AUTHORS NOTE: I would just like to make it clear that I have used a fair amount of artistic licence with this chapter. I got the basic facts as to how an adoption process in the UK is completed and what is involved from the government website and a couple of local authority websites which offered information on the process, so whilst I am confident I have the rules and regulations accurate, I have taken what was written and filled in the gaps with my own imagination.
CHAPTER 42
Two months later…
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Maisie, happy birthday to you".
I smile as I watch Maisie blow out the five candles on her birthday cake also shaped like a number five, everyone cheers and claps as I look around the room.
Eva is sitting next to Maisie on her left and I am on her other side, my wife looks radiant. Her morning sickness has passed now and the evidence of our baby is starting to be seen. I see Sandra, Tez, Monica and Vic all smiling widely, Declan is running around like a lunatic as usual and Reece and Kyle are both here although I am certain that Reece is only here under protest. My father is also here, as is my mother and my grandmother and they all look happy and relaxed. It is the first time my grandmother has been down to Stoke to visit us and I was surprised she came. My siblings are also here and they are interacting well with Declan, Reece and Kyle. In fact Ricky and Kyle appear to have been discussing various Xbox games every time I look at them.
As well as helping us celebrate Maisie's birthday, my father is also here because the day we have been waiting for has finally arrived. The day after tomorrow, we go to court; on Monday May 20th and hopefully I will be told that I am now officially Maisie's father. We had been surprised at how quickly things had progressed, when I'd had my interview with the psychiatrist he had asked some pretty probing questions about the abuse and my state of mind which I had answered truthfully. Always emphasising the fact that my life had changed beyond recognition since I met Eva and that I had her to thank for my now positive outlook on life and that there was no way on earth I could ever be a danger to either her or Maisie.
It had been quite exhausting but the psychiatrist had been happy that I was no threat and the mental health problems I had had were now firmly in the past. When I read my copy of the report he had sent to Social Services I was very happy with what he had said. So, with that hurdle over with we were then left to wait for the court to grant us a hearing, and now it has arrived, nearly.
We have decided to tell Maisie tonight about the hearing and to ask her if she wants to come with us. I am unsure whether or not it is the right thing to do but Eva seems certain it is. She has already informed the school about it and requested that she takes Maisie out for the day which has been granted but she has also told them that Maisie may not want to go and in which case she will be in school. Eva said she wouldn't force Maisie to be there, but she had also said she would like Maisie to be there when the judge made his decision so he could tell her what it was. She had also said, she felt it was only right he or she be the one to explain to her if things didn't go as we wanted. I know Eva is worried that things aren't going to go our way, but I am not. Charles has assured me that he can see no reason why the adoption should not be granted.
We hadn't heard a peep from Nathan since Eva had been to visit him back in November until the middle of April when a birthday card had unexpectedly arrived for Maisie. Eva had opened it and commented that he didn't even know when her birthday was, he had sent the card for the 17th April but Maisie actually turned five yesterday on the 17th May. He hadn't bothered to send anything for Christmas to Maisie and I am certain he only sent the birthday card because it is now common knowledge that Eva is pregnant and word has somehow, got to him.
Eva had done the right thing and offered the card to Maisie. I think mainly because she knew how my father had prevented birthday and Christmas cards reaching Adam and I from our mother, but that was a totally different set of circumstances. But when she had done so, Maisie had looked at it and said simply, 'but it's not my birthday yet'. Eva had made the excuse that perhaps he had forgotten when it was, to which Maisie had handed the card to Eva and replied 'if he was a real daddy he wouldn't forget when my birthday is'. Something which we had no answer to and we had been shocked at that response and by the sheer maturity of it.
"Daddy!" I hear the insistent little voice and return from my thoughts as I turn and smile at Maisie.
"Sorry sweetheart, did you say something?" I say and I focus my full attention on her.
Maisie points at Sandra who is standing poised with her phone, "Gran-gran wants to take a photo, you need to say cheese and you weren't listening" she says.
Everyone laughs at her sharp rebuke and Vic shakes his head, "Bloody hell, mini Evie right there!" he mutters, this produces more laughter from those around him.
I smile exaggeratedly wide and say the word cheese and Maisie giggles.
"Not yet, we're not ready yet, silly daddy!" she says.
I watch Eva and she is also smiling widely and I know that she is happy to see Maisie so relaxed and happy and I am overjoyed that she is confident in her trust in me to say something like that, and everyone laughs once more at what Maisie said.
"Well that's me told!" I say.
The evening eventually comes to an end and everyone starts to leave, my parents and grandmother are all staying at the Premier Inn, something which had initially surprised me but then I realised my father has changed beyond all recognition since he has reconnected with my mother. Gone is the snob who looked down his nose at everyone and everything and now he is inclusive and tolerant of others and willing to do things which before he would have considered beneath him.
"I'll see you first thing Monday morning then" my dad says as they leave.
I nod, "Yes thanks for doing this and for taking the time out to come down" I say.
My dad shakes his head, "Nonsense, you are my son. This is a huge moment in your life and I am honoured that you want me there to support you" he says. "Besides it is your grandmothers first time in the Midlands" he adds with a grin.
"What are your plans tomorrow then?" I ask genuinely curious at what he is planning to do.
"I am taking your grandmother and mother to Trentham Gardens, I've been told it is very nice there" he says.
I feel Eva walk up beside me and wrap her arm around my waist.
"Ooh yes its lovely there, the last time we went was back in November for the Bonfire Night fireworks display, I'm sure Elizabeth and Ursula will love it" Eva says brightly.
We say our goodbyes and I close the front door. I turn and Eva is looking at me.
"Are we doing the right thing?" she asks me.
I shake my head wondering what she means and the confusion must show on my face as she quickly elaborates.
"The court hearing, telling Maisie and taking her, she is five years old. I have probably scarred her for life as it is, what if we go and they say no, what if the whole thing scares her?" she stops and shakes her head.
"Come here" I say as I realise she is overthinking things and second guessing her previous decisions and she obediently steps forward into my waiting arms.
"We said we would tell her, explain everything to her so she understands, so I think we will do that and then play it by ear and see what she says and then make our decision when we hear what she says" I say.
Eva thinks about that and then nods, "Ok, let's do it" she says with more confidence.
We walk into the living room and Maisie is playing with her new toys. She doesn't even look up as we sit down on the sofa.
"Maisie can you come here a moment please" I say and she looks up and immediately stands and walks over to us. I pat my knee and she grins widely and climbs up, she shuffles and gets herself comfortable in my lap.
Eva moves closer and reaches out her hand and Maisie immediately slips her small one into Eva's.
"Maisie we have something we have to tell you" Eva begins carefully.
Maisie doesn't say anything but I feel her tense up slightly.
"It's nothing bad, we promise that" I add and with that I feel her relax a little.
"Maisie do you remember when we talked to you when you asked us about what adoption was?" Eva says and Maisie hesitates a moment and then nods.
"Do you remember we told you what it meant and what happened?" she pushes.
Maisie nods again, "Daddy said it meant that he would go to court and ask the court if he could be my real daddy" she says.
I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly, "That's right, well remembered, now what we need to tell you is that the court has given us a date to go so I can ask them if I can adopt you" I say.
I hear Maisie take in a sharp breath and she spins and stares at me her eyes shining. "So, you are really going to go and ask them?" she says the excitement obvious.
I nod and she looks at Eva, "Are you going too mummy?" she asks and Eva nods.
"I am, and so is Gran-gran and granddad Geoff – you know daddy's dad" she says.
Maisie nods, "Can I come too?" she asks, and there it is. I had a feeling she would ask this.
Eva hesitates, "You can if you want to, but we don't want you to get scared as it will be lots of grown up's talking and saying things which might confuse you. You will also need to be on your really, really best behaviour. You won't be able to say anything unless someone asks you something" Eva says.
Maisie nods, "I'll be good, and I won't get scared. Can I come too please as I want to ask them? I want them to know that I want daddy to be my real daddy" she says.
Eva looks at me and I shrug, she takes a deep breath and nods, "Ok" she says.
Maisie flings herself forward and hugs Eva tightly, "Thank you mummy" she says, then she shuffles off my knee, "Can I go and play now?" she asks and we both laugh.
"Of course you can" I say and I watch as she runs off back to her toys.
Eva looks at me, "Are we doing the right thing?" she asks again.
I nod, "She is an exceptional little girl, but your gran is going to be there and so is my dad. If she does start to get worried I'm sure nobody will mind if they take her out" I say.
Eva nods again, "Ok" she says.
oooOOOooo
Monday morning…
As I open my eyes I realise today is the day. I turn my head and look at Eva who is still sleeping beside me, as I look at her she opens her eyes and stretches.
"Good morning beautiful" I say, which is my usual greeting to her when we first wake up.
She smiles and shuffles closer wrapping her arm around me, "Good morning to you too" she says.
My hands immediately start to wander as they always do and I feel myself getting hard, as I always do. I tug at Eva's nightshirt and lift it over her head leaving her naked and my hands move to her breasts. They are much larger and fuller now with the pregnancy and while they are no longer painful like they were early in the pregnancy I am still mindful to be careful. My hands move lower and I touch the little bump which is now evident and I lower my head and as I do now every morning, I press a small kiss to it and whisper good morning to the baby inside. I am yet to feel any movement but Eva said she had felt the first movements a few days ago, she said it feels like a butterfly fluttering around inside her and she said in a few weeks I should be able to feel it too.
I feel her hand reach down and stroke me and I shiver and thrust my hips forwards and Eva grins at me as she deliberately strokes me from root to tip. I roll on to my back and a moment later Eva is straddling me. Her libido has gone into overdrive since the sickness stopped and although I am not complaining I am finding it hard to keep up with her. We always make love when we wake up, it is just something we have always done. I think it is a wonderful way to have that intimacy as soon as we wake up as for me it confirms what we have together and I don't know about Eva but it sets me up for the day.
"Eva" I moan as she strokes me, I caress her and kiss her and before we know it she is lowering herself down on to me and starting to slowly move. My hips come up to meet her movements, I am mindful not to be too rough and I watch her carefully.
"Are you ok?" I ask, and she nods as she grips my hands and starts to move faster.
"I am… oh god Gideon" she moans, this encourages me to thrust a little harder and she moans louder. Our rhythm is always perfect as if we are made for each other. I know I have grown more confident over the months and more secure in the knowledge that I can and do bring her pleasure, we have tried many new things and different positions, and as Eva gets bigger I know that we will have to get even more inventive if we want to continue to be intimate up to the birth of the baby. I feel the rhythm change and Eva gets more insistent and I know she is close. I too am chasing my own release, the pressure is building and I grab Eva's hips and thrust upwards quite hard as she comes down on to me.
I feel her start to tense and then the rippling deep inside as she grips me like a vice, and I smile, she is nearly there.
"Gideon" she moans.
"Hang on Angel, I'm nearly there" I gasp.
"Gideon" she says again a little more desperately.
I feel her finger nails dig into me and that pushes me over the edge.
"Now Angel!" I gasp and I grip her hips and thrust upwards and hold myself deep inside her and moan loudly as I come. I feel her pulsing around me milking me and taking every last drop from me.
"Oh my fucking God, Gideon" she calls. I love it when we come together, we are both panting and we are both a sweaty mess as she collapses on me, my arms instinctively go around her and I hold her to me, kissing her and telling her how much I love her.
After a shower we get dressed and I put on my pinstripe three-piece suit and Eva stares at me almost indecently.
"Fuck! You look so hot in that, there is something about the way that suit hangs on you, oh my god!" she says and I grin as I select a tie.
Eva selects a blue shift dress and matching jacket which makes her look elegant and smart.
"Do I look ok?" she asks me and I nod and wrap my arms around her, placing my hands on her stomach.
"You look beautiful, but then you always look beautiful. I am so lucky you chose me to be your husband" I say, and I press a kiss to her head.
I go downstairs and make Eva some breakfast and coffee, she now drinks the decaffeinated coffee and she complains that it isn't as nice. I personally can't tell the difference in taste but I obviously notice the lack of a kick which I got from the caffeinated coffee, but while Eva has to drink this then I will do the same.
Eva appears with Maisie and she looks lovely in her school uniform and shiny black shoes. Her hair is neatly plaited and shines as the light catches it. I place Maisie's breakfast in front of her and push Eva's toast towards her.
"Thank you" they both say in unison.
Eva turns towards Maisie, "Do you still want to go to court today Maisie? Because it's ok if you don't" she asks.
Maisie nods, "I do" she mumbles between her mouthful of cereal.
We are just finishing getting ready when the doorbell rings and Eva goes to answer it and I hear Sandra's voice. I walk out to meet her and she looks very smart in a navy skirt and jacket and white blouse, it comes as somewhat of a surprise as I am so used to seeing her dressed casually in jeans and t shirts, she greets me warmly with a hug.
"What time do we need to be at the court?" she asks.
I glance at my watch, "Our hearing is at 10:30 and my dad and Charles are meeting us there" I say. "Thanks for doing this" I add as I know she has used some of her annual leave for this day to take the time off work.
Sandra just waves her hand dismissively and she tells me that there was no question that she wouldn't not be here today.
The drive to the court is straightforward and as I pull into the car park, I see my dad climbing out of his car. He spots our car and waits for us to park up.
"Hello son, all set?" he asks me as he gives me a hug. I still find it slightly astounding how tactile my father is now, we never got any hugs from my dad growing up. My mother appears and she too gives me a hug and wishes us luck.
"Where's gran?" I ask.
My father nods to the court building, "Inside with Charles, I dropped her off at the door before I parked up" he says.
"What about Christopher, Ricky and Ireland?" I ask and my mother smiles.
"Exploring Stoke and probably ending up buying a load of crap to take back to Manchester!" she says.
We all walk inside, and are greeted by Charles and my grandmother. I lean forward and give my grandmother a small kiss on the cheek and Charles greets us, he looks at Maisie and smiles kindly at her. I feel her grip my hand tightly and I see her slip her other hand into Eva's.
"Right if you want to go and sit down, I need to let them know we are all here and that Maisie is also here" Charles says.
I nod and shepherd Eva and Maisie to the waiting seats. As I sit down Maisie clambers on to my knee and clings to me.
"Are you ok?" I whisper to her and she nods, "If you don't want to go in its fine" I say and she shakes her head.
"No, I want to ask the court too" she says adamantly.
I see Sandra smile and she leans towards Maisie, "You are much braver than me, I don't want to have to say anything" she says.
Maisie giggles at that and I feel her relax.
After a few moments Charles returns and sits with us. "They are aware we are all here and they will call us through in a few moments. The venue has been changed because of Maisie, it would have been in the court but as Maisie is present it was decided a more informal setting may be best so they are going to use one of the side court offices instead" he explains.
A few moments later and someone comes out and calls us and we make our way into a large room with a table surrounded by chairs. There are three chairs at the top of the table, three judges walk into the room with Tasha and smile kindly at us. I look at them there are two men and a woman and the woman crouches beside Maisie who is clinging to my hand and staring at her with wide eyes.
"Hello you must be Maisie, do you know why you are here today?" she asks.
Maisie nods, "To ask the court if daddy can be my real daddy" she says as she looks up at me, "Because daddy wants to adopt me, he said he has to come here and ask you" she adds and looks proud because she knows that.
The judge nods, "Clever girl, that's right, now would you like to go into the other room and play with some toys while all the grown-ups talk first?" she asks as she points to a side room.
Maisie shakes her head, "No" she says simply, but firmly.
I watch as Eva tries to hide a grin and I see Sandra lift her hand to her face to hide the smile which has also appeared on her face.
"Oh ok" the judge says a little taken aback by that.
"I'll be good, I promise I won't talk unless you ask me things" Maisie says earnestly, "But I want to tell you why I want daddy to be my real daddy, I want to ask you if he can be my real daddy too" she adds.
The judges are all smiling now and they take their places at the top of the table.
"Shall we all sit down then" one of the men says.
We all sit around the table and Maisie once again clambers on to my knee and then reaches for Eva and holds her hand. The three judges seem to take notice of this and as one of them writes something down the woman addresses Maisie.
"So, Maisie as you are here today, would you like to tell us why you would like Gideon to be your real daddy and then you can go and play in the other room while the grown-ups talk?" she asks kindly.
Maisie nods, and she looks up at me and then at Eva, there is a long pause and I wonder if she is going to say anything and then she begins to talk and what she says nearly floors everyone in the room.
"I know daddy isn't my real daddy, but I think he is a real daddy. I called him Gideon first because at first he was mummy's friend from work but then I asked him if I could call him daddy and he said yes, but he always said other daddy was my real daddy but…" she pauses as though she is trying to work out what she wants to say and she looks up at me and then at Eva. Her face goes very solemn, "I know that my other daddy helped my mummy make me but he is a bad man and I don't like him… I am scared of him. I am glad he went away. He hurt my mummy. Daddy doesn't hurt mummy and she is happy now and she smiles all the time. She didn't before. Other daddy hurt mummy and he scared me so I'm glad he's gone, daddy doesn't and he promised me he would never hurt my mummy and I believe him because he always keeps his promises. I asked daddy if I could call him daddy because I think he is my real daddy, because he doesn't make me scared, he doesn't make me want to run and hide, I love him and even if you say he can't be my real daddy, I think he is my real daddy because he is like a real daddy… and I love him" she stops and there is complete silence in the room. Eva swallows hard and I reach for her and squeeze her hand.
I am astounded and I wrap my arms around Maisie and hug her and whisper that I love her too in her ear.
"Well thank you Maisie" the female judge says but Maisie shakes her head.
"I want to say more, can I say more?" she asks and the judge smiles and nods.
Maisie looks at Eva, "My other daddy made mummy really sad, really sad she cried and she asked him not to hurt her but he still did and he hurt her… badly, lots of times and I had to run away and hide with Del in his flat so other daddy didn't hurt me too, but daddy makes mummy happy she laughs and smiles and is always happy now and he has never hurt her and I don't have to run away anymore not like with other daddy, that's all I want to say" she says.
"Thank you Maisie" the female judge says kindly, "Now would you like to go through there and play while I hear everyone speak?" she adds as she gestures towards a door at the far side of the room.
Maisie nods and Sandra stands and holds out her hand to Maisie, I lean down, "Go and play with the toys in the other room with gran-gran" I urge and Maisie nods.
"Ok go on then" I say and she slides off my knee and everyone smiles and watches as they go to leave the room.
As she goes to leave she pauses and turns towards the judges once more, "I hope you say yes when daddy asks you if he can be my real daddy" she says simply and I see the judges all scribbling furiously and then they acknowledge her words with another smile. As I watch Maisie go I have a huge lump in my throat. She repeated herself a number of times but the message she wanted to get across was crystal clear.
The three judges still look a little dumbstruck by Maisie's summary of why she wants me to be her 'real daddy' but quickly pull themselves together, they next call Tasha to summarise her report.
I watch as she stands up and begins to speak, she outlines how she was Eva's social worker for a number of years and she too speaks of the abusive relationship with Nathan confirming what Maisie has said and detailing how close Eva came to losing her. She tells the court how she saw how much Eva's life has improved since she has been with me and how in her opinion it would be a good thing if I were to adopt Maisie. She reads out what Maisie had said to her when she had asked her about the adoption and she makes it clear that Maisie is a much happier person with me in her life. She doesn't hold back with the details of how Nathan put Eva through hell and nearly cost her, her daughter completely.
The judges question Tasha closely about the details of Eva's relationship with Nathan and she doesn't hold back in her assessment of it.
They then turn to Eva, "Mrs Cross, Mr Nathan Barker is Maisie's biological father?" one asks.
Eva nods, "Unfortunately" she says.
"Is Mr Barker aware of the adoption proceedings and has he waived his parental rights?" another asks.
Eva snorts, "Yes he is, aware that is. I told him when I went to see him in prison and told him he was out of my life and to leave me alone, he wasn't happy and had a bit of a tantrum about it but as I told him, there is nothing he can do as he isn't named as her father on her birth certificate, so he has no rights" she says almost with a sense of relief at that fact.
"And why is that?" the female judge asks.
Eva looks directly at her, "Because the day I went to register Maisie's birth, Nathan knew about the appointment but he decided to go out with his friends and get high instead of coming with me" she says.
They all question Eva about the abusive nature of the relationship and Eva answers everything clearly, brutally honestly and calmly while I hold her hand silently offering her my support.
One of the judges is reading the report and he looks up and smiles, "Mr Cross, I have read the Social Services report and it has been noted that you have a close male relation who is on the sex offenders register, after he was found guilty of sexually abusing you and your late brother Adam, it has been stipulated that should this court grant an adoption order that you must under no circumstances have any contact with this individual or allow him into contact with Maisie".
I nod, "I never want to see him again so that is not a hard stipulation to comply with" I say. I glance at my dad as I say it who gives me a sad apologetic look, and at my grandmother who simply nods once indicating that she understands. My mother sits silently and doesn't react in any way and I wonder for a moment what she is thinking.
The second judge looks up, "We have read the psychological evaluation and the psychiatrist was happy that your episode of mental illness is now resolved, do you have anything to add to that?" he asks.
I shake my head, "No, I have everything to live for now. I was in a very dark place at the time of my suicide attempt, it had all come out about the abuse both I and my twin brother had suffered as children and my brother had already taken his life, which was the catalyst for my uncle's arrest. After the court case was complete there were certain members of my family who weren't happy that my uncle had been convicted, they would have preferred to have just swept everything under the carpet. I was also grieving for my brother and I felt estranged from my family and that made me feel very isolated and that is why I attempted suicide" I say.
The judge nods, "And who were these family members? one asks.
I clear my throat, "My late grandfather" I say.
"Is that all?" another judge asks.
I nod, "You have to understand, my grandfather controlled the family and his word was law. He was a very domineering man and other members of the family had no choice but to follow his views and directives. But he is dead now and my family is much healthier as a result of his death and is now healing from the damage he and my uncle caused" I say as I glance at my father and my grandmother once more. I notice that they are both wearing expressions of guilt and remorse. I see my mother's hands are now in tight fists and I know that the anger she feels towards my grandfather is still very deep. I feel Eva grip my hand tightly, now silently offering me her support just as I previously did for her as she discussed the painful subject of Nathan.
The judges turn to Charles and ask him to put forward the report he has made and he briefly summarises everything that has already been said about my past and Eva's. Then he outlines my reasons for wanting to adopt Maisie and he states clearly what I can materially offer her, as well as emotional stability and love. He clarifies that Nathan has no Parental Responsibility and is not named as her father and he also makes sure to point out that he is currently serving time and what he is serving time for along with the fact he had previously been released, only to break the conditions of his parole and attack Eva as soon as he had got out of prison.
He lays out all the facts clearly and concisely and I am pleased with the job he has done. The three Judges retire to consider and we are left waiting in the room.
Charles leans towards me "I don't think you have anything to worry about" he whispers.
It seems like an eternity that we wait for them to return but eventually they do, the female judge goes to the small room and invites Maisie to come back in with Sandra.
She smiles at her and addresses her directly.
"Well Maisie, we would like to thank you for coming today and telling us why you want Gideon to be your real daddy. So I would like to tell you that we have looked carefully at everything and listened to everything that everyone has said and we agree with you, that Gideon should be your real daddy" she says.
I hear Eva gasp and she reaches for me blindly and grasps my hand. The male judge smiles and I miss what he is saying as he tells us officially that the adoption order has been approved and that from today, I am now officially Maisie's father.
I fling my arms around Eva and Maisie and I feel and hear Eva sobbing uncontrollably.
We leave the small office and go out into the waiting area ready for Charles to join us, which he does a few moments later. He has all the paperwork and he reiterates the stipulation that we are to have no contact with my Uncle Hugh.
I shake Charles's hand warmly and thank him for his help with this and he tells me that his bill will reflect his pleasure at working on it. He tells me that Maisie will be issued with a new birth certificate and I look at Eva.
"Do you want her to be Maisie Cross or do you want to keep Trammel as well?" I ask her.
Eva shakes her head, "Maisie Cross, she is your daughter now. I am Eva Cross so we should all have the same surname" she says firmly and I pull her close and hold her tightly.
Eva looks at Charles, "I know technically speaking nobody needs to tell Nathan about this but will you write to him officially and tell him, as I don't want to see him again. If you send him an official letter with copies of everything that makes it official, I'd be very grateful" she says.
Charles nods, "I can do that" he says.
I glance at my watch as it is nearly midday now and I look at Eva who is hugging Maisie and telling her that she has a new name now and that she is now called Maisie Cross, instead of Maisie Trammel.
"We should go to the school and tell them, so they can change Maisie's name on their records" I say and Eva nods.
"Yes but I think we should have some lunch first" she says.
Maisie jumps up and down "Can we go to the Red Lion?" she asks excitedly and I smile.
"I think that is a brilliant idea Maisie" I say.
I pause and glance at my father, "Dad? Do you, mum and gran want to come too?" I ask.
They all nod in agreement, and Maisie runs to them and excitedly tells them that the Red Lion is the best place to eat in the whole world.