Just a short one this time. But I'm bored and my friend *cough* Maartje *cough* won't come online to talk to me.

************************

Victor scanned the crowd to see if he could see her.

He checked his watch again. Rosa's plane should have already landed.

As usual there had been a huge drama at home.

Alex wanted to sleep the night at his friend's house and Linda wouldn't let him. Danika couldn't find her shin guards and Megan's friend called her to tell her that Louise, Megan's arch enemy had also bought the ring that Megan had gotten the other day.

All this added up to Victor running late and missing the plane's landing.

He spotted Rosa at the baggage collection a few meters away however with the summer crowd swelling around him it was near impossible to get a path through.

As Victor got closer he realized she was deep in conversation with someone.

'Hey Mom.' He called.

'Hi honey.' She said, momentarily turning her attention away from the man she was talking to in order to greet her son. She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. 'I've missed you.'

'I missed you too.' He returned her affections. 'Sorry I'm late. We had missing shin guards. How was your flight?'

'Good.' She said. Rosa motioned to her friend. 'Victor, I want you to meet Martin Shaw. Martin, this is my son Victor.'

Martin held out his hand. 'Pleasure to meet you.' He said in a typical cowboy accent.

Victor shook his hand. 'So how do you two know each other?'

Martin answered. 'I met your mother when I moved to Santa Fe from Texas. She was kind enough to show me the sights.' He smiled at Rosa.

Rosa all of a sudden looked extremely uncomfortable. 'Well, we'll have to meet up when we get back to Santa Fe.' She said quickly to Martin.

'You have a good time then.' Martin said, gathered his suitcase and started toward the taxi rank.

'Do you need a lift somewhere Martin?' Victor asked.

'He's heading north.' Rosa said quickly.

'Yeah? Whereabouts?' Victor was interested as to what about this man was making his mother so nervous.

'My sister and her husband own a cabin in the mountains. I'm staying with them for a few weeks.' Martin said in his southern drawl.

'You have fun there. Bye Martin.' Rosa grabbed her bag with one hand and her son with the other. 'Come on Victor.' She dragged him through the crowd.

'Slow down Mom, what's the rush?' He asked as they neared the car park.

'I want to get home to the kids.' She said.

'They're all out. Alex is with a friend, Danika is at sports and Megan and Linda are out shopping.'

'Well, these crowds are making me nervous.' She said.

'Are you okay?' He asked. Victor held her hand and stopped her in her tracks. 'What's the matter?'

Rosa sighed. 'It was a rough flight.'

Victor shook his head. 'No, something's up. Was it that Martin guy?'

Rosa seemed to think about it for a minute. A couple of times she opened her mouth to say something but then thought twice about it. 'He's a nice guy Victor. It's just that since he moved into town he hasn't left me alone. Not in a bad way. I'd just like some time to myself.'

Victor patted his mother on the shoulder. 'You see, that wasn't so hard now was it?'

Rosa smirked and they went back on their way to the car.

************************

'Grandma!' The kids all shrieked as the car pulled up.

Victor barely had a chance to shut down the engine before the kids had the passenger door open and were hugging their grandmother.

'I won a trophy at soccer.'

'Mum bought me the coolest outfit today.'

'The spider near our classroom layed eggs…and they hatched!'

Linda almost gagged at that one. She'd come outside with the kids and stood next to her husband watching their kids run rings around Rosa trying to get her attention.

'Calm down, calm down.' Rosa said, taking the time to give each one a big hug and a kiss. 'Megan, how about you put on the outfit and show me. Danika can show me her trophy and Alex, I'll come to your room and you can tell me all about his spiders.'

'Yeah!' All three kids cheered at once and ran into the house.

Rosa went over to Linda and gave her a hug. 'How are you my dear?'

'I'm good, thank you. It's nice to see you again Rosa.' Linda said, returning the hug.

Rosa patted Linda on the cheek. 'Aw, you are such a sweet thing.' She said. 'My Victor is a lucky man.'

Victor rolled his eyes. 'I know that Mom.'

Linda poked her tongue out at Victor.

'Linda dear.' Rosa started. 'I hope you don't mind but I was thinking of making Ravioli for dinner.'

'Oh Rosa, that would be fantastic.' Linda said. 'Its not too much trouble?'

Rosa shook her head. 'No trouble at all.'

'You could use the packet of Ravioli we bought at the supermarket.' Victor said. He knew that this would get a rise out of his mother.

Rosa glared at him and turned back to Linda. 'Come dear, we have a lot to catch up on.'

Victor was left to follow them inside.