"So what about this boy?" Jed asks Leo staring him down from his bed.
"I don't know," Leo says as he pulls a book off the shelf. "I've been avoiding the situation all day."
"Why? I need dirt and you know Abbey doesn't like to make snap judgments, well at least not on this kid." Jed sighed he wished more then life he could be out with the rest of them in the house.
"How are you feeling?" Leo said swiftly changing the subject and trying to find a certain page in the book in his hand.
"Better, I can feel my waist again."
"You know sometimes I think you do this when you want to see us all together," Leo said smugly as he snapped the book shut and put it back on the shelf.
"Yes, you figured me out. While I let everyone cry, panic and fret over me, because we both know how much I enjoy that, I do it so I can secretly enjoy all of you out there while you and Abbey stick me in here, while the women cry over my impending death."
"You always were a sick and twisted old man."
"Something like that," Jed says as there is a knock at the door of the study.
"Come in and get this old man out of my sight!" Jed calls. The door creeps open revealing Tess and Evan.
"Hey," Tess says quietly as she lets Leo kiss her cheek. "Uncle Leo, Grandpa Jed, this is Evan Leahy, my boyfriend," Tess says smiling up at Evan.
"Right," Leo says as he extends his hand toward the Evan. Evan takes it and shakes the man's hand firmly.
"Good hand shake," Leo comments as he continues to stare Evan down.
"Yes, you two leave us," Jed says pointing from Leo and Tess to the door.
"What?" Tess asks stunned that her Grandpa Jed was going to make her leave.
"Please, Therese I need to speak to him alone," Jed responds. Both Tess and Leo walk out the door. Evan stands nervously in the middle of the room. Jed looks at him and points to the chair next to his bed.
"You," he booms, "sit."
"Hello, sir," Evan says as he sits down as he was told to.
"No sir stuff. I'm just Jed."
"No offence Jed, but I think you will never be just anyone."
"Touché."
"So what do you want to know?" Evan asks beginning to relax. "Full name, birthday, mother's maiden name?" Evan asks with a laugh.
"Evan Michael Patrick Leahy, August 17th 2012, and Barrington," Jed responds.
Evan looks at him dumbfounded.
"Remember the President is here, we just wanted some basic information, we got it."
"Right."
"So what do you think of my honorary granddaughter?"
"That she is utterly amazing, I can't imagine my life, my future, without her."
"Really?"
Evan nods, "I talked to her dad today."
"About what?"
"Asking her to marry me."
"What did Joshua say?"
"That I had to ask you."
"Are you prepared to make her happy?"
"Yes I would do what ever it takes." There is a long pause as Jed looks at Evan trying to formulate a question to trip him up. Evan finally gets the courage to speak again and asks, "I don't mean to be rude, but, what is my shibboleth for this?"
"You're good," Jed says with a laugh
"I'm sorry?"
"You son are the full package and are exactly what Tess needs. Smart, funny, sincere. You are the real deal."
"Thank you Jed."
"And I say yes, I believe we'd be honored to have you as part of this family."
"Thank you."
"Now I want you to do this now, so you get me in that wheel chair and we can go get this done."
