“Howdy, farm people…”
Before Reid could say more, he was surrounded by all kinds of Snyders, clasped by several young hands and swamped by excited voices. Obviously they were happy to see him, but before his ego could run wild, Ethan brought it all into perspective.
“Now we can finally eat!”
With Danny against his chest Reid turned to Luke for a kiss and then looked around. He was missing a midget. Before he could ask, Luke pointed at the living room and Reid peeked his head in. There she was. Huddled against Faith, a stuffed animal clenched to her chest, totally hypnotized by some cartoon.
“It’s Winnie the Pooh,” Luke whispered, as if that explained everything, but Reid didn’t respond. He couldn’t keep his eyes off his little girl. She was practically absorbing the story and her serious face looked so much older than the five year old that she was. But then, almost as if she had read his mind, she started to giggle and she looked up to Faith with a genuine smile.
“Tigger is soooo funny…”
Reid had to swallow when he saw the loving way Faith softly brushed through Zoë’s hair. Clearly not aware of her audience on the threshold, she kissed the little girl on her red curls.
“He’s my favorite too,” she confided, “Although I also love Eeyore.”
“You do?” That had Zoë clearly thinking, “but he’s so grumpy. So gloomy.”
“I know, that’s what I like. I can be grumpy and gloomy too, sometimes. So I get Eeyore.”
They both chuckled and while Faith turned off the TV, Reid cleared his voice and it made Zoë look up with a beaming smile.
“I’m gonna give your sister a hug now,” Reid whispered to Danny, as he lowered the boy and his son nodded. Sharing his fathers had become much easier after the whole uncle-thing. Now he was just happy she was still here and he enjoyed watching how she held up her arms to Daddy Reid and softly laughed when she was lifted up. His sister.
He looked up when he felt an arm on his shoulder and found himself in Daddy Luke’s arms a few seconds later.
“You’re an awesome big brother,” Luke whispered and the boy’s face lit up.
“And you’re an awesome Daddy,” Danny whispered back and their hug was so loving, that the adults – all gathered around the kitchen table by now – almost collectively held their breath.
“Hello Sunshine,” Reid greeted Zoë, but in the meantime also quickly caressed Faith’s cheek. “Had fun with your Aunt Faith?”
“P-lease,” Faith rolled her eyes, “Grant me my youth. No aunt stuff. She calls me Faith and I like that just fine.”
“It’s a nice name,” Zoë said, suddenly shy. “Faith.”
“It is,” Reid agreed, “and it suits her too. I, for one, have all faith in her…”
There. He did it. He made the young woman blush and she slapped his arm to hide her true emotions.
“Let’s eat. That will shut you up…”
“She does need some work on accepting a compliment, though,” Reid said to Zoë, winking at Faith and following her to the kitchen.
He loved this room. He had from the very first moment he had stepped in here. Not only because it always smelled delicious, whatever was on the menu. The kitchen had family written all over it and even though he didn’t feel like part of the family the first time he was here, he already had felt a sense of the future. A sense of wanting to belong. A sense of home.
Still holding Zoë, he scanned the crowd. Molly and Holden had their heads close. The way they smiled at each other made Reid nod. That looked solid. He met and answered Emma’s smile and then watched how all the kids found their seat. It made him sit down too, placing Zoë on the chair next to him. Then he noticed the two empty chairs on Luke’s side and he frowned, but before he could ask about it, he was distracted by gorgeous smells.
“I’m glad you could make in time, Reid,” Emma lifted a large pan and put it in the middle of the table.
“Me too. You never know what surprises come through those Memorial doors,” Reid looked at Ethan and the boy grinned, “but today was a good day. And this is the perfect ending.”
“This day isn’t over yet,” Emma said and her tone made Reid frown again. What was going on? Why was Emma so tense?
“Grandma agreed on including Lily and Damian,” Luke whispered and Reid stared at Emma for a moment. You did?
Reluctantly, Emma’s eyes said.
“I understand your relationship with her has improved and well…the kids really wanted to be able to sit down for dinner with the whole family…”
“I understand completely,” Reid nodded.
“But they’re late,” Emma sounded annoyed, “so let’s just start and…”
The sound of an arriving car made Ethan jump up.
“They’re here, Grandma!”
Emma forced herself to smile.
“That’s good, Ethan. You go ahead and welcome them, then.”
The boy didn’t need telling twice and stood up, rushing to the door and greeting his mother and Damian by showing his bandage.
“See, Mommy? It’s not too bad.”
“I can see that,” Lily smiled, as Damian pushed her wheelchair in. “Hello everybody. Sorry we’re so late. Thanks for having us. Emma…”
The flowers Lily handed over were beautiful and Emma’s smile was not so forced anymore.
“You didn’t have to…but thank you.”
“My pleasure…where did you want me to…oh wait, I see some empty chairs next to Luke. Can I…?”
“Sure,” Luke gave her a smile, “Need help?”
“Thanks, but Damian knows the drill…we’re a pretty good team lately…”
And her words were underlined by the smooth way she managed to switch from wheelchair to kitchen chair. Then she looked around, almost like she couldn’t believe she was really here. When she watched Reid, she could tell he was thinking about their last dinner together here too. She had deeply insulted him and although it still felt unreal that she really had said those ugly words, she felt deep remorse and shame.
She smiled when Damian took a seat next to her and immediately held her hand. He knew she needed support. He was very good at that. Reading her. She softly squeezed his hand and he returned the gesture. I’m here.
“It feels great to join you all again,” Lily said, but before she could say anything more, Emma handed Holden a big spoon.
“Holden, would you do the honors, please? Let’s eat.”
