“I asked nicely.”
Nothing more was forthcoming, so George took the bowl and placed it on the table, covering it with a plate. He looked at his watch, and it was almost…he heard the bell. They were a little earlier than on time, just like his father had instilled in all of them.
“They’re here.” He looked at Andi, who was fixated on the French doors leading onto the porch. He knew his partner was already ‘seeing’ his family through the eyes of his tiny spies, and George wondered what information he was getting.
“One of your brothers was recently bitten by a tick. He needs to have somebody look at the bite.”
“I will tell him once you know whether it’s Daniel or Griff. Shall we?”
George started toward the French doors, and Andi followed.
When George opened the main door, his family was waiting on the steps. Daniel and Griff were looking around with awe in their eyes. His father was his usual stoic self, and his mother’s gaze was sharp. She had, without a doubt, calculated the worth of Andi’s house and property and realized how much it was worth. Not that she hadn’t known that already from her research but seeing something for real was always different from reading about it somewhere.
“Guys, welcome to our home.” George invited his family in with a gesture, and they filed through the door into the hall where the staring intensified. None of them had uttered a word so far. Ignoring their impolite behavior, George closed the door.
“Mom, Dad, Daniel, Griff, this is my partner and boyfriend, Detective Andrew ‘Andi’ Hayes. Andi, these are my parents, Miranda and Ayden Donovan, my oldest brother Griff, and you already know Daniel from our calls.”
Andi shook hands with each of them, then indicated with a nod that it was Griff who had to see a doctor. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
George’s mother was icy in her greeting, his father indifferent, Griff clearly didn’t know what to make of the situation, and Daniel was the only one who grabbed Andi’s hand and shook with enthusiasm.
“Andi, so good to finally meet you in person! How are you doing? Your house is crazy cool. Is it very old?”
“Hi, Daniel. Yes, it’s good to see you. I’m fine. My house is over a hundred fifty years old. It’s been in my grandmother’s family from the beginning.”
“It must be nice to have such luxurious accommodations.” Miranda Donovan’s voice could have started the next ice age.
While George still wondered how best to run interference, Andi answered easily. “It is nice indeed. I’m not complaining.”
That was a lot tamer than George had feared from his prickly hedgehog of a partner.
“And you shouldn’t. Tell me, Andi, how can a simple detective afford such an expensive neighborhood?”
George bristled. His mother knew very well how Andi could pay for all of this because he knew she had had him investigated. Andi stayed calm.
“My gran saw to it.”
Short and to the point. Miranda gaped at him for a moment. Before she could fire her next round, Andi went on. “It’s so nice of you to have come for George’s birthday.”
“Uh, yeah, little bro. It’s your big day!” Daniel clapped George on the back with enough force to send him staggering a few steps forward. “I almost forgot, what with Andi’s great crib and finally meeting him!”
George sent his brother a grateful nod. Daniel was trying his best. Griff and Dad followed the congratulations, and even his mother said something nice.
“Thank you, guys. We have set the table on the porch. Please leave your shoes on the rack. I have guest shoes for all of you.” It was his ragtag collection of crocks since they would be in the garden. Well, a little color had never hurt anybody. “Please follow me.”
“Wait, son. Before we continue with this travesty, I have a few things to say to your partner.” Miranda stared at Andi as if she wished she could turn him to ashes with her gaze.
“Mother, I don’t think?—”
“Miranda, dear?—”
“Mom, please?—”
“Ugh.”
George, his father, Griff, and Daniel all spoke at the same time. Andi lifted his hand.
“No, it’s fine. Go on, Mrs. Donovan. Say a few things to me.”
