Oakdale and its citizens are owned by P&G, I'm just borrowing them for my own amusement.
Chapter 8
Luke woke thinking he heard a telephone ringing. "Mom must have got it." He muttered to himself before he remembered where he was. "Oh, Reid?" He asked. Opening his eyes, he saw that the other side of the bed was empty. He turned his head to read the bedside clock, "Eight-thirty. The kids will be wanting breakfast." Stretching as he got up, he walked over to the crib. No Jacob. He then walked out his door, which was closed. "Reid must have closed it." He muttered to himself as he walked to the kids' room. No kids.
"Morning, Luke." Luke turned with a jump at the voice behind him.
"Uncle Seth." Luke greeted him with a hug. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. Are Grandma and Aunt Angel up?"
"Yeah, they were going down to start breakfast." Seth said as they walked to the stairwell.
"Reid and the kids must already be down there." Luke said.
Luke and Seth were both puzzled to see Angel and Emma standing at the bottom of the stairway peering through a crack in the door.
"What theā¦" Seth muttered before being shushed by his wife and mother.
Angel then motioned for Luke to switch places with her. Luke moved forward so that he could peer through the crack.
"That would make twelve." Natalie was saying as she and Sage were positioning chairs around the expanded dining room table.
"It will probably be easier if we set everything like a buffet instead of passing the dish." Sage suggested.
"You did make an awful lot of food." Natalie added.
Luke could see Reid grimace at Natalie's comment before responding, "Buffet style sounds good. Set out the dishes, silverware and cups. The three of us can pour drinks and give them to everyone." Reid said as he appeared to be drying a mixing bowl. Setting it on the counter, he stepped over to the end of the island where Ethan appeared to be standing on something so he could reach the counter and was mashing something in a bowl. "You're doing really well. Do you think I should add more milk?"
"Maybe a little." Ethan answered examining the contents of the bowl with Reid.
"What do you think, Jacob?" Reid asked taking the bowl and kneeling out of view. Ethan was looking down at Reid. "More milk?" Reid asked and their heard some clapping and a laugh. "I'll take that as a yes." Reid stood and set the bowl in front of Ethan again.
"Here's the milk." Sage handed the jug to Reid.
Reid poured a little in the bowl and then handed it back to Sage.
They heard a car door shut.
"That's probably Dad. Should I wake Luke now?" Natalie asked.
"We're awake." Luke said as he opened the door and lea his other family members into the room.
"Grandma, we made breakfast." Natalie said as she hugged her grandmother.
Luke rubbed his sister's back as he passed her on his way to Reid and Ethan.
"What are you making?" He asked peering into Ethan's bowl.
"Smashed apples for Jacob, he can't eat people food yet." Ethan informed him.
Jacob clapped at hearing his name and Luke saw he was seated in his car seat on a chair next to the one Ethan was standing on.
"They are smashed very good. Jacob should be able to eat them really well." Luke praised and Ethan beamed.
"Go greet Grandma. I'll help Reid finish up." Luke lifted his brother off the chair and to the floor.
"Thanks." Luke hugged Reid from behind.
"Someone had to make sure we ate." Reid remarked sarcastically.
"You didn't wash the pots and pans?" Luke asked eyeing Reid's bandaged hand.
"No." Reid said rolling his eyes at Luke. "Sage and Natalie washed. I just dried. Don't worry I'll allow you to follow Allison's instructions after breakfast. I'm going to starve if we don't eat soon." Reid commented as the kitchen door opened and Holden led Julie and Caleb in.
"Oh, sweetheart." Emma said seeing her daughter-in-law's face. Emma took Julie into her arms hugging her tightly. Caleb wrapped an arm around his wife and his mother, kissing his mother's cheek.
"Sage and Natalie, we should get the food out." Reid suggested. "Here." He handed Luke a couple of hot pads.
Sage opened the refrigerator and pulled out a large bowl and set it on the island.
Natalie opened the oven door and stepped out of the way. Luke looked in at the two trays containing bacon and pancakes being kept warm. "Reid?"
"What?" Reid asked lifting Jacob out of the car seat.
"How much did you make?" Luke asked lifting the nearly overflowing tray of pancakes out.
"A lot." Natalie remarked with a grin in Reid's direction.
Luke set the tray next to the syrups Sage had set out. He then retrieved the tray of bacon and Natalie closed and turned off the oven while Sage got out the serving utensils.
"I supposed I should make introductions before we eat." Holden said. "Mom, have you met Reid?"
"No, I haven't had the pleasure." Emma responded earning a laugh from both Luke and Reid.
"What?" Emma asked.
"Not too many people would find meeting me a pleasure." Reid remarked.
"Oh, Kim has told me stories, but I also know how much Bob respects you, and Katie and Luke care for you. I think Jacob if extremely fond of you as well." Emma responded smiling fondly at the doctor and the infant.
Luke grinned at Reid's slight discomfort at Emma's praise.
"Well for the rest of you, these are my brothers Seth and Caleb and their wives Angel and Julie. Julie is Aaron's mother." Holden introduced.
Angel seeing the quizzical look Reid shot Luke said, "I was married to Holden at one time as well."
Reid just shook his head and Luke was grateful he kept his thoughts to himself.
"Anyway, these are my sons, Luke and Ethan, my daughter, Natalie, Jack's daughter, Sage, Brad's son, Jacob, and Luke's boyfriend, Dr. Reid Oliver." Holden finished the introductions.
"I'm very sorry about your son." Reid offered.
"Thank you." Caleb accepted.
"Well, all this food is going to get cold." Emma said taking the lead and grabbing a plate. "And it all looks delicious."
TBC
