Blended
Summary: Clare's mom begins to date a guy that she met at a church fundraiser. What happens when they get engaged, and it turns out the guy has a kid of his own? What happens when Jay Hogart becomes Clare and Darcy's new stepbrother?
Pairings/Couples: EClare, Janny, some Parcy, Helen/Michael Hogart.
Prologue
Clare Diana Edwards giggled under her breath as she walked into her house with her best friend, Adam Torres and her boyfriend, Eli Goldsworthy. The three misfits had to work on a project for their eleventh grade, advanced English class and had all decided to go to Clare's house to do it, since her mother wasn't supposed to be home from the church fundraiser until really late. She led the way to the kitchen and grabbed three Cherry Cokes from the fridge, setting them down on the table before she ran to the pantry to retrieve a bag of barbecue chips and a smaller bag of sour cream and onion, shutting the pantry door with her foot.
The three headed upstairs, to her room.
Helen Dominic hummed a religous tune under her breath as she began to straighten out the tableclothes. She placed forks, plates, and other silverware on the table as well. Tonight, was a spaghetti dinner and an auction. All the money earned tonight, would be going torwards the elderly in the nursing homes. Even though she and Randall were working on their divorce, she still went to all of the fundraisers and church events that she and her soon to be ex-husband, had frequented. She couldn't help it though. Doing things to help others was a hobby to her. She loved the very idea of it. Just as she reached over to place plates on another table, a shadow stood over her, effectively distracting her. She looked up, startled and her eyes met a pair of friendly brownish-green ones.
"You're Helen Edwards, right?" The mysterious man inquired gently, curiously as he leaned his him against the table. His gaze was locked firmly on him, awaiting his answer expectedly.
It's Dominic. Helen Dominic." She answered him, cocking her head to the side and raising one of her dark eyebrows. "I've never seen you around here before. Who are you?"
The mysterious man laughed, his eyes sparkling brilliantly as his dirty blond hair fell in his eyes. "I'm Michael. Michael Hogart. I'm new to this church. I just joined it today." He told her.
His grin was infectious, so she smiled back it him. She was completely content to just stand here and hold a conversation with him. "Well, our church could always use more members." She replied.
"So, what time is your mom going to back?" Eli asked of Clare, curiously as he looked at her. She was lying on the bed, on her stomach, with a textbook infront of her and her feet up in the air.
Her head popped up and she furrowed her brow at him in confusion. "Probably not until eleven or twelve." She replied. "Why are you asking, anyway?"
He just shrugged his shoulders, much to the amusement of Eli.
Helen laughed as she sat across the table at Little Miss Steaks with Michael. The two had talked some more at the church and found that they had alot in common. She hadn't felt this comfortable with a guy in quite awhile. It was really refreshing as was the fact that he seemed so interested in everything that she had to stay.
To be continued: Clare notices a difference in her mom, Jay and Manny come back for a visit.