Home » The Archives » Chapter 8 » Home is Where the Heart Is
| Re: Home is Where the Heart Is [message #2104 is a reply to message #2103] |
Sun, 29 July 2012 16:32   |
Lillehafrue
Messages: 478
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northeastern USA
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From: Hobbeth Sent: 8/26/2006 2:18 PM
Saturday, July 28; 5:30 PM; Lena's home (9:30AM July 29 on Tracy Island)
Lena and Brains were in her home office, still working on the communications security upgrade program. It had taken the previous evening, and most of the day to integrate the program for the visors into this one, and they hadn't quite finished. She was trying to persuade him to stop for a few hours and relax, when they heard the doorbell ring.
He looked at her questioningly and she shrugged her shoulders, then left the room and went to the door. When she opened it, there was Matthew and Amelia. He hugged her, saying, "I wanted to meet the man who spirited you away for two weeks a few months ago. And since you said he'd be leaving some time tomorrow..."
Amelia interrupted him, saying, "And I know you. You get involved in something on your computer and you forget to eat. I'm willing to bet this Hackenburger person is the same way."
"Hackenbacker, Amelia. And you're right. I was about to get him to take a break. Are your boys coming, too?" She stepped aside to let them in, and heard a shout from the street before her daughter-in-law could answer.
"Hi, Nyanya!" She looked out and saw Naomi hurrying toward the house, with Kevin close behind. Joy and Tom had just gotten out of their SUV. Naomi reached her grandmother and hugged her, saying, "It's a good day for a party, and we decided to have it here."
Nonplussed, she shook her head when she realized that both Matthew and Amelia were carrying grocery bags. She looked outside and saw Joy with more bags, and Tom carrying a cooler.
Joy called to her kids. "You two come back here and help us with the rest of the things." As they passed her on their way back to the vehicle, she said to her mother, "We wanted to meet this man, and knew you probably wouldn't have enough to fill up Naomi and Kevin, never mind the rest of us, so we brought the food with us." She smiled and kissed Lena on the cheek.
"Here come Leslie and E.J." Lena once again glanced outside at Naomi's words and saw her other granddaughter drive up with her husband and baby. They parked across the street and got out, waving. Leslie quickly removed her daughter from the back seat and brought her to Lena.
"Nyanya, would you hold her while I get the rest of her things?" she said as she first kissed her grandmother, then handed her the baby before Lena could say a word. Then she hurried off. Lena chuckled and turned back inside.
"Where's this young man we came to see?" Matthew asked.
"He's in my office. I'll get him, but don't you go interrogating him."
"Who, me? I wouldn't think of it! I'd better go and see if anyone needs help bringing anything in." He headed out the front door as Lena walked over to her home office. She went inside closing the door behind her.
"Who was at the door, Lena? Someone selling something?"
"Not exactly, Brains." Just then, Siti cooed and gurgled at her great-grandmother, causing Brains to sit up suddenly and turn around.
"Who is that?"
"Dis is my newest great-granddaughter, Siti," she replied, looking fondly down at her. Then she began to laugh. "More dan half my family is here, wit food and drinks. Dey are determined to meet you. So save what you've done and come out to meet dem."
"Over half your family? They want to meet me? Why? What did you tell them?"
"Above de fact dat you asked me to come to de Tracy home to help repair de problem wit de servers, and you give me some otter assignments from time to time? Notting."
"Den. . . Er, then why does it sound like they're here to check out a prospective suitor?"
"A what?" Lena looked stunned. Then she chuckled, and the baby laughed. "You see? Even Siti tinks dat is silly. Come on. You don't have a choice, you know. Save your work, shut down for de evening and come meet my family."
Brains grinned at her, and obeyed. They were soon in the living room, where he was introduced. He impressed them by not only remembering their names, but which went with whom, and reminded them that he lived with a much larger family. "I may be absent minded at times, but it pays to know who's who. Especially since one of them is a chronic practical joker."
Lena turned to Amelia. "You didn't get a chance to answer my question earlier. Are your boys and deir families coming?"
Matthew answered for her. "No, Mom. 'Fraid they couldn't get away. So that means, Hiram, that you don't get to meet the entire family at once."
Brains chuckled. "Well, if Lena and I keep having to work together, I'll probably be back, and can meet them another time."
Just then Tom poked his head in. "The barbecue's ready for the meat, guys. Let's get this show on the road."
The men took Brains outside and chatted with him while they barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs. The women got the side dishes ready and the twins set up tables and chairs, and did anything else they could. Finally everything was ready, and they all sat down to dinner. For once the weather cooperated. It was warm, with a light breeze, and they were able to enjoy the impromptu al fresco dinner.
Once everyone declared they'd had enough, Matthew, Tom and E.J. got up to take care of the barbecue grill, and the women began clearing the table. Siti had slept through most of the dinner, having had hers earlier, and was awake and gurgling happily. Before Brains could move, Leslie handed the baby to him to hold while she helped her mother and grandmother.
Brains held the baby under her arms, facing him and said to the men, "Can't one of you take her? I've never held a baby before. What am I supposed to do with her?"
E.J. said, "If Leslie gave Siti to you, she's your responsibility. Don't worry. Just turn her around and let her sit on your lap with her back against you. She can watch us take care of this." He grinned at Brains as he watched him gingerly turn and put the baby on his legs. Observing the look of wonder that slowly came over the engineer's face as Siti turned and reached a hand up to touch his chin, he added, "She seems to like you. I'd say you're a natural."
Matthew and Tom looked up from their task and agreed. Brains continued to gaze at the child until she reached up and grabbed his glasses, pulling them off his face. "Oops," he said as he gently took them from her hand before she got them to her mouth. "That's not food, young lady. I need them to see how pretty you are."
"I'm sorry, Hiram," Lena said. She reached out to take Siti from him. "You'd better clean dem. Dey probably have her fingerprints all over the lenses. I doubt you can see any better wit dem on, dan wit dem off."
He held them up to look through them and had to agree with her. He quickly cleaned them and put them back on. By this time, the other men were finished with their task, and the women nearly so. Shortly they were all sitting in the back yard, chatting. Brains never felt like he was being scrutinized or interrogated; he just enjoyed getting to know Lena's family and hearing about the absent members.
98% pure evil...and loving every minute of it.
 
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