Taylor and Flack emerged from the bedroom to find Damon battling with the smoke over the barbeque and Paige setting the table under the back porch.
“Outside?” asked Flack in disbelief.
“I must apologise for my socially inept city-boy brother,” Paige told Taylor. “Because we grew up with a walk-up, he seems to think that nowhere else are you able to eat outside.”
“I meant the fact it was nearly March,” Flack told her, dryly.
“Sorry,” said Paige, again to Taylor. “I forgot that my brother was capable of knowing the seasons as well as telling the time.” She rolled her eyes. “Don, it’s warm out, hence the fact the fan is on, and you’re wearing just a polo shirt. I thought it would be nice, however, should you like to sit on the other side of the porch door, wearing a sweater because of the air conditioning, please, feel free.”
Flack pulled a face. “You realise you’re just as irritating as ever, don’t you?”
“Genetic prerogative of a sister. I’m also right, the genetic prerogative of being female. Why don’t you go and see if you can help Damon locate the grill underneath all that smoke.”
Muttering under his breath, Flack headed for the barbeque, leaving Taylor sniggering as she helped Paige with the table. “Is it normally this warm at this time of year?”
“It’s usually mild, but this year has been a bit of an exception, really. So where are you from, because I can tell you’re not a New York native, and that’s before we take the accent into consideration.”
Taylor smiled. “San Diego. We’re driving back from there, after seeing my family.”
“Don’s met the family?” asked Paige in surprise.
“Yeah, why?”
“No reason, he just… doesn’t do that. He must actually like you,” she frowned. “I didn’t mean that to sound as bad as it did.”
“It’s alright. I think I understand what you meant.”
“Right, well,” said Paige, standing upright. “Do you fancy helping me carry out the food?”
After several trips back and forth from the kitchen, the table was nearly straining from the amount of food on it – salad, bread rolls, new potatoes, potato salad, dirty rice, and corn on the cob – and that was before the t-bones and skewered kebabs were added to the mix after Damon and Flack finally got the smoke under control.
“I don’t think I can physically move,” Flack groaned, after they had finished their meal.
“You’re not the one with a child pressing on your stomach,” Taylor muttered. Towards the end of the meal, Jesse had left the toys he and Ellie had been playing with on the lawn and clambered onto Taylor where he had almost instantly fallen asleep.
“I’d move him,” Paige told her. “But I don’t think I can move either. Damon?”
“Don’t look at me,” he mumbled. “You’re the one who insisted on piling the food on my plate.”
“You’re the one that insisted on eating it.”
“Your potato salad is heavenly.”
“I’ll second that,” Taylor agreed. “And don’t worry about Jesse. Won’t Ellie get jealous though?”
“That child will be moving out at the age of eighteen. She might be shy, but she’s stubborn, determined and very independent.”
“That’s a Flack family trait,” Damon said, earning him a reproving glare from his wife.
“Speaking of family traits, isn’t it time for the ‘who can outdo the other for embarrassing sibling secrets’ game?” grinned Taylor.
Paige cackled evilly. “Has Donnie here introduced you to Charlie, his pet cat?”
Taylor frowned. “Hang on, he’s allergic to cats.”
“And he’s also sitting right here,” Flack objected. “So we can stop with this story.”
Somewhere, a light bulb turned on in Taylor’s mind. “A cat called Charlie who used to be his best friend?”
“How do you know about Charlie?” Flack asked slowly.
“Flack, if it wasn’t for the fact I had a sleeping child in my arms and was still exceptionally full from such a wonderful meal, I would be getting up and smacking you upside the head right now.”
“What have I done to deserve that?” he whined.
“Tequila!” she glared at him over the table.
“Tequila?”
“Me, you, Danny and Lindsay, and a bottle of tequila, and a bar we’re probably not welcome back in. Ringing any bells?”
Flack shuddered and rubbed his head. “How the hell have you managed to remember that?”
“That hangover coming back to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Because you owe me a penalty shot of tequila for the one you made me do.”
“Hey, now I never specified what kind of cat it was,” he objected.
Taylor pulled a face. “You don’t even remember that night!”
“You were wearing a turquoise top with a black skirt.”
“Wh…” she trailed off, the rolled her eyes. “You remember that from when you kicked me out of your bed the following morning, so that’s cheating.”
“Actually, you fell out, and what is so funny, Paige?” Taylor and Flack stopped, suddenly aware that the sniggering both Paige and Damon had been trying to conceal was now full out laughter.
“You’re worse than us,” Paige finally managed. “And we’re married. Charlie was a stuffed animal.”
“Charlie wasn’t even real?” Taylor asked, before joining in on the laughing.
“I have allergies,” Flack protested. “And we weren’t allowed pets in the apartment.”
“Outside?” asked Flack in disbelief.
“I must apologise for my socially inept city-boy brother,” Paige told Taylor. “Because we grew up with a walk-up, he seems to think that nowhere else are you able to eat outside.”
“I meant the fact it was nearly March,” Flack told her, dryly.
“Sorry,” said Paige, again to Taylor. “I forgot that my brother was capable of knowing the seasons as well as telling the time.” She rolled her eyes. “Don, it’s warm out, hence the fact the fan is on, and you’re wearing just a polo shirt. I thought it would be nice, however, should you like to sit on the other side of the porch door, wearing a sweater because of the air conditioning, please, feel free.”
Flack pulled a face. “You realise you’re just as irritating as ever, don’t you?”
“Genetic prerogative of a sister. I’m also right, the genetic prerogative of being female. Why don’t you go and see if you can help Damon locate the grill underneath all that smoke.”
Muttering under his breath, Flack headed for the barbeque, leaving Taylor sniggering as she helped Paige with the table. “Is it normally this warm at this time of year?”
“It’s usually mild, but this year has been a bit of an exception, really. So where are you from, because I can tell you’re not a New York native, and that’s before we take the accent into consideration.”
Taylor smiled. “San Diego. We’re driving back from there, after seeing my family.”
“Don’s met the family?” asked Paige in surprise.
“Yeah, why?”
“No reason, he just… doesn’t do that. He must actually like you,” she frowned. “I didn’t mean that to sound as bad as it did.”
“It’s alright. I think I understand what you meant.”
“Right, well,” said Paige, standing upright. “Do you fancy helping me carry out the food?”
After several trips back and forth from the kitchen, the table was nearly straining from the amount of food on it – salad, bread rolls, new potatoes, potato salad, dirty rice, and corn on the cob – and that was before the t-bones and skewered kebabs were added to the mix after Damon and Flack finally got the smoke under control.
“I don’t think I can physically move,” Flack groaned, after they had finished their meal.
“You’re not the one with a child pressing on your stomach,” Taylor muttered. Towards the end of the meal, Jesse had left the toys he and Ellie had been playing with on the lawn and clambered onto Taylor where he had almost instantly fallen asleep.
“I’d move him,” Paige told her. “But I don’t think I can move either. Damon?”
“Don’t look at me,” he mumbled. “You’re the one who insisted on piling the food on my plate.”
“You’re the one that insisted on eating it.”
“Your potato salad is heavenly.”
“I’ll second that,” Taylor agreed. “And don’t worry about Jesse. Won’t Ellie get jealous though?”
“That child will be moving out at the age of eighteen. She might be shy, but she’s stubborn, determined and very independent.”
“That’s a Flack family trait,” Damon said, earning him a reproving glare from his wife.
“Speaking of family traits, isn’t it time for the ‘who can outdo the other for embarrassing sibling secrets’ game?” grinned Taylor.
Paige cackled evilly. “Has Donnie here introduced you to Charlie, his pet cat?”
Taylor frowned. “Hang on, he’s allergic to cats.”
“And he’s also sitting right here,” Flack objected. “So we can stop with this story.”
Somewhere, a light bulb turned on in Taylor’s mind. “A cat called Charlie who used to be his best friend?”
“How do you know about Charlie?” Flack asked slowly.
“Flack, if it wasn’t for the fact I had a sleeping child in my arms and was still exceptionally full from such a wonderful meal, I would be getting up and smacking you upside the head right now.”
“What have I done to deserve that?” he whined.
“Tequila!” she glared at him over the table.
“Tequila?”
“Me, you, Danny and Lindsay, and a bottle of tequila, and a bar we’re probably not welcome back in. Ringing any bells?”
Flack shuddered and rubbed his head. “How the hell have you managed to remember that?”
“That hangover coming back to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Because you owe me a penalty shot of tequila for the one you made me do.”
“Hey, now I never specified what kind of cat it was,” he objected.
Taylor pulled a face. “You don’t even remember that night!”
“You were wearing a turquoise top with a black skirt.”
“Wh…” she trailed off, the rolled her eyes. “You remember that from when you kicked me out of your bed the following morning, so that’s cheating.”
“Actually, you fell out, and what is so funny, Paige?” Taylor and Flack stopped, suddenly aware that the sniggering both Paige and Damon had been trying to conceal was now full out laughter.
“You’re worse than us,” Paige finally managed. “And we’re married. Charlie was a stuffed animal.”
“Charlie wasn’t even real?” Taylor asked, before joining in on the laughing.
“I have allergies,” Flack protested. “And we weren’t allowed pets in the apartment.”
* * *
The sun had long set, the crickets were out in full swing, and the table had been cleared. Jesse was still fast asleep on Taylor, who had also nodded off, and Ellie was being put to bed by Damon.
“You flew across the country to meet her parents?” Paige asked with a small smile.
“I flew across the country so she wouldn’t have to do it alone. And I only met her mother there. I’d already met her father – he turned up in a case we were working back home.”
“A case?”
“He’s an admiral and a marine was murdered during fleet week,” Flack explained.
“But still, you met her mother. You don’t do that, Donnie. Does this mean you’re actually growing up?” Flack just smiled at her. “Oh my god,” Paige muttered. “You actually have it bad.”
“I know enough to know that I want her to be the mother of my children,” he admitted as he watched her sleep.
“You flew across the country to meet her parents?” Paige asked with a small smile.
“I flew across the country so she wouldn’t have to do it alone. And I only met her mother there. I’d already met her father – he turned up in a case we were working back home.”
“A case?”
“He’s an admiral and a marine was murdered during fleet week,” Flack explained.
“But still, you met her mother. You don’t do that, Donnie. Does this mean you’re actually growing up?” Flack just smiled at her. “Oh my god,” Paige muttered. “You actually have it bad.”
“I know enough to know that I want her to be the mother of my children,” he admitted as he watched her sleep.
* * *
Taylor awoke early the next morning, slightly confused as to how she got to bed. She shrugged it off and left Flack snoring softly to head to the kitchen where Paige was already up, making breakfast. “You need any help?”
“You’re up early. I’m making pancakes. That good for you?”
“Paige, if they’re anything like the food last night, you’ll never get rid of your brother or me,” Taylor told her happily.
“I like cooking and besides, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?” Taylor asked, perching on a chair at the table.
“No, I’m actually fine. You can get some orange juice out of the fridge, if you wouldn’t mind though.” Taylor nodded and headed for the fridge, pulling out the jug and setting in on the table. “Damon has already left. He has an eight o’clock lecture this morning, but he said to tell you that it was really nice to meet you, and to have a safe journey home. I take it you’ll be leaving soon?”
“Yeah,” Taylor sighed. “Unfortunately, we spent longer in Vegas than we intended and Don has to be at work in a few days.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know how it gets with work. Besides, it was nice of you both to come. We’re a little out of the way here.”
“I smell pancakes,” came Flack’s sleepy voice from the doorway.
“Ah, a prime example of a man who’s heart can be won by food.”
Flack grinned and sat down, helping himself to the stack of pancakes Paige had set in front of him. “Not true there, ‘lil sis. Because it certainly wasn’t Taylor’s cooking which attracted me to her.”
“You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?” Taylor muttered.
“Nope,” said Flack happily.
“Unfortunately,” said Paige. “He actually won’t.”
An hour later, and they had eaten, showered and dressed, and had just packed their things back into the car.
“Now you know where we live, I expect a visit slightly sooner than never,” Paige told her brother, as she gave him a hug.
“You know how it gets with work, Paige,” Flack apologised, hugging her back.
“Isn’t that the reason you gave for not coming to the wedding?”
Flack pulled a face. “No, the fact you and Damon ran off to Paris and eloped, telling me after the honeymoon was the reason I never went.”
“Ah,” Paige laughed. “I knew there was a reason why you weren’t there.” She turned to Taylor. “Have a safe trip back, and look after him. He has a habit of working too much.”
“I know,” Taylor smiled. “Thank you for having us.” She gave Paige a hug as well, before turning to Jesse. “And you, little guy, you be good.”
“You’re up early. I’m making pancakes. That good for you?”
“Paige, if they’re anything like the food last night, you’ll never get rid of your brother or me,” Taylor told her happily.
“I like cooking and besides, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?” Taylor asked, perching on a chair at the table.
“No, I’m actually fine. You can get some orange juice out of the fridge, if you wouldn’t mind though.” Taylor nodded and headed for the fridge, pulling out the jug and setting in on the table. “Damon has already left. He has an eight o’clock lecture this morning, but he said to tell you that it was really nice to meet you, and to have a safe journey home. I take it you’ll be leaving soon?”
“Yeah,” Taylor sighed. “Unfortunately, we spent longer in Vegas than we intended and Don has to be at work in a few days.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know how it gets with work. Besides, it was nice of you both to come. We’re a little out of the way here.”
“I smell pancakes,” came Flack’s sleepy voice from the doorway.
“Ah, a prime example of a man who’s heart can be won by food.”
Flack grinned and sat down, helping himself to the stack of pancakes Paige had set in front of him. “Not true there, ‘lil sis. Because it certainly wasn’t Taylor’s cooking which attracted me to her.”
“You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?” Taylor muttered.
“Nope,” said Flack happily.
“Unfortunately,” said Paige. “He actually won’t.”
An hour later, and they had eaten, showered and dressed, and had just packed their things back into the car.
“Now you know where we live, I expect a visit slightly sooner than never,” Paige told her brother, as she gave him a hug.
“You know how it gets with work, Paige,” Flack apologised, hugging her back.
“Isn’t that the reason you gave for not coming to the wedding?”
Flack pulled a face. “No, the fact you and Damon ran off to Paris and eloped, telling me after the honeymoon was the reason I never went.”
“Ah,” Paige laughed. “I knew there was a reason why you weren’t there.” She turned to Taylor. “Have a safe trip back, and look after him. He has a habit of working too much.”
“I know,” Taylor smiled. “Thank you for having us.” She gave Paige a hug as well, before turning to Jesse. “And you, little guy, you be good.”
* * *
Flack awoke with a yawn. “Where are we?” he asked, watching the wet, murky scenery go by.
“Pennsylvania,” Taylor replied, “I figure we only have a few more hours left.”
After leaving Baton Rouge, they had decided that if they took it in turns driving, and therefore sleeping, they could get back to New York in two days, meaning that Flack wouldn’t have to fly back.
“What the hell is that noise?” Flack asked in alarm.
Taylor looked at him. “What noise?”
“The car is making a strange noise.”
“That’s the engine,” Taylor told him, suppressing a giggle. “It’s been making the same noise since we drove it out of the garage in San Diego. You just couldn’t hear it over the radio.”
Flack frowned, “I’m pretty certain it wasn’t that loud.”
“Don, it’s a V8 engine. It purrs. Unless I put my foot down. Then it growls. And it’s supposed to do that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, trust me,” Taylor assured him.
“Centralia?” read Flack, as a road sign went by. He grabbed the map and found Centralia. “We’re a little off the route. Have you managed to get lost?”
Taylor rolled her eyes, “I had to make a little detour to get some gas. We haven’t passed a gas station in miles.”
They drove over the top of a hill. In front of them was a small village, behind which were miles of smoky fields, and just off to one side was a dam, behind which was a reservoir which looked grey through the fog and rain.
“Looks like a cheerful little place,” Flack muttered dryly.
“Pennsylvania,” Taylor replied, “I figure we only have a few more hours left.”
After leaving Baton Rouge, they had decided that if they took it in turns driving, and therefore sleeping, they could get back to New York in two days, meaning that Flack wouldn’t have to fly back.
“What the hell is that noise?” Flack asked in alarm.
Taylor looked at him. “What noise?”
“The car is making a strange noise.”
“That’s the engine,” Taylor told him, suppressing a giggle. “It’s been making the same noise since we drove it out of the garage in San Diego. You just couldn’t hear it over the radio.”
Flack frowned, “I’m pretty certain it wasn’t that loud.”
“Don, it’s a V8 engine. It purrs. Unless I put my foot down. Then it growls. And it’s supposed to do that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, trust me,” Taylor assured him.
“Centralia?” read Flack, as a road sign went by. He grabbed the map and found Centralia. “We’re a little off the route. Have you managed to get lost?”
Taylor rolled her eyes, “I had to make a little detour to get some gas. We haven’t passed a gas station in miles.”
They drove over the top of a hill. In front of them was a small village, behind which were miles of smoky fields, and just off to one side was a dam, behind which was a reservoir which looked grey through the fog and rain.
“Looks like a cheerful little place,” Flack muttered dryly.
Originally posted 05/05/2007