"It's just dinner," Luke said with a laugh as he followed a few paces behind Reid in the corridor of Memorial. "It's not even that big of a get together. My parents and my siblings, my Grandma Emma is cooking, I think my cousin Jack is invited. Katie and Jacob are even going to be there. Besides, Natalie really wants Avery to come. All the other kids are older and ignore her or are younger and she ignores them."
Reid glanced over his shoulder to see Luke smiling, laughter in his voice again and his eyes shining brightly with enthusiasm. He groaned, knowing he was unable to resist.
"Alright, fine, but don't expect me to enjoy myself," he said with a sigh. Luke practically bounced on his toes.
"Great!" he exclaimed. "Dinner is at six. Do you know where the Snyder Farm is?"
"No," replied Reid flatly before turning his back to Luke again and glancing at the files in front of him. "But I think I'll just bum a ride off of Katie, that way I don't have to worry about figuring it out."
Luke rolled his eyes with a smile. "Alright. You better be there," he said, poking Reid in the shoulder. Before Reid could comment Luke was already strolling away. Reid watched him go, lips tightening, his chest, too, as he tried to figure out how once again Mr. Snyder had managed to wrangle him into something.
…..
"Oh, stop complaining already, will you?" sighed Katie as she pulled up the gravel drive to the Snyder Farm. She'd been here more times than she could count but the serene landscape never failed to calm her. There was a slew of other vehicles parked outside and someone had obviously shoveled, a far from easy task in a dirt lot, Reid noted. There were a few inches of snow just about everywhere you looked. He couldn't help but think to himself as he walked with Avery, Katie and Jacob up to the main house that it looked like something off of a postcard. He then proceeded to mentally scorn himself, blaming Luke Snyder for the romanticized thoughts swirling in his head these days.
Katie held Jacob on her hip and Reid held open the screen door to the porch. Natalie was sitting on the small couch and jumped up as they entered, rushing over and hugging Avery.
"I'm glad you're here!" she said dramatically, letting Avery go. "My sister is annoying," she sighed. "Come on, I want to show you something." She grabbed Avery's sleeve and proceeded to drag him into the house.
Looking back at Reid Katie just laughed. "Wow. They're adorable, aren't they?" she said happily.
Reid gave her in incredulous look to which she simply rolled her eyes. He moved around her, holding open the next door as she walked into the Snyder kitchen.
"Hello there," she called as Reid stepped in behind her, looking extremely uncomfortable.
"Oh, Katie, sweetie, it's so good to see you!" Katie was immediately pulled into a hug by a shorter, dark haired woman that Reid could only guess was the infamous Emma. The food she was cooking filled the house with the most delicious aroma and Reid could feel himself already relaxing. "Oh, and my dear Jacob, you're getting so big!" Emma continued, her voice cracking a bit as she took the small boy into her arms. Katie moved further into the room, walking up to a dark haired man Reid didn't recognize and kissing him on the cheek. The man then helped Katie with her coat, hanging it on the rack beside the stairs. Katie began chatting with the man and the blond woman beside him, so Reid took care of himself, letting his brown leather jacket slip from his shoulders and hanging it with Katie's.
"Reid, come here!" said Katie insistently, using her arms to beckon Reid closer. "Jack, Carly, this is Dr. Reid Oliver. My former roommate," she added with a laugh.
"Hey, you're the one taking over the new wing at Memorial, right?" said the man named Jack, extending his arm and firmly shaking hands with Reid, who forced a quick smile back.
"Yeah, that's me," he answered evenly. Katie was grinning beside him.
"Oh! You're also doing the operation on Noah Mayer," commented the blond. Reid nodded. "It's wonderful to meet you, I'm Carly." They, too, shook hands.
"Jack and Holden, Luke's dad, are cousins," Katie explained. Reid simply nodded like he cared. "And this is Emma!" she went on, turning to Emma and Jacob who were approaching the group. "Holden's mom, Luke's grandmother."
"It's so nice to meet you, Dr. Oliver," Emma said brightly, looking like she wanted to hug Reid and was barely managing to keep from doing so. "I am so happy that you are here to help our Noah, I can't thank you enough."
Reid's throat tightened and he forced another stiff smile.
"Just doing my job," he shrugged.
"Oh, and that Avery seems like such a sweet boy!" Emma commented. Reid shifted his weight and Katie noticed a bit of color return to Reid's cheeks. He was obviously resisting a smile.
"Hey, careful now!" Another voice drifted down the hallway, laughter attached to every word. Reid looked up immediately, watching in anticipation as Luke appeared in the doorway, looking over his shoulder into the living room which Reid could only guess was filled with hyper children. "Hello, Grandma," he said, stepping up beside Emma and dropping a kiss onto her cheek. "Jack, Carly, it's good to see you guys. When did you get here?"
"Oh, just a few minutes ago. Had to drop Sage off at a friend's first," answered Jack with a shrug.
"That's too bad she couldn't be here," said Luke. "I think Faith is with Parker in the den."
Carly and Jack exchanged looks that Reid didn't understand, nor did he want to.
"Dr. Oliver," said Luke casually, glancing up at Reid as though he just noticed he was there. "I'm glad you guys could make it." His smile was bright. Reid's heart was racing. He couldn't help but admire the way Luke looked tonight. For once he wasn't in dress clothes, instead in dark jeans and a simple dark blue sweater that clung just right to his masculine curves. His hair appeared to be completely product-free and Reid had to admit, the more natural style looked good on him. He seemed tired, though, Reid noted, and he couldn't help but feel that Luke's smile was a few degrees dimmer than he would have expected.
"I said I'd be here," Reid replied simply. He noticed Katie staring at him and just raised his eyebrows at her, silently signaling for her to mind her own business.
"How about all of you go into the living room while I get all of this set up," suggested Emma, immediately beginning to shoo them all out.
"I can help, Grandma, I don't mind," said Luke. Emma smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek, to which Luke leaned down to her height automatically.
"That's sweet, darling, but I'll manage okay. If I can set up for Thanksgiving on my own, I can certainly handle this!"
Luke laughed a nodded, allowing himself to follow the others as they made their way into the other room.
The sight before Reid made his eyes widen, possibly in fear.
Thank goodness the room was so big, he thought. He caught sight of a second couple, whom he assumed were Luke's parents, sitting on the couch, though with a decent amount of distance between them. Avery and Natalie were sitting on floor, Natalie holding some hand held game system and Avery watching expectantly over her shoulder. Jack and Carly immediately moved into the room, taking seats near Luke's parents and falling into conversation without missing a beat. Katie walked directly over to the play pin in the corner and placed Jacob inside before coming over to talk with Carly and Lily.
And then, in a chair beside Holden and chatting idly with both he and Jack, was none other than Noah Mayer.
Reid couldn't help but notice that Luke seemed to linger in the doorway for a moment, taking in the scene before him with an expression that Reid could only describe as bittersweet. There was a happiness there, seeing his family, but there was still that something that worried Reid. He stood back, just watching, curious as to what Luke would do.
In the end, Luke did nothing, simply standing there, too, and turning to Reid with an awkward smile.
"So," he began. "Have we scared you off yet?"
"Not yet," shrugged Reid. "The smell is enough to make me stay."
Luke laughed. "Yeah, my Grandma Emma is a pretty amazing cook."
Reid nodded and they both fell into an easy silence. Both were leaning back on the wood paneled wall, Luke's hands in his pockets and Reid with his arms crossed.
"Is it always this…" began Reid, trailing off as he searched for the word.
"Loud? Chaotic?" Luke suggested.
"Exactly."
"Pretty much," answered Luke with a soft chuckle.
"Dinner is ready!" said Emma, who had suddenly appeared to Reid's left in the doorway. There was a sudden outburst of relief, to which Reid jumped and decided to stay to the side until the rest of the stampede had passed. Everyone made it out of the room and back into the kitchen in record time. In the end it was just Luke, Noah and Reid.
Without a word Luke stepped up to Noah, taking his elbow as if to help direct him through the room, which after the kids had finished with it had turned into an obstacle course of sorts. Noah twisted away, practically slapping Luke's hand away and leaving the blond with the most doe-eyed expression Reid had ever seen.
"Don't!" Noah said softly, his words sharp. Luke tensed. "I can do it myself," he added with a sigh. He then proceeded to nearly trip over a toy but managed to recover, using his walking stick to navigate the rest of the way. Reid could hear others helping Noah to his seat, while Luke remained frozen.
Finally Luke jumped back into reality, shaking his head and clearing his throat.
"I'm going to go get Faith and Parker," he announced to Reid. Reid just nodded, even though those names meant nothing to him, watching as Luke bolted into the kitchen and headed straight for the stairs, ignoring the people gathered around the large table.
"You're right here, Reid," called Katie, patting the empty seat between her and Avery. He took his seat silently, sort of amazed at how easily such a large group seemed to be fitting into what had at first appeared to be such a small kitchen.
A minute later two teenagers came down the steps, looking as annoyed and angst as would be expected from kids their age, plopping down with attitude into their chairs. Luke followed closely behind, still looking too unhappy for Reid's taste. He simply frowned as the blond took the seat directly across from him, trying to ignore him as Emma started with grace.