Page 36 of Deadly Conflicts

10

Ten

“Oh, who is the cutest baby in the world?”

Rose swooped in and claimed Avery from Emma’s arms before the new mother could even register her future mother-in-law’s presence. She handed the baby over willingly as she helped Jeff get settled in a chair and introduced him to a gushing Rose and smiling Louis.

“I’m so happy to see you,” Emma said, offering Rose a hug. “Did we know you were coming?”

“Ah, such a good question,” Jake said, his voice low as he stood next to James at the grill in his boss’s backyard. “I asked it myself this morning … when I was wearing your sister’s pink robe. Did I mention that?”

“Only about five times,” James replied, swigging from his beer as he regarded his happy parents. “What are they even doing here?”

“Ruining my life,” Ally replied, moving to the spot between her boyfriend and brother. “They did it on purpose. I just know it.”

“Did what?” James asked. “They came for a visit. You should be happy. They’re our parents, for crying out loud.”

“That’s easy for you to say because you weren’t the one they walked in on this time,” Ally shot back. “I was naked … except for Jake’s T-shirt.”

“Then you weren’t naked,” James pointed out.

“I wasn’t wearing underwear or a bra, and the T-shirt was white,” Ally hissed, painting a picture for James he wished he never had to mentally see.

“I’m going to have nightmares,” James muttered, taking a longer pull on his beer this time. “I don’t understand why they’re here. They gave us plenty of notice when they came to see Avery the first time. Why would they just pop in out of the blue?”

“When I asked that question they said you guys hide things from them if they give you notice,” Jake replied. “They said they wanted to catch you unaware.”

“They did that,” James said. “I was just about to carry my wife to the pool for a naked morning swim when you guys showed up. Thanks for that, by the way.”

“We didn’t have a choice,” Ally said. “They can’t stay with us. Our house is too small. We had to bring them over here to get them settled.”

James stilled, the ramifications of what Ally was suggesting drifting through his mind. “They can’t stay here.”

“Oh, they have to,” Ally said. “You have the biggest house. If you didn’t want guests, why buy something with four bedrooms and a guesthouse?”

“Because we like to spread out,” James replied. “I just … they have to stay with you.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen, man,” Jake said. “They saw me in a pink robe and then Ally came out and mentioned I was supposed to be doing something dirty with her. I can’t sleep under the same roof as your father. He’ll murder me the second I close my eyes.”

“I feel like murdering you for expanding on that story,” James said. “Now I have to picture you in a pink robe – which is downright funny – and my sister practically naked. That dulls the humorous effect.”

“That’s a total bummer for you,” Jake deadpanned. “Try being in my shoes.”

“They’re still not staying here,” James said. “They always stay with Ally when they come to town. It’s tradition.”

“Nice try, jerkwad,” Ally said, flicking her brother’s ear. “They don’t always stay with me. Before you had a one-bedroom apartment so they couldn’t stay with you. They stayed with Grady a few times.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea,” James said, brightening. “Let’s force them to stay with Grady.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Grady said, a pleasant smile in place even as his tone suggested otherwise as he joined Jake and his siblings around the grill. “Sophie doesn’t like being crowded and Mom keeps pinching her cheeks whenever she sees her. That’s not going to happen. I’ve already done my turn in the rotation.”

“It has to be you, James,” Ally said. “We have paint drying in the basement and a bunch of stuff stacked in the spare bedroom. There’s no other choice.”

“But … no,” James whined. “That’s going to totally ruin my holiday weekend plans.”

“Oh, suck it up,” Ally said, slapping James’ arm. “You have a guesthouse if need be.”

“I cannot put Mom and Dad in the guesthouse,” James said. “The bedroom is right off Mandy’s studio and that bed is full of sex cooties. We do it in there all of the time and we never change the sheets.”