Linda knew that she shouldn't stick her nose into Stephanie's business because she knew Paul was nothing like Luke and the situation Stephanie currently found herself in was nothing like the situation with Luke but it didn't stop her from worrying about her daughter. Putting a cookie on each of the two plates she had pulled from the cupboard she poured some milk into two glasses for the kids for a little mid-morning snack. Putting it all on a tray she carried it through to the lounge setting it down on the coffee table, "snacks are served."
Running over to the coffee table Alex was excited, "yay, fank 'oo Gramma."
Smiling softly she went back and sat down on the couch as Vince supervised Lucy with her drink. Patting the couch beside her she smiled warmly at her Grandson, "come and sit with your Grandma a minute please Alex."
Nodding his head Alex wondered over to the couch with his drink in one hand and cookie in the other before he thrust his drink towards Linda waiting until she took it before he climbed up onto the couch.
Waiting until he was sat comfortably on the couch she eventually said, "so how was your weekend Alex?"
Glaring at his wife Vince shook his head, "Linda! Don't do this."
Shaking her head at her husband she couldn't stand by and do nothing, "I'm sorry but I have to."
Knowing there was no way he could talk any sense into his wife he gave in and hoped for the best outcome.
Munching on his cookie Alex frowned, "bad."
Giving her husband a pointed look she felt a smug sense of satisfaction but she also felt a sense of dread to know why it had been so bad for the little boy, "you had a bad weekend? Well that's no fun. What happened?"
Frowning deeply Alex was sad remembering it, "Gramma Pat gots hurts and da mean lady came."
Wanting to reassure the little boy it felt like the right thing to do, "I spoke to Grandma Pat yesterday and she's okay, she's quite sad that she won't get to see you and your sister this week though but maybe later this week we can take you and Lucy to visit her?"
His eyes widened and he nodded his head, "cans we p'ease?"
Nodding her head she smiled softly, "of course. We will wait until later in the week to make sure she is feeling lots better and then we can go and visit her. Maybe later today we can make her a Get Well Soon card."
"We's should. It's be pwetty wiv flowers."
Chuckling she smiled softly, "of course, whatever you want. So why don't you like the mean lady?"
Pouting he crossed his arms over his chest, "she's mean. She shouts at Mommy and Daddy and Aunt Kara and she hits Mommy."
Linda's eyes widened in surprise thinking that he must have misunderstood what had gone on at the weekend, "she shouts at your Mommy and your Daddy? Well that is just plain ungrateful after what they have done for her."
Frowning he nodded his head, "ands she hits Mommy. She bad Gramma?"
Nodding her head she was quick to reassure him, "she's very bad. Nobody should ever hit anybody so don't you dare follow her lead and hit someone."
"I knows. Mommy says it's bad."
Cuddling her Grandson close she smiled softly at him, "yes it is, it's very bad and you're too good to ever be bad." Pressing a soft kiss to the top of his head she hoped by holding him close and by using her words wisely she could make him feel happy and more relaxed, "your Daddy will protect you and your Mommy and your sister so you never have to worry about them okay?"
Nodding his head slowly he was still frowning, "he wasn't homes though."
Vince thought it was his turn to try and reassure his Grandson, "your Mommy will have told him all about it though so you don't need to worry. Your Mommy wouldn't keep this a secret from him because she loves you all very much."
Wanting to change the subject to try and make Alex smile again Linda decided to suggest the one thing she knew he always enjoyed doing, "so I was thinking about making some cupcakes but I don't know if I want to do it all by myself."
Lifting his head to look up at his Grandma his eyes were wide and he looked hopeful, "I's helps. Poppy can p'ay wiv Oocy ands we makes cakes."
Pretending to frown she acted like she really wasn't that into the idea, "I don't know, I mean it sounds like a lot of work Alex."
Pouting he gave her his best puppy dog eyes, "p'ease Gramma." Turning to Vince he gave him his best puppy dog eyes, "Poppy tells Gramma we has to makes cakes."
Laughing Vince nodded his head, "Alex is right Grandma, you must make cake because me and Lucy want to eat them."
Playfully rolling her eyes Linda moved to the edge of the couch, "okay okay, you have twisted my arm. Let's go and make cake then Alex."
Clapping his hands Alex jumped down from the couch, "yays. Come on Gramma, cakes yummy."
Taking his hand she carried his glass of milk into the kitchen with them, "cake is very yummy. I'm sure your Mom and Dad will be very happy to see that we have made a lot of effort to do something useful with our day."
As they walked into the kitchen Linda thought back to why Stephanie had been acting so strange and why she had sounded so off and it all made sense to her now but she had a bad feeling that Paul had no idea because she had told her that she hadn't even told him. Putting Alex's glass of milk on the kitchen table she went over to the cupboards and started to pull out the bowls and assorted other kitchen equipment that she needed before she started to work on getting out all of the actual ingredients that they needed for the cakes. She knew this was a cheap way to do it but she had to cheer her Grandson up.
When Linda left the room Vince picked Lucy up and sat her in his lap as he gave her her drink, "I am so glad that you are too young to know what is going on, you don't need to be scarred by that woman too."
Lucy just drank her milk happily completely oblivious to the drama that was unfolding around her over her.
