Meeting the Camdens
"Now don't forget your promise, Simon or I'll be sent to the doghouse," Hank warned, as he pushed the back gate to his brother-in-laws yard.
"Don't worry Uncle Hank...but then again, Happy might like some company tonight," Simon teased, with a slight mischievous grin.
"Don't even think about it!" exclaimed Hank.
As his uncle whipped his head back around, Simon burst out laughing. "I'm kidding, just kidding, Uncle Hank. Besides, Happy is an indoor dog, remember?" He patted his uncle's shoulder, still grinning from ear to ear.
Maddison couldn't help but smile, as she watched the two interact. It had been like that for most of the ride to the house. The two throwing one-liners and funny antidotes about people and places she didn't know anything about. She had enjoyed watching them banter back and forth. As they all walked into the yard, her gaze traveled pass the two men, in front of her. She noticed a petite blonde haired young lady sitting on a bench just outside the back door of the large white framed house.
Turning away from Hank, Simon quickly noticed her also. "Cecilia!" he cried, with a twinkle in his eye and smile quickly spreading across his face. Dropping his duffel bag, he brisky walked over to her. Cecilia rose and wrapped her arms around his waist. Placing her head upon his chest, she sighed, "Mmmm, I'm glad you're home. I've missed you." Pulling her in closer, Simon replied, "Me too," as her kissed the top of her head.
Clearing his throat, Hank interrupted. Simon turned. With a sheepish grin, he apologized, "Oh, sorry Uncle Hank" Wrapping one arm around Cecilia's waist, he continued, "Cecilia, this is my uncle, Hank Hastings. He's married to Aunt Julie, my Dad's sister." Motioning to Maddison, he stated, "This is Maddison, we've just met. She'll be staying with my family, for awhile, I guess."
Unbeknown to the group, Martin peeked from behind the kitchen's curtained window. As he watched, from a distance, the interaction between Cecilia and Simon, his heart ached. It hurt for him to think of Cecilia and Simon together. He wanted to be the one she wrapped her arms around and flashed that flirtatious smile to, but that wasn't going to happen, at least not today.
Feeling a small hand, tap him on the back, Martin turned as Sam asked, "Martin, when, we going to eat? We're hungry." David, his twin brother stood nearby, "Yeah, we're hungry," he mimicked.
Focusing his attention on the two light haired boys, Martin placed his hand upon Sam's head. "Well, I was thinking of having a sandwich. Would you guys like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" Both boys nodded their heads in unison. Ruffling Sam's hair slightly, Martin, said, "Well, Sam you get bread. David, you get the jelly and I'll find the peanut butter and some plates. Ok?" The young boys clamored to the refrigerator to find their items. Martin walked over to one of the cabinets; located the peanut butter and grabbed three plates.
Coming down the side stairs into the kitchen, Ruthie saw the boys, "What are you guys doing?"
As Sam and David placed their items, the loaf of white bread and squeezable grape jelly on the kitchen island, Martin answered, "We're making a snack, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Want one?"
She was about to reply, when the kitchen door burst open. Simon, Cecilia, Uncle Hank and Maddison filed into the kitchen. Seeing their older brother, Sam and David clamored down from the bar stools and attacked Simon with hugs. "Simon, you're home!" they shouted.
Squatting to his younger brothers' height, Simon exclaimed, "Whoa! I'm glad to see you guys too!" He wrapped one arm around each of them as he gave a big brotherly hug.
Having heard the commotion from the other room, Annie walked into the kitchen, "What's going on in here?"
"Hello, Annie," Hank greeted. "Look, who I ran into when I picked up Maddison." As his uncle spoke, Simon rose to his feet. "Hi, Mom. I'm home."
"Simon!" Annie exclaimed exuberantly. Running around the kitchen island, she grabbed her son in a great big hug. "Ooooh, I'm so happy, you're home!" Looking over, Simon's shoulder, Annie then noticed, Maddison, slightly hidden behind Hank. Letting go of her son, Annie gasped, "Oh my goodness, I don't know where my brain's been. I kept thinking you and Hank were coming tomorrow!" Now, feeling totally embarrassed, she apologized, "I'm sorry, how rude of me. Let's start over." Stretching out a hand, Annie smiled warmly, as she introduced herself, "Hi, Maddison. I'm Annie Camden." Stepping out from Hank's shadow, Maddison nodded and nervously smiled.
Looking over the young lady, who stood before her, Annie observed Maddison's features: medium height, just beyond shoulder-length blonde hair, fidgety hands that kept clasping and unclasping around the shoulder strap of her blood red and black duffle bag. Her outfit seemed to match the bag or was it supposed to be the other way around. Nonetheless, Maddison stood there in the Camden home wearing tight black leather pants, black spaghetti strap silk top, layered with a dark red, long sleeved netted top. Quite frankly, Annie didn't like Maddison's choice of clothing, but she would have to address that later. Right now, there more pressing matters, like, where she going to put her new guest. Her head scrambled to think of the best solution.
"Ok, let's see here, ummm," turning to face in a direction where she could see the entire group easily, Annie, began giving directions, "Cecilia, since you're parents are on that business trip, in Europe, you'll share the attic room with Ruthie." Pointing to both, Martin and Simon, Annie stated, "you two will be in Mary and Lucy's old room."
When Cecilia heard Annie state that Simon and Martin would be sharing a room together, she cringed. Glancing over to the two of them, she saw that they weren't too pleased with the arrangement, either. Focusing on Martin, she stepped closer to Simon, as she wrapped a arm around his waist. She tightened her grip around him as her eyes locked in on Martin's face. Her body language and facial expression screamed, "Don't you dare mess this up. I've made my choice, Martin Brewer. It's not you."
Turning, and attempting to give her warmest smile, Annie finished by saying, "Finally, Maddison, you'll move into Simon's old room." Ruthie, who stood closest to Maddison, offered, "I'll show you to your room, if you'd like." Maddison nodded, as she followed her up, the kitchen steps. About halfway up the stairs Ruthie looked over her shoulder to Maddison, "By the way, I'm Ruthie. I know it looks crazy around here and all, but it's actually quieter today. You should see what it's like when we have the whole gang here, then it's really crazy...but a good kind of crazy, you know?"
Surprised, Maddison asked, "You mean, there's more of you?" "Well, yeah, you haven't met my dad yet. Then there's my sister, Lucy, and her husband, Kevin; but they live in the garage apartment...so, I guess it must feel overwhelming, but you'll used to it." By now, Ruthie and Maddison stood just outside of Simon's room.
Feeling intrigued and nervous about the new large family, Dr. Brown had placed her with, Maddison inquired, " Does your family always take in other people they don't know ?" Leaning against Simon's doorframe, Ruthie chuckled, "I guess so, but it's always been like that...I guess it comes with the territory. I mean, my Dad's a minister."
"Hey, Ruthie, can I just take the rest of my stuff up to the room?" Ruthie turned, to see Cecilia standing the bottom of the attic stairs, surrounded by a couple of duffle bags, one suitcase, and even some extra pillows. "What are planning on doing, moving in...for good?" Ruthie teased. "Sure, go ahead, the bed closest to the closet is yours. I'll help you carry your stuff in just a moment."
Hoisting, a purple and black duffle bag onto one shoulder and putting two pillows under the other arm, Cecilia, showed her appreciation, "Thanks, see ya in a few." She then disappeared up the stairs to unpack her belongings.
Turning her attention back to Maddison, Ruthie motioned to Simon's room, "Well, this is your room." Then pointing accross the hallway, "and that's the bathroom. If you need anything, just holler...ok?" Maddison, nodded, "Thanks, I will." She stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. Setting her bag down by the bed, Maddison sat down on the floor. As she sat with her back against the side of bed, Maddison leaned her head back. Quietly resting her hand on her stomach, Maddison sighed. "Well, baby, this is our new home, now."