"Where would you like us to sit?" Andy asked, as the whole group made its way to the table.
"Mom, I'll take your normal seat," Emily grinned, sitting at the head of the table, patting for Nathan to sit next to her, "Nathan, you can sit in my normal spot."
Ricky looked at his options, "Well, since we seem to be playing musical chairs, I'll sit next to Nathan," he added, "Mom, you can have my usual seat."
Sharon glanced around almost frowning, as that now put her between Emily and Andy. He offered her a seat before claiming his own, another thing she started to huff about but stopped. She didn't need someone to seat her; she could handle it herself. Still, he was trying to be polite.
"This looks great, Mrs. Raydor," Nathan smiled, "even a marinara sauce for Dad." Emily gave Nathan a funny look, and he explained further, "Dad's a vegetarian."
"Oh," Emily nodded, looking to Sharon, offering her a faint smile, wondering if Sharon knew that, and Sharon replied back to Nathan, "Thank you, Nathan. It's fine if you call me Sharon. Not many people do, but I'm okay with it. Even fewer probably call me Mrs. Raydor. It's either Captain or Sharon, and since you don't work for me, Sharon is more than fine."
"Okay," he nodded, "thanks."
"Wow, this all looks delicious. Sharon, you outdid yourself," Andy grinned, as the food was passed around the table.
Before they started to eat, Ricky jumped in, "Ahh, Mom, you almost forgot to say the blessing," he nodded.
"Yes," Sharon said, and after the table said grace, Nathan looked to Emily, "So, did you help your mom cook?"
Emily chuckled, "No, not at all. I didn't seem to get that talent. Mom's a good cook, though."
"Yes," Andy said after he finished chewing, "this is delicious."
Sharon downplayed everything, waving her hand, "Thanks, but it's just a sauce. Spaghetti is pretty easy. Now, there is cheesecake for dessert."
"Oh, now that I will save room for later," Andy chuckled. "Ricky, tell me, I might have heard you play baseball?"
Ricky looked up to Andy and nodded, "Yes, I do. I play centerfield, and I've been playing since I was little."
"Dodger fan?" Andy asked, already knowing he was from the conversation he'd had with Sharon at lunch.
"Yeah," he grinned. "Love the Dodgers. Mom and I go to games sometimes. Em used to go, but she's not into baseball."
"Now, that could be a deal breaker," Nathan nodded. "I really like baseball," he grinned to Emily.
She just shrugged her shoulders, "You're welcome to go to the games; I just have no interest. I didn't get any sort of baseball interest from Mom."
"So," Andy turned toward Emily, "Emily, Nathan tells me you are going to Arizona State in the fall. What are you studying?"
Emily gave a big smile, "Dance and fine arts. I know that sounds like a dead-end thing, but I really think I can make it big. I was offered a scholarship to dance there and USC, but I chose Arizona State. I wanted to get out of town and see a different part of the country."
"Ahh, very good," Andy nodded.
"She's a great dancer," Nathan smiled.
"Oh, you've seen her dance?" Sharon asked, looking up.
Nathan flashed a big smile, "Yeah, I've watched her at rehearsal a bit when I've picked her up. She's really good. I hope I can see her performance soon."
"Dude, you don't know what you are getting into, asking to see her perform. I've been dragged to it for years. Trust me-it's not that exciting," Ricky grinned.
"Her recital is coming up, the week after prom, I believe?" Sharon asked, looking to Emily.
"Yup, week after prom. Ricky, you don't have to come this time. You're off the hook. I know you've been my biggest support forever," she mocked.
"Thank goodness," Ricky exclaimed, "and for that, you don't have to come to my next baseball game."
Andy put his fork down and looked to Sharon, "So, it runs in the family-all these deals? You have taught your kids to negotiate, I see. Next time I'm called in for some seminar, I'm going to remember that."
Sharon turned to him, "Oh, so you are planning a next time? Do I dare ask what you might mess up that would require a seminar?"
The kids chuckled at the banter, and he kept going, "No plans," he flashed a grin, "but, as I've said trouble always seems to find Provenza, which means it finds me. I just like knowing how to play my cards."
"I've been impressed tonight that the two of you, from what we've heard here at home, can sit there and be civil at dinner," Ricky grinned. "No offense, Lieutenant, but Mom has many stories about all the things you've done. We know the two of you can go rounds."
Andy rolled his eyes, "I'm sure that was all exaggerated. I have no issues with your mom, just the job. She can sometimes be too good at her job, and when that filters into our Murder Room, well, then she's not everyone's favorite person."
"I'm no one's favorite person," she offered, turning to him.
"Okay, you're probably right about that," he grinned.
Sharon rolled her eyes, and she turned back to the table, "So, prom?" she asked.
Emily nodded, as she looked to Nathan, "Yeah, can we go? Mom, you were the one telling me I should go and enjoy it," she grinned.
Sharon pursed her lips, "Hmm, so now you decide to remember things I tell you."
"Well?" Emily asked, finishing off her plate of pasta.
Sharon looked to Andy, "I have no problem with it if you don't."
He shrugged, "I'm okay with it too, and Nathan and I can have a nice chat about being on his best behavior at prom."
"Dad!" Nathan shouted, closing his eyes. Ricky chuckled.
"Oh, Mom," Ricky looked to Sharon with a slight grin to his face, "I'll be going to prom too."
Sharon's expression changed to total shock, "What? You can't go yet-juniors and seniors. You aren't."
"No, but Macy is," he smiled, looking to Andy, "Macy is my best friend."
"Ahh," Andy nodded, "the whole friend thing?"
Ricky nodded back, "Yeah, we aren't dating, but she wants to go. She asked if I would take her."
Sharon looked to Ricky, pointing with her fork, "So, you agreed without asking?"
He just shrugged, "What's the big deal? You've met her before and know we are good friends. It's just taking her to a dance."
Sharon turned to Andy, eyeing her kids, "Apparently, my children have decided to go rogue. They've stopped discussing anything with me."
"It is tough when that happens," he nodded in support, "but," he grinned, "I guess you should be used to it with all the detectives at work. We might do that on occasion."
Sharon chuckled quietly, and then she turned to the kids, "I'm curious about you two," Sharon said pointing to Emily and Nathan, "Tell me what sort of things you've been up to since you've been sneaking out of the house, Emily, and Nathan, where have you been sneaking off to with my daughter?"
Nathan's face paled as Andy chuckled. Nathan met Andy's gaze, and Andy said, "Told you she can be tough. Go on-explain yourself and ask for forgiveness."
"Yeah, about that," he nodded to Sharon, "I'm sorry we snuck around. I know you and Emily have already discussed that, but I am sorry. I did want to pick her up and drop her off at the house, but," he shrugged.
"Mom, we have gone to the movies several times. He's taken me to dinner. I guess we walked around campus some," she looked to Nathan with a puzzled look trying to recall anything else.
"Oh, we went to that beach thing my surfing group was doing. I am in this surfing club at school, and they had a beach party," he admitted.
Sharon looked irritated between the two, and she turned to Andy, "Did you know about any of this?"
"No, none," he sighed, giving a look to Nathan.
"Sorry, Mom," Emily shrugged. "We haven't done anything crazy. No drunken parties or anything like that," she admitted. "I think both of us want to stay away from that kind of thing."
Andy sighed at that, knowing it was smart, but he was part of the issue with that statement.
Sharon just nodded and looked to the two of them, "Please do not sneak around anymore. Deal? I'm agreeing to prom. Nathan, if Emily wants to invite you for her birthday dinner, that is fine too, same with her recital, but do not sneak around."
The two exchanged a glance, and both visibly nervous, nodded, "Deal," the said in unison.
"Nathan, I hear you are a marketing major?" Sharon inquired.
"Yes, I am," he nodded, taking a sip of water, "I'm hoping to get hired by the company I've done two internships with so far. I'm interning with a different company this summer just for some variety, but I really like the other one. We'll see," he shrugged. "I have another year before I graduate. It will go quickly, I guess."
Sharon nodded, "Yes, and then, you will be out of college and out in the world. Emily will still have some ways to go."
"Mom!" Emily sighed, shaking her head. Sharon just offered her a slight smile.
"So, Mom, while this inquest has been just peachy, can I get going? Macy, Chris, Liz, and Mark all want to go to the movies. I've done the family dinner thing, so can I go?" Ricky asked.
"Ricky!" Sharon hissed, "You have better manners than that."
"Sorry," he shrugged, "but can I go? I didn't sneak around dating someone," he snickered looking to his sister.
"Fine," Sharon waved him off, "Please be home by midnight."
"Will do, and nice to see you both," he nodded to Andy and Nathan.
"Well, I'm sorry for his rude behavior," Sharon scowled. "Can I get anyone cheesecake?"
"Mom, we really want to go to the movies too-NOT whatever Ricky is seeing. Since we can't really go out during the week, do you mind? We'll take a raincheck on cheesecake-maybe even have some when here tonight?" Emily pleaded.
Sharon looked to Andy, and he rolled his eyes, "Fine," Sharon said waving to the door, "So much for the dinner together."
Emily jumped up, grabbing Nathan's hand, "Great. Thanks, Mom!" she kissed Sharon's cheek. "Thanks for letting us go to prom together. We'll now have to go dress shopping," she squealed. Sharon just sat there, nodding at her, taking it all in.
"Ahh, thanks for dinner," Nathan smiled, "I promise I'll have her home by midnight too. Bye dad," he offered, and Andy nodded, patting him on the back, as he walked by.
"Bye, son. I'll talk to you soon," Andy offered, as he said, "And, then there were two," he chuckled.
Sharon jumped up and started to clear the plates, "Ahh, yes," she nodded.
"Listen, I can get going," he offered, and Sharon looked to him as he stopped and closed his eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "Listen, we accomplished dinner here with the kids like I wanted. Thank you, and I can clean this up. You are free to go. I'm sure you can catch up with Provenza, wherever he is for the evening."
He shook his head, "No," he sighed, as he looked to her, "It's not that. In fact, I'm going to help you with the dishes. No, it's just that Nathan picked me up; we rode together. It was on his way, so now, since he's taken Emily out-"
"You're stranded," Sharon nodded.
"Yeah," he offered a sigh, "Look, I'll just call him, and maybe we can trade cars? Maybe he and Emily could take your car, and I'll take his back to my place."
Sharon waved her hand, "No, that doesn't make sense either. Then, you'll have to drive all the way back here to get him later. Look, this isn't my idea evening, but I suppose we can make it work. I still do have cheesecake," she offered.
Andy flashed a smile, "Well, unlike you, this sounds like a great evening to me. I already told you that I was delighted to come to dinner. Now, you are probably thinking I planned all this, and please believe me that I didn't. I was, in fact, going to drive here and meet Nathan, but he offered to bring me. Since we have a rocky relationship, I thought that was a good gesture. I'm really sorry, Sharon, but I'm not sorry I get to spend the evening with you, that is, if you're okay with it."
Sharon pursed her lips, "It's fine, Lieutenant."
"Really, Sharon? Why can't you call me Andy?" he asked. "Look, we are off the clock, and besides, you told my son to call you Sharon-please, call me Andy."
Sharon sighed, "I'm sorry. You don't work directly for me, so I should. I guess I am still reeling from the fact you irritate me to no end."
He grinned, "I know. I like that you get flustered around me. It's cute. Now, if you are offering cheesecake, I will take you up on that. First, I'm going to help clear your table-I'd do it all myself, but I know you wouldn't be comfortable with that, so I'll help. Then, maybe we can sit and have some coffee and cheesecake? I'd love to just talk and not about work. That is, if you'll sit and spend your evening with me, Andy, not Lieutenant Flynn?"
Sharon gave a half smile, "Deal. I guess if our kids are dating, we can be civil."
"Oh, I can be much more than civil, Sharon," Andy grinned.