Chapter 29: COUNTDOWN

Reengaging gears, Steve got back onto the road. In a few short minutes they were pulling up behind the van, where Michael and Trini were offloading the last of the luggage. Opening the door for Madeleine and taking her arm, Steve was pleased to note both young men'd dressed up for the occasion in slacks and polo shirts and were even wearing shoes and socks. Dora's directive, no doubt.

Pallas'd scrambled out first and flung herself at the two, giving each a fierce hug before turning to Rowan. "Row… these are my… our… uncles, Mike and Trini."

With the introduction of Madeleine and a round of handshakes, Steve made to usher them through the side door with an apology. "There's an actual front door but we never use it… this one's more practical."

Just then the door opened, disgorging Jesse, Jason and Ian. More introductions and handshakes ensued. With each man carrying a piece of luggage they formed a processional down the east hallway toward the source of laughter and animated chatter. At the staircase landing, Steve instructed the bearers to pile everything in the hall. "Some goes upstairs and some down… we'll sort it later."

Rowan experienced a moment of disconnect as a polite hush fell over the sea of expectant faces turned his way, adults and children alike. He had to remind himself this was no different from a gathering of the clan back home… except he'd grown up with those people and knew every face. He'd thought he was prepared… but he wasn't… not really. He sought reassurance in the faces he did know—Jesse and Yvonne and their three younger daughters, his grandmother Sally and great-aunt Elayne. Beside him Pallas gave his hand an encouraging squeeze. On his other side, still holding on to Madeleine's hand, Steve draped an arm over his shoulder.

"Everyone… please make welcome our newest family members—Rowan Cameron and his mother, Madeleine Camerata." There was no trace of fear or hesitation in the resonant voice. Expressions of relief were quickly followed by smiles and clapping hands as the smallest of the little red-haired girls darted forward with a bouquet of flowers for 'Aunt Maddy'.

So far, so good, Rowan thought, but the major hurdle was still to overcome. On the other side of the room with their backs to the plate glass Sally and Elayne stood on either side of a figure that could only be the matriarch of the family. Rowan felt himself being drawn in that direction by Pallas.

"Row, allow me to present our grandmother, Dora Maddocks Ross…" Pallas announced.

Feeling slightly foolish, Row bowed—something he wouldn't normally have done in American society—murmuring, "Mrs. Ross…"

The lady cocked her head and smiled with amusement, holding out a small hand. "Well now… I was hoping for something a bit less formal… GranDora, perhaps? Or just plain Dora, if you're more comfortable with that."

Suddenly seized by wild inspiration, Row gently took the offered hand, bowing over it and brushing her knuckles with his lips. Still holding it, he straightened up and laid a killer grin on her.

"Je suis enchanté pour vous rencontrer, grand-mère Dora."

Dora looked down at their joined hands, up at his face in mute astonishment, back down again. When she raised her head the second time, her eyes'd filled with tears. Disengaging her hand to softly touch his cheek, she leaned forward and embraced him.

Collectively held breaths were expelled in unison. Someone shouted "Hear Hear!" Soon all were cheering and clapping. Steve sagged against the piano in sheer relief that the battle'd been won without a shot being fired.

Steve pulled Maddy forward to be introduced to his wife, after which he and Dora took Maddy's and Rowan's arms to escort them around the room to be personally introduced to each member of their new family. Miz Bee steamed in to announce that dinner would be served in half an hour, buffet-style from the sideboard.

Hours later the party wound down as those with homes to go to took their leave. The delicate question of where certain individuals would be sleeping resolved itself when Pallas and Rowan announced they would be bedding down on air mattresses in the open bay downstairs—along with her three sisters and his one. With Michael and Trini right around the corner in one guestroom and Jesse and Vonda in the other, no proprieties would be violated. Maddy was assigned Violet's now vacated upstairs guest room and Sally and Elayne elected to share the spare one.

Closing the door to their own bedroom, Steve reached for Dora's hand, asking humbly, "Will it be all right, do you think?"

She cocked her head at him. "Don't think you've heard the last of this." At his look of abject misery, she recanted. "But in the meantime… yes… I believe it will. Let's go to bed… I'm exhausted and we've another week to go before the grand fête."