21
June sat on the edge of her bed as her mind whirred in total turmoil. Not only had she not been received in the way she had expected, it had felt like she was being run off when she did leave. To add salt to the wound, Lucia did not come back with her. The hope of spoiling that child was taken from her as Jack had placed his daughter on his hip like she was a small thing still, flouncing off as Ianto had taken Lucia into the house like they were best friends.
My how her blood boiled.
And her mind whirred.
And that little voice whispered that she had another way to get their attention
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Lucia was enjoying herself. The kids being herded upstairs in the bedrooms and the night rolling in, music playing on the radio in the background as the band finally broke up their stuff to go home. The band had been good, the food was good and as for the company … Ianto was charming and so sweet. She felt like she had known him forever. The way he spoke, touched her arm softly as he offered her a blanket against the chill creeping into the air… so sweet. No wonder Jack was smitten. She was glad he had found someone like this. Jack was a good man, a lovely man just not one that suited her. And clearly … this is why she never suited him either.
"Daddy!" Mica yelled, running for Jack as she watched out the window, her daughter slid on her stockinged feet as Jack laughed and let the two girls grab onto his belt, pulling at him as they asked him something.
"Ice cream" Ianto said softly as he pottered about "they know I have an ice cream cake hidden for the children. They were supposed have it after the meal but were too full. Want a slice for bedtime."
"Is there anything you can't do?" she laughed as she accepted the cup of coffee he materialised out of nowhere.
"I can't sing Yankee Doodle backwards" he said as he pulled out a tea towel to do some dishes and she stated to laugh.
OK.
Maybe she loved him too … a little.
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Minnie did not know what that woman was up to. Getting home for the checkouts to find the silly thing staining in the garden on her cell phone, talking in what must be what they call a clipped tone as her head shook with each word, it looked like she was spitting. Like a snake.
What Minnie didn't know is that she was closer than she thought to imagining the woman spitting bullets down the phone. She was actually saying the word bullet… did several times as she demanded some satisfaction.
The man o the other end of the phone ws not one to take such things lightly and still wanted to know how she got his phone number. Finally accepting that she was one of the clients for his stupid cousin's beauty salon, he agreed to listen to what she wanted done and how much she was willing to pay.
It was more than he usually asked … well … for what she was offering she might get more than she was asking for too. That was a large dime to drop. He might need some more men.
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Things were winding down, almost midnight and Lucia was asleep in the lovely big bed with her daughter, one that had the faint smell of lavender to it. Felt … comforting.
Jack had driven Gray and Bonnie home to Paul's … Paul too. All of them singing happily to the radio as Jack made sure they were not too intoxicated to get into the house they all shared. Ianto was helping them find a nice place but until then they were staying with Paul. If Jack went on location he knew Gray and Bonnie would move in with Ianto for company.
Ianto was pulling shut the door to the children's room when he heard the faint sound of a small plane. Who could be flying at this late hour? He hoped it was not some mercy flight for some poor soul in trouble.
Ianto turned off all the lights and settled on the sofa to wait for Jack to come home. Hopefully he wouldn't be too long.
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Jack was laughing as he helped Paul get off from the ground, the man laughing as well, even if he was now limping along with the stagger. "Shit. Ground is not cooperating. Damned moonshine!"
"Nope… jealous that you kissed so many beer bottles tonight" Gray agreed then laughed as he whooped and scooped up his wife despite her cry of alarm then processed to race to the front door, slamming her head against the doorframe, tripping and landing in a terrible mess thought the wall of the hallway.
"Shot" Jack said as Paul wavered on the top step with his arm around Jack's shoulder, looking in at his daughter and new son-in-law on the ground.
"Yep" Paul hiccupped "that's gonna leave a mark."
Gray looked up at them with plaster in his hair then they all started to giggle as Bonnie slapped at him.
Jack knew it was going to be longer now as he reached out to help his brother up. He would not leave until he knew they were safe in their beds. Bloody idiots could burn the house down or something.