Chapter 61
Alex left around 9PM the morning to go spend some time with her mother, but she took her time before she eventually left. "I'm gonna miss you." She said showering Phoebe with kisses where her father held her in his arm. "Tell mommy we're going to be fine." Ryan said more to Alex than to the baby he was holding. "All right. Behave yourself." She smiled kissing Phoebe's nose and running her hair through her brunette curls. "Enjoy your time, Lex." Theresa said when Alex came into the kitchen to say she's leaving. "Thank you. See you later" She smiled at her mother in law before leaving the house and getting into the car.
"All right what are we doing today?" Ryan asked Phoebe imagining what he would do if she answered him right now. Probably run for the hills if that were to happen. "Mom, can you keep an eye on her while I go take a shower? I'll bath her once I'm done." He said handing her over to her Nana. "Take your time, I'll give her a bath. The last time the two of us can spend the day together before you guys go back home again." Theresa told her eldest kissing her granddaughter. "Phoebe Grace Booth!" Simone said when she came downstairs taking the baby from her mother. "Can't I keep you here with me for a little while longer?" Simone asked. "Tell aunty Simone there's no way your father would allow that." Theresa laughed.
After Ryan's shower and Phoebe's bath, Theresa laid her on the couch Amorey packing scatter cushions all around her niece in case she rolls off. She was busy in the kitchen preparing brunch for her children, leaving them in the lounger where they talked and laughed. Before she called them to the table she dished Alex a plate for when she comes back leaving it in the oven drawer. They all took a seat at the dining room table when Amorey started. "Can I ask you guys something?" She asked looking through her three older siblings nodding their heads uncertain about where this is about to go. "So, Ryan and I had a talk about Sheldon last night, and he said it's fine if Sheldon comes over." She started but Ryan interrupted her. "No, I didn't say I'm fine with him coming over, I said I understand that you're growing up." He corrected her pointing his fork in her direction from across the table. "Yeah okay that. But like when Nadia and Simone brought guys over you weren't like that with them were you?" Amorey looked at her sisters. "He wasn't as bad but he was still bad. It's just that you're the baby and none of us are ready to see you grow up yet." Nadia said. "And, since you're having some sort of boyfriend now, I think it's time for the four of us to have a discussion about the birds the bees." Simone started leaning forward with her elbows propped up on the table. "Amorey, do you know where babies come from?" Ryan asked looking at his younger sister, seeing the smiles on the other two's faces when they saw how uncomfortable she was getting. "Please not now. I have health class I can't hear this from you guys." Amorey slouched down in her chair hoping to disappear into the ground. "All right. You know when a man and a woman share a special hug…" Ryan started at which point Simone and Nadia couldn't control their laughter anymore and Amorey got up from the table. "Hey, where you going? I wasn't done." Ryan said trying to keep a serious face, seeing how red her face was turning. "Well, I sure am." Amorey shook her head and rushed upstairs, hearing the laugher of her siblings.
"Mother." Alex sad when she entered the house. "In here." Sita called from her bedroom. Alex walked through the house and stopped in the kitchen to check out the renovations. She liked the new changes. Black marble counter tops in the kitchen and off white built in cupboards. They still had to tile the walls but so far it looked good. She took pictures to show it to Ryan later on, he wanted to come with to see how far the building was but, when he heard Alex and her mother were going out, he said it's fine he won't intrude. Alex went down the hallway to her mother's room and hoped on the bed. "Where's Phoebe?" Sita asked when she didn't see her granddaughter. "With her father. This day is for the two of us, I need some motherly attention too." Alex said opening the drawer on the bedside table knowing her mother always had some chocolates hidden in that drawer from when she was little. "Some things never change." Alex smiled when she retrieved the box of chocolates, sitting cross legged on the bed indulging in them. Sita made eye contact with her daughter in the mirror from where she was busy combing her towel damp hair. "Right back at you, Alex." She laughed. Alex walked into every room in the house feeling as if it was yesterday that she moved out. Seeing her room almost as she left it, minus her boy band posters on the walls that she took off eventually.
They couldn't decide on where to go. Alex mentioned a spa but Sita shook her head at that idea and suggested they go buy some lunch and eat it at the park. They popped into the supermarket quickly grabbing the most luxuries they could lay their hands on and a green salad each so they won't feel too guilty for eating junk food. After they paid they headed towards the park which was really quiet, some families came out for lunch with their kids sitting in the shades of the trees. Alex and her mother sat at one of the wooden tables under the willow tree opposite each other. "I need to tell you something and I'm not sure how you'll react to it." Sita started looking at her daughter carefully. "Okay, now you're making me worry." Alex said putting her fork down she used to eat her salad, and looking across the table to her mother. "Ma, what's going on?" Alex asked when her mom didn't start speaking immediately. "Do you remember Uncle Joey who used to live opposite us?" Sita questioned and Alex nodded her head. "Yeah, he was tall and had that fair complexion with the green eyes and black hair. Oh and a really deep voice. I can't believe he was never married." Alex thought out loud, thinking back to the bachelor who had lived opposite them for as long as she can remember. "Yeah that one. Well we've been seeing each other for about six months now. It's nothing big we just enjoy each other's company." Sita concluded looking over at her daughter waiting for her to respond. "Woah, how come you're only telling me about this now, ma?" Alex enquired. "Because I wasn't sure how you would react when you found out, and I don't want you to feel like I've been trying to replace your father with Joey." Sita looked her daughter in the eyes. "I know you're not trying to replace dad. Are you happy with him, ma? And does he treat you right?" Alex asked her mother and she saw the smile appear on her face. "Yeah, he does. And I'm happy sweetie. Alexandra, if you're unhappy about this you need to tell me. I don't want you to act as if you'll accept this to keep me happy but deep down you don't mean it. Because I didn't want to have any kind of relationship with someone until you were old enough to understand what is going on and would give me your input on …" Sita ranted but Alex stopped her midway. "Ma stop." Alex laughed taking her mother's hand across the table. "If you're happy I'm happy. And as long as Uncle Joey treats you right I really don't have a problem with it. I mean it." Alex assured her mother who nodded her head and smiled. "All right then. Thank you." Sita said as they both got up and hugged each other.
They got up, discarded their empty food containers and packets into the bin, and walked around the park some more talking before heading back to the car. They drove back to the house and just as they stopped in the driveway Joey made his appearance by stopping in his driveway. Alex got out and greeted her mother before leaving to get back to her in laws so they could head home. They said their goodbyes on the front porch and as she drove off she hooted and waved at Joey. He waved and smiled at her friendly and she wondered if that was weird and if he knew that her mother was going to tell her about the two of them.
Once she stopped in front of Theresa's house she headed inside and was surprised to find Sheldon in the lounge with Amorey. She pointed to the lounge confused thinking back to what happened the previous morning but Nadia nodded her head. They gathered their stuff and Ryan loaded the car as Alex ate the food Theresa had dished out for her. Once Ryan was done and he saw she was eating he tried to steal some of the pancakes but she swatted his hand away. "No, I'm not gonna share." She said pulling the plate closer to her. "If you're not going to share then you can drive home. I can do with two hours of sleep." He said sliding the keys in her direction, knowing how much she hated driving long distances. "Fine you can have half, and that's blackmail, Ryan." She told him. It worked though he thought. After they packed everything they said their goodbyes and got into the car driving back home.
"Do you remember Uncle Joey?" Alex asked him from the back seat where she sat. Not wanting to leave Phoebe alone in her car seat. "Yeah, the one who lived in the same road as your mom?" He questioned. "Yeah, guess what she told me today." Alex said and he makes eye contact with her in the rearview mirror from time to time. "That he is finally married?" Ryan guessed not knowing where she is going with all these questions. "No. He and my mom's been seeing each other for the past six months!" Alex said seeing the shock on Ryan's face as he looked at her in the mirror once again. "What? Are you serous right now? Alex don't lie to me." Ryan said still not sure if he heard right. "I'm so serious right now, I'm not joking. Do you know how shocked I was to find out about it?" She asked her husband. "Well is she happy? And how do you feel about it?" Ryan asked concerned not knowing how his wife is actually feeling about all this. "I was shocked at first and I had a lot of questions but after talking to her for a while she told me her reasons, and saying she's not trying to replace my father and that they enjoy each other's company." She said still sounding uncertain. "You still didn't answer my question, sweetheart." Ryan said and he heard he sigh from the back seat. "She's happy and I don't really have a problem with it. I mean it's gonna take some getting used to, but at least it's someone I know and not a total stranger. And he is a nice guy." Alex said honestly. "It's almost the same as with you, Amorey and Sheldon." Alex laughed trying to lighten the mood. "No it is not the same. And I wasn't hard on him today when he came over." Ryan said. "Yeah, but he was still really uncomfortable every time you walked into the room. I'm gonna sleep now, wake me up when we're close to home." She said closing her eyes drifting to sleep, her head tilted back against the seat.
They were about thirty minutes away from home when Ryan was stuck in traffic and turned around to look at his wife and daughter still sleeping soundly. "Alex. We're home." He called her, reaching back to rub her knee so she could wake up. She started stirring and blinked so her eyes could get into focus, before looking out the window. "We gotta go past the grocery store on the way home." She yawned glancing over at Phoebe who was awake as well. "Can't Phoebe and I go home, then you drive back to the store and do the shopping?" Ryan questioned, he was really not in the mood for grocery stores and long queues. "No, we're here now, might as well get it done now. You're just looking for an easy way out Agent Booth, which will not be granted." Alex said and he obeyed indicating that he'll turn of at the traffic light on the way to the store. "Special agent if we're being technical." Ryan smiled at her in the mirror as they drove off.
"First day at the grocery store Phoebe!" Alex said as they stopped in the parking lot and she took Phoebe out of the car seat. They walked inside and got the cart with the baby seat, securing her first before Ryan started pushing the cart to where Alex led them. She searched around in her bag for the shopping list scratching the items off as they went along. Alex walked up the aisle past the hardware stuff but Ryan lingered there. Looking over the things wondering what he still don't have in his toolbox at home. "Ryan are we going to have this conversation every time?" Alex asked walking back as she saw her husband looking over new things. "Those ones are old, I need a few new things." He said as he placed some hardware tools in the cart and pushed further. Alex decided to leave it at that not even bothering to look.
Half an hour into the shopping Phoebe became fidgety but calmed down again when Ryan gave her the pink pacifier. "This is only the beginning, munchkin, there's still an hour left before we're done." Ryan told his daughter. "Which I can easily extend to two hours." Alex threatened knowing how much torture this was for him. Phoebe resorted to looking at the people who walked around the aisle and trying to familiarize herself with this new environment.
Ryan moaned the whole way until they got to the luxury aisle and he was like a kid in a candy store, grabbing things as he walked past, until he was satisfied with the contents. Alex tried taking two packs of Doritos out but Ryan stopped her mid way. "No, this is compensation for pain and suffering. You cannot take any of this out." He said looking at her. Alex didn't answer just nodded her head and looked at him as he walked down the aisle. "Boys will be boys." She whispered as she followed him and Phoebe.
After half an hour Phoebe decided that she had enough and that this was boring, drifting to sleep while they did the rest of the shopping. At the checkout after they paid they walked back to the car, Ryan putting Phoebe back in her car seat and securing it before driving home.
"The weekend was really nice." Alex said as they turned into their street. "Yeah, it was. And now it's back to reality." He said pulling into the driveway, unlocking the house so Phoebe and her mother could enter while he unloaded the car.
Hey guys. I Feel like Sita didn't play as big a role as Theresa did in these two chapters but I'll try and make that up in the future. They'll get back into FBI mode and the normal routine from the next chapter on. Thanks for reading & I hope you enjoy. Lovies-S.
