Afterboom – Chapter 54

"Hey, Dad," Nick greeted as he walked into the house with Sam and Hannah close in tow, "As requested, Sam and Hannah, blindfolded and gagged," he joked, "just to make the transition a bit easier."

"Alright, alright enough of you, smart mouth. Have you seen your brother?" Robert asked struggling with a bottle of sparkling wine. Looking over at Hannah and Sam, his expression softened and he put the bottle down and smiled.

"Hi Mr. Garrett," Hannah offered with a smile.

"Thank you for having us over," Sam said in a timid voice looking up at the Commander who was towering over him.

"Where's the Dean? I haven't seen her since I got back," Nick began, taking his and Hannah's coats and hanging them up.

"She's cooking up a storm in the kitchen. I'll go give her a hand, you kids make yourselves comfortable," Robert said glancing at Nick.

"Not a chance," Nick shook his head, "why don't you kids go in and make yourselves comfortable while I go help the Dean?" Nick retorted.

"Fine," Robert replied, then looking at his grandson he smiled, "have you ever played with a model train set kid?"

"Only at my friend, Doodie's house. Well, not exactly played because his father is a stickler when it comes to his hobby trains, but I saw it," Sam said, relieved that Robert didn't seem to be as stern with him as he was with Nick.

"Well I think it's time you got to play with one," Robert whispered gruffly, "C'mon," he invited the two of them into the house.

Nick stopped in his tracks when he saw the Dean. Her back was facing him so she didn't see him watching her in silence. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she fit this house like a hand to a glove; the thought was actually quite calming. He never realised how perfectly she managed to fit in, in the lives of the Garrett men.

"Dean," Nick said, finally breaking the silence.

"Nick!" Leslie replied setting down her spoon and walking over to him to give him a hug, "Boy I'm sure glad you made it back here, I was running out of ideas to con you into coming back to the Ridge," she teased.

"Will that joke ever get old?" Nick winced.

"Not if I can help it," she replied smiling, "Where are Hannah and Sam?"

"Dad's with them," he said picking at her food before she smacked his hand away.

"Wait until dinner," she scolded but smiled again, "So how was...uh...Fitchburg?"

"Fitchburg was fine. What I don't get is the goings on in the Ridge," Nick replied raising his eyebrows.

The Dean blushed noticeably, "What are you talking about?"

"I mean Dad! You!" Nick said exasperated, he was sick of everyone playing coy, "He's been in high spirits ever since I got back. And I know I didn't have anything to do with it because he wasn't that happy to see me last year when I got back from New York," he said picking at her cornbread again before she swatted his hand away.

"You're like a swarm of flies, you know that?" she said taking the bread and putting it back in the oven to keep it warm.

"I'm hungry," he complained, "Well? You gonna tell me or do I have to ask twenty more of these questions?"

She looked up at him slyly, smiling and then she shook her head dismissively, "Nah, I think your father would like to tell you two together. I can wait," she said blushing.

"Tell us what?" Nick insisted.

"Yeah, tell us what?" called Ronnie's voice from behind Nick. Nick jumped out of his skin.

"Announce yourself, geek," Nick ordered.

"Tell us what?" Ronnie repeated. Aubrey was standing next to him and his arm was casually draped over her shoulders. Ronnie reached out to take a fritter off the neatly arranged plate before Nick whacked his hand away. "Ow! What gives?" Ronnie complained.

"What are you, new here? Wait until dinner," Nick said authoritatively. Then he looked over at the Dean and smiled, hoping that his good behaviour hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Look, you two you're more of a nuisance to me than you are any help. Tell you what, leave Aubrey with me and go tell your father, Hannah and Sam that dinner is ready," she instructed.

10 Minutes later at the dinner table

"Mm, mm! Attack," Ronnie called out as they all settled into their seats. Robert reached out and smacked him upside the head.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Robert reminded.

"Let's give thanks first," Leslie suggested, smiling warmly. She then reached out and took Nick's hand to her left and Hannah's hand to her right. The rest of the table followed suit until they were all holding someone's hand. They all bowed their heads in prayer and Leslie began to speak, "For the food we're about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen."

"Amen," they all repeated in unison.

"Well let's dig in!" Leslie invited excitedly.

"But before we do, I have an announcement to make," Robert interrupted taking the serving spoon from Ronnie and placing it back in the dish.

"Robert, now?" Leslie asked wide-eyed.

"Sure, why not? Now is as good a time as any," Robert shrugged.

"Okay," she smiled shyly.

"The Dean and I have decided to get married," Robert blurted out.

Hannah's jaw dropped. Sam swore he heard invisible crickets in the room. No one moved and they all waited for Ronnie and Nick to say something.

"Married?" Nick repeated.

"Married," Robert confirmed.

"You and the dean?" Ronnie asked.

"Leslie and I, yes. Married. We're getting married," Robert replied, annoyance building up inside of him by the second. This was not the reaction he'd expected. Especially since the both of them seemed to adore Leslie.

"When?" Nick croaked.

"Well we haven't set a date yet, but we were thinking sometime in January," Leslie chimed in. It was more than obvious that there was tension in the air.

"Well congratulations Dean Edwood," Hannah said warmly, pushing her seat out to give Leslie a hug.

"Oh please dear, call me Leslie," the dean invited smiling. Hannah shot Nick a look.

"Yeah! Yeah, congratulations Dean. I mean Leslie," Nick said getting up to hug her and Ronnie followed him. Nick made his way to his father and hugged him too. "Congratulations, dad."

"Thank you," replied Robert.

"Well I guess we have a wedding to plan huh?" Hannah said relieved that the awkwardness was soon passing.

"Oh well we discussed it and we want a really low key affair," Robert said quickly.

"Oh c'mon Mr. G, you gotta give your lady a treat on her special day," Aubrey cajoled.

"No, no he's right Aubrey. I just want something simple. Not too big," Leslie interrupted.

"Well it's going to be special. We'll see to that, wont we Nick?" Ronnie said smiling at Nick.

"Yeah," was all Nick said.