at the wall with creased brows.
"What were you two doing?" He asked as he crossed his tattooed arms across his chest.
The little boy spoke first. "We wanted to draw auntie a picture...like those morals she talks 'bout." Finnegan meant the murals that his aunt had been working on for a few months at the museum. "And we couldn't find the paper..."
How could he be upset at them for long when they gave him a pout and such a sweet story? He might have looked like a tough guy but he was a big softie. He guessed it was because he was still young and had two very young children who liked to use his heart against him. They were definitely master manipulators already. "Come here," He bent down and opened his arms wide for his two kids. They ran into his waiting arms, scared that they were going to be in lots of trouble. "I can get the marker and crayon off the wall but you guys could have asked me for paper you know." Their dad chuckled before picking them both up.
"Aunt Care-Bear is with her boyfriend right now but here in a little while we'll meet her at his house since you guys haven't met him yet, then we'll go to the toy store."
The children cheered with joy; he didn't know if they were more excited to get a new toy or to see their aunt. Either way it was cute as fuck. Setting them down, he watched them scurry off to their room.
~*~
It had been a year since she had last visited her hometown. It had been almost six months since the last time she seen her niece and nephew in person. They would talk on the phone and use the webcam to talk from time to time so it wasn't like they were strangers. She pointed out various places to her boyfriend and gave a bit of history, personal or otherwise, to go along with the building. He wasn't paying attention as she drove and talked to him. He was too busy texting and when she would ask who it was he would either snap at her or he would say it was his mom. Boy he did sure text his mom a lot, huh?
This was the first time that she would be meeting his parents and brother. She was excited to meet them; he didn't talk much about his family or at least not like she talked about hers.
He gave her a few more directions before they pulled up to a quaint little home that reminded her of the home she grew up in. Parking the car out front, the red haired woman couldn't contain her nerves, it wasn't every day that she got to meet the people closest to her boyfriend. Reinier was the first to reach the house and he was the one to knock on the door. They were let in and almost immediately a black lab welcomed them. She bent slightly and allowed the dog to sniff and lick her hand. The woman had a weak spot for animals so most of her time would likely be occupied by trying to befriend the lab. She didn't catch onto the words of her boyfriend until she was pulled into a kiss.
"Ah, hello!" She shook the man's hand, "Carrington Carter, but you can call me Carrington or Cari."
Carrington looked around the home while beside her, Reinier tried to shoo the lab away. They didn't have any animals because they lived in such a small apartment. They used to have a few goldfish until Reinier killed them by forgetting to feed them while she was off at work. "You have a lovely home."
"Thank you dear." A woman called from the kitchen entrance. She bore a resemblance to her oldest son; both shared the same color of eyes and it looked like they once shared the same color of hair too, but time caught up to her. She wiped her hands on a small holiday themed dishtowel before slinging it over her shoulder and extending her arms out to Carrington. The red head was enveloped into a warm hug; it was a little embarrassing considering she didn't even know the woman's name. Reinier stood in the background with his brother. He watched his girlfriend with mild interest before turning his full attention to Derek.
"Have a girl yet?" He asked.
"My name is Marie, I sent my husband out to get a few things but he'll be back in a little while. Why don't I give you a tour?" Marie said as she took Carrington by the hand to lead her through the house. Once they were separated from the men and most of the tour was complete, Marie decided it was time to get to know the red head.
"So how long have you been seeing my son?" Marie asked as she dusted off one of the old family photos in the upstairs hallway.
"A year ma'am. Oh I like this color of paint..." Carrington trailed off as she gestured to the olive colored wall. "We can't change the color of the walls back at our apartment -"
Marie cut the red head off, "You're living together?" There was a hint of doubt in her voice. Reinier had brought home so many girlfriends this year alone. If this woman and her son were truly together for that long then that meant Reinier was cheating. Marie had raised her sons to treat their women well, did she fail as a mother if Reinier was cheating? Marie clenched her hands at her sides.
"Ma'am...are you alright?" Carrington asked as she looked at the older woman with worry. Did she say something wrong; would his family even like her after tonight?
"It's fine dear; I just wasn't expecting that." Marie said with a nervous chuckle.
Carrington gave her a small smile but remained quiet. She was too worried that she had messed everything up.
~*~
Two hours later around five, Marie and Reinier were washing the dishes from dinner. They had eaten early because her husband had an upcoming shift and he wanted to eat with his family. The kitchen was quiet save for the small T.V on the counter that was playing a Christmas special. "She seems like a nice girl, where'd you meet her?" Marie asked her oldest son as she handed him one of the plates to rinse and dry.
He shrugged and flicked his long bangs out of his eyes. "A party I think."
She watched her son carefully, while she loved him greatly she couldn't bring herself to believe that he would cheat. She knew that he usually moved on pretty fast after a break up and part of her desperately wished that Carrington was lying about her and Reinier being together for a year. "Why didn't you tell us that you were living with her?"
Again he shrugged. "It slipped my mind. It's natural after you've been with someone for so long." A year wasn't a long time by any means, but he was trying to play it off. "Oh...her brother is coming by with his kids to pick us up."
Marie grinned; she didn't have any grandchildren and she had been missing the pitter patter of tiny bare feet on the floor. "Wonderful! It's been a while since we've had kids in the house."
In the living room, Reinier and Derek's dad, Robert, was sitting in his large dark colored recliner. He was discussing a few of the old techniques used in the medical field while the woman listened intently.
"We've got a few artifacts at the museum that you'd love then." She smiled. The black lab, Midnight, made a home on Carrington's feet. She was more than okay with the dog begging for attention.
"Oh? I didn't know you worked in a museum."
"Yeah - I create the displays and I do replicas of artifacts that can't go on display for the public. We've got a few skulls that show they were trepanned and some other things." She really enjoyed talking to Reinier's step-father. He was nice and always seemed interested in what she had to say. Carrington, in turn, was also interested about what Robert had to say and it was safe to claim that they were getting along swimmingly.
~*~
A half hour later her brother pulled up to the house; He had talked to Reinier (since Carrington had been talking to Robert) and was given directions. Finny and Ada were standing slightly behind him with their hands clasped together as their dad knocked on the door. Marie opened it and welcomed them inside. "I have some cookies that I made earlier if you and your kids want some." The kids were thrilled with the prospect of having cookies and they almost forgot about their aunt until she called out their names. Finny was the first to launch himself at his aunt, he was giggling as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. Reinier watched the little boy and then the little girl before turning his attention to their dad.
He really didn't like Jamie but he tolerated him for the sake of Carrington. She adored her younger brother and his children.
Jamie grinned. "Hey Derek." He said as he caught sight of the male. From time to time Jamie would help at the cafe where he worked and performed. They had met through a mutual friend some years back. "I didn't know you were related to Reinier."
Robert announced that he had to go to work and he kissed his wife goodbye before leaving. Ada and Finny made gagging noises. "Ew. They kissed." Their dad was looking a little pink in the face and he quickly apologized to Marie. She laughed and brushed it off before bringing out a tray of cookies and hot cocoa for everyone. Marie really did miss when her boys were young; they had grown up so fast. She enjoyed the time she spent with children; Marie worked with sick kids all of the time and she tried to make their days brighter. After a few cookies and cocoa the group of five had left to the toy store.
"Man I remember this place when we were kids." Jamie said as he opened the door for everyone.
"Yeah, it hasn't changed much over the years, huh?"
"Finnegan! Adalira!" Jamie followed his kids into the store as they tore off to go hunt for toys. Reinier looped his arm around Carrington's waist as they walked through the store. Every year Jamie and Carrington would participate in various charities, one was to get Christmas gifts for kids whose families couldn't afford them. Both Jamie and Carrington had been in the same situation growing up. Their family had bounced from place to place and dealt with financial hardships for most of their lives. It was when their father was able to get hired on at a local factory that they were able to live comfortably.
The two children escaped their father and quickly made a bee line for a different isle.
The five and six year olds bounced into the room with large smiles. They had known for a week that their aunt was coming back to town so they had decided to draw her a picture. The problem was they didn't know where their dad kept the paper and they didn't want to use their coloring books so the wall was the next best place for them to draw a picture for their aunt. The two young children clasped their hands behind their backs and looked down at their bare feet. Their father stood before them, pointing at the wall with creased brows.
"What were you two doing?" He asked as he crossed his tattooed arms across his chest.
The little boy spoke first. "We wanted to draw auntie a picture...like those morals she talks 'bout." Finnegan meant the murals that his aunt had been working on for a few months at the museum. "And we couldn't find the paper..."
How could he be upset at them for long when they gave him a pout and such a sweet story? He might have looked like a tough guy but he was a big softie. He guessed it was because he was still young and had two very young children who liked to use his heart against him. They were definitely master manipulators already. "Come here," He bent down and opened his arms wide for his two kids. They ran into his waiting arms, scared that they were going to be in lots of trouble. "I can get the marker and crayon off the wall but you guys could have asked me for paper you know." Their dad chuckled before picking them both up.
"Aunt Care-Bear is with her boyfriend right now but here in a little while we'll meet her at his house since you guys haven't met him yet, then we'll go to the toy store."
The children cheered with joy; he didn't know if they were more excited to get a new toy or to see their aunt. Either way it was cute as fuck. Setting them down, he watched them scurry off to their room.
It had been a year since she had last visited her hometown. It had been almost six months since the last time she seen her niece and nephew in person. They would talk on the phone and use the webcam to talk from time to time so it wasn't like they were strangers. She pointed out various places to her boyfriend and gave a bit of history, personal or otherwise, to go along with the building. He wasn't paying attention as she drove and talked to him. He was too busy texting and when she would ask who it was he would either snap at her or he would say it was his mom. Boy he did sure text his mom a lot, huh?
This was the first time that she would be meeting his parents and brother. She was excited to meet them; he didn't talk much about his family or at least not like she talked about hers.
He gave her a few more directions before they pulled up to a quaint little home that reminded her of the home she grew up in. Parking the car out front, the red haired woman couldn't contain her nerves, it wasn't every day that she got to meet the people closest to her boyfriend. Reinier was the first to reach the house and he was the one to knock on the door. They were let in and almost immediately a black lab welcomed them. She bent slightly and allowed the dog to sniff and lick her hand. The woman had a weak spot for animals so most of her time would likely be occupied by trying to befriend the lab. She didn't catch onto the words of her boyfriend until she was pulled into a kiss.
"Ah, hello!" She shook the man's hand, "Carrington Carter, but you can call me Carrington or Cari."
Carrington looked around the home while beside her, Reinier tried to shoo the lab away. They didn't have any animals because they lived in such a small apartment. They used to have a few goldfish until Reinier killed them by forgetting to feed them while she was off at work. "You have a lovely home."
"Thank you dear." A woman called from the kitchen entrance. She bore a resemblance to her oldest son; both shared the same color of eyes and it looked like they once shared the same color of hair too, but time caught up to her. She wiped her hands on a small holiday themed dishtowel before slinging it over her shoulder and extending her arms out to Carrington. The red head was enveloped into a warm hug; it was a little embarrassing considering she didn't even know the woman's name. Reinier stood in the background with his brother. He watched his girlfriend with mild interest before turning his full attention to Derek.
"Have a girl yet?" He asked.
"My name is Marie, I sent my husband out to get a few things but he'll be back in a little while. Why don't I give you a tour?" Marie said as she took Carrington by the hand to lead her through the house. Once they were separated from the men and most of the tour was complete, Marie decided it was time to get to know the red head.
"So how long have you been seeing my son?" Marie asked as she dusted off one of the old family photos in the upstairs hallway.
"A year ma'am. Oh I like this color of paint..." Carrington trailed off as she gestured to the olive colored wall. "We can't change the color of the walls back at our apartment -"
Marie cut the red head off, "You're living together?" There was a hint of doubt in her voice. Reinier had brought home so many girlfriends this year alone. If this woman and her son were truly together for that long then that meant Reinier was cheating. Marie had raised her sons to treat their women well, did she fail as a mother if Reinier was cheating? Marie clenched her hands at her sides.
"Ma'am...are you alright?" Carrington asked as she looked at the older woman with worry. Did she say something wrong; would his family even like her after tonight?
"It's fine dear; I just wasn't expecting that." Marie said with a nervous chuckle.
Carrington gave her a small smile but remained quiet. She was too worried that she had messed everything up.
Two hours later around five, Marie and Reinier were washing the dishes from dinner. They had eaten early because her husband had an upcoming shift and he wanted to eat with his family. The kitchen was quiet save for the small T.V on the counter that was playing a Christmas special. "She seems like a nice girl, where'd you meet her?" Marie asked her oldest son as she handed him one of the plates to rinse and dry.
He shrugged and flicked his long bangs out of his eyes. "A party I think."
She watched her son carefully, while she loved him greatly she couldn't bring herself to believe that he would cheat. She knew that he usually moved on pretty fast after a break up and part of her desperately wished that Carrington was lying about her and Reinier being together for a year. "Why didn't you tell us that you were living with her?"
Again he shrugged. "It slipped my mind. It's natural after you've been with someone for so long." A year wasn't a long time by any means, but he was trying to play it off. "Oh...her brother is coming by with his kids to pick us up."
Marie grinned; she didn't have any grandchildren and she had been missing the pitter patter of tiny bare feet on the floor. "Wonderful! It's been a while since we've had kids in the house."
In the living room, Reinier and Derek's dad, Robert, was sitting in his large dark colored recliner. He was discussing a few of the old techniques used in the medical field while the woman listened intently.
"We've got a few artifacts at the museum that you'd love then." She smiled. The black lab, Midnight, made a home on Carrington's feet. She was more than okay with the dog begging for attention.
"Oh? I didn't know you worked in a museum."
"Yeah - I create the displays and I do replicas of artifacts that can't go on display for the public. We've got a few skulls that show they were trepanned and some other things." She really enjoyed talking to Reinier's step-father. He was nice and always seemed interested in what she had to say. Carrington, in turn, was also interested about what Robert had to say and it was safe to claim that they were getting along swimmingly.
A half hour later her brother pulled up to the house; He had talked to Reinier (since Carrington had been talking to Robert) and was given directions. Finny and Ada were standing slightly behind him with their hands clasped together as their dad knocked on the door. Marie opened it and welcomed them inside. "I have some cookies that I made earlier if you and your kids want some." The kids were thrilled with the prospect of having cookies and they almost forgot about their aunt until she called out their names. Finny was the first to launch himself at his aunt, he was giggling as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. Reinier watched the little boy and then the little girl before turning his attention to their dad.
He really didn't like Jamie but he tolerated him for the sake of Carrington. She adored her younger brother and his children.
Jamie grinned. "Hey Derek." He said as he caught sight of the male. From time to time Jamie would help at the cafe where he worked and performed. They had met through a mutual friend some years back. "I didn't know you were related to Reinier."
Robert announced that he had to go to work and he kissed his wife goodbye before leaving. Ada and Finny made gagging noises. "Ew. They kissed." Their dad was looking a little pink in the face and he quickly apologized to Marie. She laughed and brushed it off before bringing out a tray of cookies and hot cocoa for everyone. Marie really did miss when her boys were young; they had grown up so fast. She enjoyed the time she spent with children; Marie worked with sick kids all of the time and she tried to make their days brighter. After a few cookies and cocoa the group of five had left to the toy store.
"Man I remember this place when we were kids." Jamie said as he opened the door for everyone.
"Yeah, it hasn't changed much over the years, huh?"
"Finnegan! Adalira!" Jamie followed his kids into the store as they tore off to go hunt for toys. Reinier looped his arm around Carrington's waist as they walked through the store. Every year Jamie and Carrington would participate in various charities, one was to get Christmas gifts for kids whose families couldn't afford them. Both Jamie and Carrington had been in the same situation growing up. Their family had bounced from place to place and dealt with financial hardships for most of their lives. It was when their father was able to get hired on at a local factory that they were able to live comfortably.
The two children escaped their father and quickly made a bee line for a different isle.
Bump ~
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