“Well,” Jace starts but Helen interrupts.
“Rory!” I get pulled into her embrace.
“Hi, Helen.” I smile. I love Helen’s energy. She could make a cyclone seem fun as kids.
I get wrapped in Devon’s arms next. “Hey, little one,” Devon rumbles.
“Hey, Bear.” I grin up at him.
“So, what’s the plan, Rory? Do you want to have lunch here first?” Helen asks, looking excited.
“Ummm.” I glance up at Jace, clearing having missed something.
“We just got here, Mum. I haven’t told her yet,” Jace explains. He turns to me. “The guys and I thought you might like a distraction and we figured you still don’t have a lot of clothes, especially for winter. Mum offered to take you shopping.”
He looks nervous but he shouldn’t be.
“Thanks, J.” I lean up and kiss him softly.
Helen makes an ‘awww’ noise and I remember that she and Devon are right there.
“It’s Alec’s birthday next week too,” Jace tells me. “I figured he wouldn’t have told you. He doesn’t like doing anything big for it.”
“No, he didn’t tell me. That’s good then, I have time to get him something,” I say lightly.
Jace ensures I’m not put out by that and I assure him that I’m not. Some people just don’t like celebrating their birthdays.
“I’m good to have lunch here first.” I answer Helen’s earlier question and she’s happy with that.
We eventually make it inside where Helen and Devon catch up with John while the guys and I start throwing lunch together.
We do a tour with Jace, Mase and Mav who haven’t seen the finished house yet. They find Alec’s surprise for them.
The twin’s cupboards in their bedrooms conjoin so that they can walk through them to each other's rooms. They are stoked about that. Apparently it’s something they’ve always wanted when they had their own rooms.
Alec also shows the twins and Jace how to use the panic rooms, just in case.
“Where’s Alice?” Helen asks Dominic.
Dom turns to John who doesn’t seem to know what to say.
“Mama doesn’tapproveof our relationship with Rory,” Dom tells Helen. Sadness laces his voice.
I grab his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. He smiles sadly at me, squeezing my hand back.
“Oh,” Helen says simply, not seeming sure what to say.
“Your mum just needs a bit more time to wrap her head around the idea, son.” John puts his hand on Dom’s shoulder.
Dom doesn’t say anything to Luc changes the subject.
“Everything go alright? No problems?” He asks Jace and the twins.
“We didn’t see anyone following us. The house didn’t look out of place or anything when we got there.” Maverick shrugs.
The worry doesn’t leave Luc’s eyes all through lunch.
While we’re cleaning up, Luc pulls me aside. “You’ve got your knife?” He asks quietly.
