I have had the first half of this chapter written for over a month, but struggled with figuring out how i wanted it to go. Anyways, tonight while sitting on my parent's deck i decided to just sit down and write and am happy with what I ended up with. There were many mosquito bites acquired in the writing of these words, but i think it was worth it. Hope you enjoy!
"Alright everyone, dinner is ready!" Winston says, coming back into the living room after checking on the food. "Can I get some help in serving kids meals and the rest onto platters and bringing to the table?"
"I set the table outside, since it is such a rare nice night in this rainy city" Meredith says, pointing to the backyard where she set a long table for the adults and a short round table for the children. "I'll go get the kids if you guys help with the food"
She makes her way into the playroom, smiling at the organised chaos. At some point in the evening, Bailey made his way into the living room to join the older boys playing games, Zola is happily drawing on her own in the corner at the craft table Meredith helped her set up, and lastly, Ellis, Harriet and Leo are playing with their stuffed animals on some grand adventure in the makeshift wilderness that have created out of pillows and blankets. "Alright kids, dinner time! Let's go wash our hands in the bathroom before we eat."
Winston quickly takes charge of the kitchen, directing the plating and serving of food "Amelia, could you please serve the kids' macaroni and cheese? I have made one serve with pesto for Ellis. There are some chopped veges to add to their plates in in the fridge."
Amelia quickly nods, getting out the plastic kids' plates and Winston turns to Jackson, "could you plate up the beans in the pot over there?" he says, pointing to a medium sized pot on the front left burner, "Jo, could you take out this potato salad?" he says, handing her a bowl teaming with potato salad, "oooo, pickles and dill!" Jo says, her eyes lighting up and Winston and Jackson smile.
Before long, the rest of the food is put onto serving platters and taken to the table. Seeing Amelia fill up her arms with kids' plates, Link approaches to help. "Look how cute they are" he says, pointing to Bailey and Zola helping the younger kids get seats at the small table. "Imagine Scout in a few years helping his younger sibling" he says, with a broad grin, so busy watching the kids that he doesn't notice Amelia tense beside him.
"Yeah, adorable" she replies quickly, giving the kids their plates before turning and catching Jo's eye over the group. Jo nods her head towards the door where Meredith is carrying out the final plate of food, laughing at something Cormac says as he walks out behind her. Amelia nods, smirking as she moves towards the table.
"And she took the paper and decided to make sun green and grass blue just to annoy Zola further" Meredith says, telling Cormac of the continued escapades of Ellis and colour.
"I wish I could say it gets batter" he replies with a chuckle, "but they just keep finding more creative ways to bug each other"
They both look up at the same time as they reach the table and immediately look at each other, eyebrows raised as they shrug and take the neighbouring seats that were left open.
"Let's eat" Meredith says with a grin and the table dissolves into chaos as platters are passed and plates served.
"Who do you think organised this?" Cormac whispers into Meredith's ear, gesturing to their seats.
"My money is on Amelia" Meredith responds, laughing quietly, "is it cruel that I enjoy watching them try to get us together with all their sneaking?"
"Not at all, I admit their persistence is admirable, even if they aren't as inconspicuous as they would think" he responds with a smirk. "I would say Jo is in on it as well" he adds, seeing her keep glancing in their direction with a barely contained grin.
Conversation begins to flow as people start to eat, relaxing into the company of their chosen family and Bailey observes the crowd.
"Was that purposeful?" Bailey says to Amelia who is seated on her left as people break off into conversations.
"Was what purposeful?" Amelia responds, looking up.
"That" Bailey says, pointing at Meredith and Cormac who are deep in conversation.
"Maybe?" Amelia chuckles, with a playful shrug. "Jo and I may have subtly herded people to leave room open."
"You people never grow up" Bailey says, shaking her head with a fond smile. "Anything I can do to help? Those two hard headed fools may take another century to get anywhere at the pace they are moving."
"We just need to keep finding excuses to put them together in the same space, the more comfortable they are with each other the more likely one of them is going to make a move" Amelia says.
A couple hours later the house is starting to clear out as parents try to get young kids home at a reasonable hour.
"So, that went surprisingly well" Meredith says, pulling Cormac out the front door with her. "I mean, besides the slightly tense moment when Winston was told that Maggie used to date Jackson."
"Yes, though I am disappointed that it didn't turn into such a circus that we needed the emergency alcohol."
"Truly a tragedy" Meredith says, leaning into his side as they sit on the swing out front.
"Could I interest you in a planned drink tomorrow night instead?" Cormac asks, "my boys are going to be out with their teammates celebrating the end of the season so I will be most lonely in that big house all by myself."
"Oh, so you keep me away from my kids all day covering your shift and then you expect me to spend my evening with you as well?" Meredith says indignantly.
"Oh, I didn't even think, tha..." Cormac starts saying.
"No, I didn't mean it like that!" Meredith says, cutting him off. "I would love to come over for a drink, maybe after Zola is in bed, say 10pm?" she says, smiling up at him from her place curled at his side.
"It's a date" he says with a smirk. "Good thing we both have Sunday off with how much liquor we have" he adds as they make their way back into the house.
"Thank you for having us, Grey" Bailey says as she and her boys get ready to leave. "Hayes, I think the boys exchanged numbers but let me know if you ever need somewhere for them to stay or anything, my boys really enjoyed hanging out with them, though they wouldn't dare say it in as many words" she adds, sharing a laugh with Ben and Cormac.
"Thank you, I will keep that in mind, likewise" Cormac says, "It is nice for my boys to have some other people their age at this kind of gathering, Abigail's brother's kids are much younger and my older sister's kids are older. It's also nice for my peace of mind for them to have some friends who I trust and like."
Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think. Xx