"Where are they?" Charlie asked impatiently.
"Stop fidgeting Charlie, love. They're here somewhere." Maisie said, scanning the crowd.
Charlie's parents were finally coming home from their journey on the sea. Charlie and his grandmother were at the boating dock waiting for them.
"There they are!" Charlie said excitedly, jumping up and down. Charlie's parents made their way over to their frantic son.
"Mom! Charlie! I've missed you both so much!" Amy ran over to Charlie, giving him the first hug. As charlie squeezed his mother against him, he noticed how much bigger she had gotten. He pulled away from her; before she turned around to give her mother a hug, he noticed her stomach. That boat food must really be good Charlie thought to himself. Amy hugged her mother. Charlie noticed the surprised look on Maisie's face when she hugged her daughter. So it's not just me.
"I'm so happy to finally be back." Lyell said, giving his son and mother-in-law a hug. He pulled away from them.
"You can tell uss all about the trip on the way home." Maisie said, heading towards the car.
"Oh, the sea was gorgeous! And the food was delicious." Amy said, lookinig out of the car window. Charlie and Maisie made eye contact in the rear view mirror. I knew it had something to do with the food.
"Maisie, my mother isn't home, is she?" Lyell asked, as they turned onto Filbert Street.
"Of course not! She knew you were coming home today. Hmph! Her only son, too!" Maisie grumbled under her breath. She parked in front of the house. The four walked out of the car and into the house.
"I'll go put on a pot of tea while two go get settled." Maisie said, taking her usual spot in the kitchen. While Charlie's parents went up to their room, he sat at the table, watching his grandmother preparing both tea and dinner. She truly was an amazing person.
"Mom has certainly gained weight," Charlie said, trying not to sound rude. It was just so odd. Amy Bone was a health freak who didn't like to gain more than five pounds.
"She certainly has." Maisie said. Was Charlie mistaken, or did his grandmother sound happy? That's strange. Does Grandma Maisie know something I don't? Charlie thought to himself.
Maisie was just finished making her special steak and kidney pie when Charlie's parents entered the room.
"That smells great, mum! I'm starving!" Amy said, taking a seat across from Charlie. Lyell took the seat next to her, looking slightly distracted.
"You ok, dad?" Charlie asked. Lyell broke out of his stupor.
"I'm fine, son. Just tired. I can't wait to get into a bed that doesn't constantly move." Lyell said, excepting the plate of pie Maisie handed him.
"Can I have a little more, mum?" Amy asked. Maisie scopped an extra spoonful of pie on her daughter's plate.
"Thank you," Amy said, taking the plate. She dug right in, eating as vif she hadn't in weeks. Maisie and Charlie watched amy devour the food. Maisie swallowed her mouthful of steak before placing her fork down.
"Er, Amy? Is there something you want to tell us?" Maisie asked. Charlie looked first at his grandmother in confusion, than at his mother for some kind of answer.
Amy and Lyell quickly glanced at each other before looking at Charlie and Maisie.
"Um, yes, there is something. Although we were going to wait til after dinner –" Lyell started to say, but Charlie interrupted.
"Oh please don't make me wait that long! I barely touched anything on my plate yet!" Charlie begged. Amy smiled.
"Ok. Charlie, mum," Amy took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant!" Amy said excitedly. Maisie squealed with joy.
"Oh! I knew it! I'm so happy for you!" Maisie said, getting up and hugging her daughter.
"Thanks mum. And how did you know?" Amy asked.
"You never liked my steak and kidney pie. Plus, you're starting to get a tummy." Maisie said, getting the tea off the stove. Lyell looked at Charlie, who, he just realized, hadn't said a word.
"Hey Charlie, you alright?"
"Huh?" Charlie snapped back to blanked out after his mother's announcement.
"Are you alright?" Lyell asked again, leaning over towards his son.
"You aren't mad, are you Charlie?" Amy asked, fixing her eyes on her son now. "I want to know how you feel about this." Charlie took a second to think.
"I think it's great! I've always wanted a younger brother or sister!" Charlie said. Amy smiled.
Truthfully, Charlie was a little jealous. He just got his father back, then he was taken away on a cruise, then, when he finally comes back, he finds out he's going to have to share him.
"I'm so glad that you are happy!" Amy said, attacking her pie once more. She looked much happier (if that was possible) now that her secret was out in the open.
"How far along are you? Two, three months?" Maisie asked, sipping her tea.
"Five months, actually." Lyell answered. Maisie choked on her tea.
"That far? Wow, found out late, there." Maisie said. Just then, the door flung open, then close with force. Grandma Bone appeared in the doorway.
"Oh this is lovely! First, my only brother gets engaged to a loon, then my own son can't even wait for me to get home for dinner?" Grandma Bone yelled in outrage. Lyell calmly looked at his mother and spoke to her as if they were discussing the weather.
"You mean just like you couldn't have the decency to wait for your only son to get home from a rather long cruise?" Lyell asked. All eyes were on Grandma Bone. Her face started growing a beet colour.
"How dare you –"
"No, how dare you, mother! We are trying to have a congratulatory meal here, and we don't need you ruining it!" Lyell yelled. Grandma bone looked startled for a moment, then her expression immediatley became smug.
"Really? And what are we celebrating?" Grandma Bone asked. Charlie knew she was dying to know. (If only she did just that!)
"If you must know, Grizelda, my daughter and your son are expecting another baby!" Maisie said with renewed excitement. Grandma Bone's nose went into the air.
"Great! That's all we need; another one of him!" She said, tossing her head in Charlie's direction. With that said, she stormed up the stairs. The kitchen became quiet. Amy looked across the table at Charlie. He was looking down at his plate, playing with his food. She knew what was said really bothered him. She was about to say somdething to comfort him, when there was another burst from the front door.
"It's me!" Paton said. He sounded angry. Charlie sprang up and shut off the lights. Maisie got out the candles. Paton walked into the kitchen.
"What's wrong, uncle?" Charlie asked.
"My excuse of a sister! She has no buisness nosing in my personal life!" Paton ranted, while he made himself a plate of dinner.
"Do you want me to get you some tea?" Charlie offered. He got up, got a glass, and poured a cup.
"Now Paton, what's this I hear about you getting engaged?" Maisie asked, starting to get excited once more.
"How did you – ? Of course. Stupid sister of mine! I was hoping to tell you myself." Paton said, taking a seat next to Charlie's vacant chair.
"You finally asked Ms. Ingledew?" Charlie asked, handing his uncle a cup of tea.
"Yes I did. And it feels good!" Paton said, spooing pie into his mouth.
"That's great, Paton! I'm happy for you both!" Lyell said. Charlie could tell that he was still distracted by the baby news.
"When are two getting married?" Charlie asked.
"I just asked for her hand a few hours ago! We won't be setting a date for awhile." Paton said. He was flushing a deep crimson. There was another silent momenty as the meal came to an end. Maisie started collecting the dishes.
"I'm completely sorry Lyell, Amy. Between my sister and the engagement, I completely forgot to ask you how your trip was?" Paton asked, gulping down the rest of his tea.
"It was great. We, er, actually came back with a souvenir." Amy said, glowing once more. Paton looked up with curiousity.
"Really? What kind of souvenir?" He asked. He looked at Amy through the candlelight.
"The kind that takes nine months to get here," Amy said, all smiles. It took Paton a minute, but then he jumped out of his seat, which toppled over.
"Amy Bone! Oh! Congratulations!" He took two giant steps and was at Amy's side in the flash of a second. He scooped her in his arms. Then he let go and hugged Lyell next.
"Congratulations, Lyell! I can't think of any other couple who deserve this!" Charlie was startled; he had never seen his uncle this happy before. Paton then turned his attention to Charlie.
"Charlie, my boy! You must be estatic! Getting a younger sibling. Now you'll have someone to push around!" Paton said jokingly. Charlie put on a fake smile.