So I'm back in the swing of writing and I hope you all enjoy it. I'm sorry I skipped the gig part but I couldn't be bothered. I just found out that Scott Speedman might be joining ER. Scott Speedman and Shane West on the same show? My dreams seem to be coming true. Enjoy!
Chapter nineteen
Judy is leaning against the kitchen bench, sipping a glass of red wine and checking out her nails. Lilly is chopping up onions, carrots and celery in preparation for a bolognaise sauce. Rick is sitting at the table, drinking a beer and going through the mail. Zoe wanders into the kitchen and stands next to Judy.
"When are we going to the movies, Juju?" Zoe asks as she eats a piece of carrot.
Jude plays with Zoe's hair and smiles.
"Friday night works for me, what do you say?"
Zoe beams and nods her head. Lilly glances at Zoe and smiles and goes back to chopping. Zoe takes another piece of carrot and runs out of the kitchen.
"So Rick, how's the new development going?" Judy casually asks.
Lilly and Rick share a smirk and quickly look away when Judy notices.
"Hey, hey, just because I'm asking about the development, it does not mean I'm asking about Sam," she barks at them.
Lilly gives Judy a knowing look and Judy takes a gulp of wine. Rick coughs.
"The development is going well. We have a meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss the tiling for the bathrooms. It's going to be a complete waste of time. Sam and I already worked it out…"
Judy taps her fingers on the counter and casually looks at Rick.
"And how is his divorce going?"
Lilly laughs and then pretends to cough. Rick gives a bemused smile and takes a sip of his beer.
"The divorce is going fine, though his son is a bit of a mess. Not wanting to go to school, staying in his room."
Lilly gives a sympathetic sigh as she turns on the stove. Judy finishes off her glass of wine and moves to a seat at the table.
"It must be tough on the boy," Judy murmurs.
Rick pours Judy another glass of wine and he goes over to the fridge to get another beer.
"He could use a friend right about now, Rick," Lilly suggests, "lets invite him over for dinner this week."
Lilly winks at Judy with Rick totally oblivious to this.
"Sure, pick a night and I'll ask him."
"Judy, are you free Tuesday night?"
Judy is in the middle of taking a sip of wine which turns into a cough.
"Sure…sure. I think I'm free…I'll get back to you."
Lilly and Rick share a look and they both go back to what they were doing.
(next section)
Grace is sitting in the tv room watching an old episode of Friends and eating nuts. Jessie casually enters the room and joins Grace on the couch. Jessie takes a handful of nuts and looks at the screen.
"So…I was wondering," Jessie starts to talk but abruptly stops.
"What's up, Jess?"
Jessie bites her lip and looks down at her lap.
"It's about Katie…did you know that she's…"
"Gay? Of course I did. Everybody knows," Grace shrugs.
Jessie looks at Grace with a surprised expression.
"What? You didn't know?"
Jessie shakes her head and plays with some nuts in her hand.
"If you didn't know then why did you ask?" Grace asks Jessie curiously and with a hint of suspicion.
Jessie blushes. Grace sits up straight and smiles.
"Did she make a move on you!"
"No! no! Tad mentioned it…"
"Uh uh," she replies and gives an elaborate wink.
Jessie throws a pillow at Grace and she accidentally spills the nuts. Grace pretends to be upset and throws it back at Jessie. They continue the pillow fight when Eli wanders into the room and watches the two girls. He picks up an abandoned pillow on the floor and he throws it at Jessie. She squeals and runs over to him and jumps on his back. Grace cracks up and lets out a snort. Jessie and Eli look at each other and burst out laughing. Grace blushes and buries her head in the couch. Jessie and Eli walk to the couch and both tickle Grace.
"Enough! Leave me alone!" she squeals.
Jessie, Eli and Grace continue to muck around and when Zoe walks past the door way she looks in and pouts. Grace notices and throws a pillow at her. Zoe squeals and throws it back at Grace. The four kids laugh and throw pillows at each other, not noticing Lilly standing at the doorway smiling fondly at them.
(next section)
The family is sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner. Jessie is playing with her food, taking a small bite every once in a while but not really eating anything. Zoe picks out the celery from the sauce and puts them on her serviette. Rick sips his beer and reads the newspaper. Lilly gives him a glare.
"No eating at the table," she tells Rick off.
Rick raises his hands up in a mock apology and Lilly laughs. Rick throws the paper onto the counter and goes back to eating. Grace and Eli are sitting opposite each other and are playing with their feet. No one is speaking and Lilly looks around the table.
"Come on guys. Someone must have something to tell us."
Grace kicks Eli under the table and gives him a look. He avoids her eye and goes back to eating.
"Eli has some exiting news…" Grace starts.
Eli looks at Grace and glares.
"Eli, come on. It's good news," she reassures him.
Lilly and Rick share a glance.
"Come on E, fill us in," Rick says.
Eli sighs and puts down his fork.
"Well…the other night, at our gig…there were some record company guys there," Eli starts tell them.
"And?" Lilly and Rick say at the same time.
Grace gives him a reassuring nod.
"And one company wants to help us make a record," Eli rushes this sentence and takes a gulp of juice.
"Eli! That's fantastic!" Lilly exclaims and pats his shoulder.
"E! That's great news. You and the guys must be over the moon."
Eli blushes a little and Grace smiles proudly at him.
"The company wants to meet with them this Monday to discuss dates," Grace tells everyone.
"After school, right?" Rick asks as he takes a bite of spaghetti.
Eli nods as he twirls his spaghetti.
"Yeah, straight after school."
"E, I'm so proud of you," Jessie beams.
Eli ruffles her hair and smiles.
"Thanks sis."
"Will you remember us when you're famous?" Zoe jokes.
"Nah, I'm gonna forget about all of you," he laughs.
"He was so cute when the company came up to them. He lost his cool and kept looking at his feet. The boys were like little kids," Grace tells everyone.
Eli pretends to scowl and throws a serviette at her. Grace laughs and throws it back at him. Zoe throws her serviette at Jessie and Jessie throws it at Rick. Rick laughs and starts to throw it back but stops when he notices Lilly's glare.
"Well Eli, I'm sure your mum would love to hear the good news. You should call her," Lilly suggests as she puts some salad on her plate.
"I dunno, she's always ragging at me about my music and that I don't do enough work. I might leave it for a while…" Eli suggests as he plays with his food.
Rick coughs.
"E, the longer you leave it, the more upset your mum is going to be," Rick warns him.
Eli nods and continues to play with his food. Grace nudges his foot and offers a small smile. Eli smiles back and goes back to his food.