Chapter 59 : Friendship

On the morning, Gabbie was excited as ever! Claire had so much trouble to get her dressed. "Gabbie, stop moving all the time or it'll take more time than expected. And anyway, why are you so dynamic this morning?"

Claire was tired from the day before. They had been to bed very late, talking about everything and Gabbie calling Neil and she this morning had been like the alarm clock that rang at 6AM on a day you had to go to work and you had not processed the day before because you had drunk too much. But duty called them and they got up. Neil chose to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while Claire went in Gabbie's room.

"You don't remember?" Gabbie seemed upset.

"Oh sweetie, it's just I didn't sleep a lot and I need you to refresh my ideas… And it starts with drinking coffee too. Neil is preparing breakfast downstairs. Let's go!"

She noticed Gabbie kept her head down. Something was not going well. She rummaged through her confuse head and finally found it, hidden in one of the corner of her brain that was still processing.

"After breakfast and when Morgan and Alex will be up, you could show us the drawing you made yesterday with Lisa…"

Gabbie's head raised up. Her lips drawing a smile. "Neil, look who's here!"

"Hello, pequinas! Did you sleep well? Did you have sweet dreams?"

Claire grabbed her cup of coffee and let them alone for a while. They needed those moments. And she enjoyed being alone too. To clear up her mind. And also to wake up because her brain was clearly still in her bed right now. She liked hear them talking in the kitchen. Neil taking time to make Gabbie shaped-dinosaur pancakes and Gabbie laughing each time he failed. Neil talking with her about Beebee and giving the plush toy a bite of pancakes so it could eat breakfast.

"But Beebee doesn't eat pancakes! He likes fish. He's a seal!"

And they laughed again. Later she went to the garden to play with Scooter who left Claire's legs to go and run to Gabbie.

"A little help?"

Neil brought a salad bowl full of vegetables. They needed to peel them for lunch. She smiled to him, grabbed the knife he was handling to her and they went to sit on the terrace.

"I was thinking about keeping Gabbie with us… Permanently… What do you think?"

She remained silent for a while, watching her playing with Scooter in the grass. He was becoming more and more anxious.

"So?"

"It could be a good idea. She seems to like here and I love having her around. She's a real cutie. But do you think she'll be ok with her losing all of her landmarks and her friends… I mean she has been building her whole world there… Not that I don't want her around her. She's one of the people I love the most in this world… But first we have to talk to Mrs. Kays to know what she thinks about this idea…"

She knew she might have been too hard but Neil needed to realize it was not only his idea. Gabbie's opinion had to be taken into account. Like the one of Mrs. Kays who knew Gabbie better than anyone. He remained quiet, peeling onions and carrots. She lost her eyes in the far away, smiling at Scooter jumping to catch whatever insects it was.

"Hey lovers! Already at work?"

Morgan made them jump. Her being there will allow to ease the atmosphere. Because she knew Neil was sulking because she didn't agree with him. He was like this and even if he had grown up a lot, he had always kept a part of his latino proudness inside him.

"Hey Morgan! Slept well? Where's Alex?"

"Taking a shower!" She looked with envy over the vegetables on the table. "What are you cooking?"

"A ratatouille and some iced carrots for tonight. For lunch, we could go and grab some She-Crab soup and Hoppin' John."

Morgan looked puzzled. "What is all of these?"

"Just some crab soup and some peas and rice specialty from here. So delicious! We may go and buy some while the guys stay here."

"Totally in!"

Claire and Neil ended slicing the vegetables. Morgan enjoyed the garden to read her book while Alex spent some time with Gabbie. Neil admired the complicity between his friend and little sister. It was good to know he had someone he could count on at San José. He turned to Claire who was crying like hell while slicing onions.

"Want some tissues?"

"I'm gonna wash my whole face instead as soon as I've finished this."

"About earlier… You may be right… I'll call Mrs. Kays to ask an appointment with her when I'm gonna bring Gabbie there…"

She gave him a faint smile. He was processing the news. His proud Latino side will never admit she was totally right but at least he had listened to her arguments. And that was a lot. "Sounds like a good plan."

She stood up, took the saucepan with the cut vegetables and left a kiss over Neil's hair before vanishing in the house. Fifteen minutes later, she was in the car with Morgan ready to go and buy some good local food. When they came back, Neil and Alex were playing ball with Gabbie while Scooter was running around like crazy.

"Time to eat before it's getting cold!" Morgan yelled at them. They joined them and all sat at the garden table. Time for them to discover the cooking specialties from Carolina.

"This is really good! How do you discover this?" Alex asked serving himself a new plate.

"Indeed, it's Cameron who told us to taste this! She's fallen in love with this style of cooking and she was right, it's excellent. Next step, we experience the real Cajun cooking. New Orleans is not so far away!"

Gabbie ate with envy before she pulled on Claire's sleeve. She turned to her and winked at her. "If you want to excuse us for a few minutes."

She helped her to get off her chair, took her hand and they went in the house for a while. Neil, Alex and Morgan shrugged before keeping talking about the other culinary specialties of the area like the pecan nut pie or the frogmore stew. Neil explained to them he will make some of them once in a few days when they will be all reunited.

"You're becoming a real chief! Morgan is happy when I manage to cook pasta correctly!"

"Don't be silly… You don't even know how to make al dente pasta. But I love you anyway." She kissed him quickly.

"And here we are!" Claire and Gabbie got out of the house. "Gabbie has something to show us! Your turn, Gabbie!"

"I wanted to show your my drawings I made yesterday with Lisa. I have one for you." She showed Morgan and Alex with her forefinger. "And one for you." This time, she showed Claire and Neil. Then, she walked slowly and cautiously around the table to give her gifts she had wrapped with Lisa's help and tied with a cute little ribbon.

Morgan opened it as soon as Gabbie gave it to Alex and her. The drawing was simple but it moved her. It depicted a blond-haired girl with a brown-haired man in what seemed to be a theme park. Alex smiled and dropped a kiss on Morgan's cheek. They had brought Gabbie to a fair some months ago.

"Oh Gabbie this is the fair we went together! You remember!" Alex told her, very enthusiastic.

Morgan dried her tears with a hand and gave her a hug. "Thank you, sweetie. That's really a great gift!"

Gabbie smiled and kept walking towards her brother and Claire and handed them a drawing rolled and wrapped with a red ribbon, just like the one she just gave to Morgan and Alex. Neil took it and unrolled it. And he smiled. A large grin on his face. He handed it to Claire and she laughed. It was them in the drawing, with Scooter in their house and Kot Kot and Nuggets too! The best part was the unicorn just next to Claire.

"Sweetheart, I love it so much! This is perfect!"

"Claire is right. This drawing is perfect and thank you for signing it. It means the world to me."

Neil's voice broke. He remembered how hard it had been to Gabbie to learn to just write her name. But now she knew to write it on her own and it was the most beautiful reward.

"Can I go and play with Beebee and Scooter?"

"Of course and thanks again for these beautiful drawings." Before Claire could finish her sentence, Gabbie was already on her way to sit in the garden and play with her toys next to Scooter.

[…]

Shaun and Vera arrived two days later. Neil and Morgan came to the airport to welcome them while Claire and Alex remained at home. They enjoyed sharing a little time just the two of them. Alex was his best friend since she had arrived in Bonaventure. Even more like a brother.

"You seem so happy, Claire. I like to see you this way."

She smiled at him. "And you seem to have found your balance with Morgan, as surrealistic this sentence could have surprised us when we started our residency in Bonaventure!"

"Don't talk to me about this. This is crazy! But you know we argue sometimes, often…"

"Because you think I don't argue with Neil and his obsession over cleaning and buying food for the next three years?! But love is about concession."

They laughed. "Hey Gabbie! You're up? Have you slept well, sweetie?"

She nodded. "Where is Scooter?"

"He's running in the garden. What about eating your breakfast, getting dressed and then, you can go and play with him?"

"Yessss." Claire's ears resonated as Gabbie almost yelled of joy. She went to the kitchen and prepared some milk and cereals in a bowl. Alex helped Gabbie to sit at the table.

"And this is for you! Enjoy while Alex and I are just in the other room to prepare the bedroom for Shaun and Vera. If you need anything, you call me. Ok?"

Gabbie nodded once again, before starting counting the numbers of oatmeal she had in her bowl. Alex and Claire made the bed, hovered a little to pick the small dust balls on the ground and closed the room so Scooter couldn't enter. They came to see Gabbie who was almost done with her breakfast, and was already overjoyed to go and play with Scooter.

"I'm taking care of the dishes, go with Gabbie."

Claire whispered "Thanks" to Alex and climbed the stairs with her sister in law. Each moment she spent with her, the more she loved her. She was so endearing. She took some clothes from her suitcase and helped her to get dressed.

"You look so pretty, Gabbie! I wish I had your class." She saw she was blushing. Nothing wrong to get some self-love!

"Claire?"

"Yes, Sweetie. What's going on? Do you need anything? "

"I can do your hair…"

"Not right now. But tonight before going to bed!"

Gabbie seemed a little disappointed but smiled anyway. "I'd like to do this right now, Sweetie. I really do but Shaun and Vera will be there in a few minutes and I still have a lot of things to do…." She took Gabbie in her arms and hugged her tightly. "You do know I love you, Gabbie, right?"

"I do. I love you too, Claire."

For Claire, it was the most beautiful gift she could even receive. Being accepted and loved by Gabbie, when she knew she was incredibly close to Neil. She separated from her after dropping a kiss on her head. Scooter was barking.

"I think Scooter is calling you!"

She saw the sparkles in Gabbie's eyes. They climbed down the stairs and went to the garden where Scooter was seated just at the bottom of the terrace.

"Gabbie, you promise me you don't go too far. You don't walk over the path even if Scooter goes over it! And if he does, you call him for him to be back. You understand?"

She nodded and looked at the dog. "It's not against you, sweetie. It's just it can be dangerous. And I don't want you or Scooter to be hurt. OK?"

She kept an eye over them for a while. "She's understood what you said, you know, Mama Bear…"

"I know but I can't help it. Kind of a second nature…"

They heard a horn coming from the end of the path. Neil's car appears in their field of vision. He parked the car in front of the house and Morgan, Vera and Shaun got off.

"Welcome!" Claire was so excited to see all of her friends gathering here! She couldn't wait to share new stories and moments with them, even if she knew time will once again spend too fast.

Vera came and hugged Claire. "So happy you're here!"

"It's been a hell of a ride but we've made it! And Shaun doesn't seem too stressed about it, so it's a big win."

Claire let go of Vera's arms to see Shaun watching closely his new environment. She came slowly near him. She didn't want to surprise him. He needed to get used to this new place and seeing familiar faces will help him for sure.

"Glad you came, Shaun."

"Oh, hello Claire. I'm glad I'm here too. It seems peaceful."

"It's because it is. You're gonna love this place. It's perfect to relax! Did you travel safe?"

"Yes. I was with Vera so it was Ok."

"That's great news! Ready to visit the place?"

"I prefer to remain here for a couple more minutes…"

"No problem! I'm gonna help the other with the suitcases and I come back!"

Morgan and Neil helped Vera with the luggage while Claire showed the room. Alex remained outside to keep an eye on both Gabbie and Shaun. Better be careful. They got out of the house some time later to see that Shaun had moved a little, walking next to Alex who introduced him to Gabbie and Scooter. Even if Shaun was a little scared by the dog, he seemed to enjoy the moment.

"What about you settling in your place and we eat all together in the garden at noon?" Claire proposed.

"Sounds like a very good idea!"

Vera seemed delighted. She came to see Shaun and thanked Alex to have stayed with him. Claire kept looking at them. She enjoyed seeing his friend with such a caring person like Vera. She let out a smile.

"Happy?" Neil came behind her and took her in his arms. Nestling his face in her neck and dropping some kisses here and there.

"More than that."

"Me too."

Days passed. Neil and Claire made discover the area to their friends. They went on picnic. They went to walk along the river enjoying the view and the freshness. Claire brought Shaun and Vera to the Natural Science Museum and the JC Raulston Arboretum while Neil showed the State Farmer Market and Pullen Park to Gabbie, Alex and Morgan. Normal, fun holidays. Greta will come later when she will be back from her cruise.

Each night, Neil looked at all his friends, his beloved wife and sister and he realized how lucky he was. And for once, in his head he thanked this damned earthquake because it helped him to become aware of what was really important in his life.