Chapter 60
Saturday morning Alex laid on her side talking to Phoebe who was watching her mother intently from in between her parents. Ryan was still asleep, but Phoebe was up making it clear that she was hungry and needed a diaper change. After that was done she was calm again eyes scanning the room. It was 08:30AM and there was a soft knock on the door. "Come in." Alex said softly trying not to wake her sleeping husband, Amorey slowly opening the door and peeking around the corner. "Morning, sorry to wake you so early." She apologized but Alex shook her head. "No I was awake had to feed Phoebe." She explained. "Can I take her? That's actually why I came downstairs." She said smiling at the baby dressed in her pink Babygro. "Sure." Alex smiled handing Phoebe to her aunt, the two of them walking back and closing the door behind them. Alex laid back down smiling, Ryan's arm snaking around her waist pulling her small frame closer to his front. Snuggling his face in the crook of her neck. She knew he was awake because he played with her hair. Running his fingers into her scalp in circular motions. "I'm going to fall asleep if you keep doing that." Alex murmured and Ryan kissed her shoulder. She turned around facing him burying her face in his chest. "What do you want to do today?" He asked fingers still working their magic in her hair. "I don't mind I'm down for anything." She replied words muffled by her face in his shirt. "Then I have a plan for lunch this afternoon." He answered kissing the top of her head. "Okay, well I'll go shower then." Alex said sitting up. "Can I join you?" Ryan asked hopeful. "Ryan Booth this is your mother's house, control your hormones." Alex laughed throwing a pillow at him. "It was worth a try." He whined turning around checking the time on his phone before heading out towards the kitchen in search of his daughter.
Everyone was seated and showered sitting at the table in the dining room laughing and chatting with Phoebe laying on the couch and tons of scatter cushions packed in front of her so she won't roll off. The more everyone tried to convince Nadia that she won't roll and that she doesn't roll around yet, she still took the precaution. "Can Sita and I get Phoebe for the day?" Theresa asked looking at Phoebe's parents. "We need some girl time with her and the two of you are not invited." She said pointing a spoon in the direction of her son and daughter in law. "Ouch. Seems like everyone forgot that Phoebe has parents. No one cares about you two anymore." Simone laughed at Ryan and Alex's expression. "Yeah that's no problem." Alex smiled at her mother in law. "And, Sheldon might come by around 10AM we're going to see a movie." Amorey said quickly excusing herself from the table, not waiting for anyone's reply on her comment. After breakfast they still sat around the table refilling their coffee cups. Since all the girls helped out with breakfast, Ryan offered to do the dishes. Sita arrived at the front door about half an hour later. Alex was delighted to see her mother after a while and they all hugged and chatted to her. Once Phoebe became fussy Sita offered to bathe and get her ready for the day. They all followed her back upstairs and sat around on the bed like the previous night watching the other Granny do her magic.
"Phoebe Grace look how much you've grown." Sita said as she undressed her granddaughter, showering her with kisses, testing the water first and then placed her in the water. "Oooohhh someone loves bath time." Sita cooed seeing how much she enjoyed the water. "Taking her out is another story." Nadia said thinking back to the previous night. Sita wrapped her in a towel and dried her before dressing. Theresa looked around her bedroom at her friend, daughters and granddaughter all smiling and laughing and she was happy for the family that she has. This she wouldn't exchange for anything in the world.
Downstairs in the kitchen Ryan was busy with the dishes, since all the women were upstairs with the baby. There was a knock on the door and he went to answer it. He recognized this young man standing before him from a picture in Amorey's room. He had a tanned complexion, tall and muscular, brunette hair with brown eyes and black frame glasses. Ryan was sure he was the, university student, Sheldon they were talking about yesterday, and again this morning. Ryan looked at him not saying a word waiting for the young man on the other side to make the first move.
"Uhm good morning, sir. I'm here for Amorey." The young man said nervously. "And who shall I say is looking for her?" Ryan asked. "Sheldon. Sheldon Quinn." He answered extending his hand to meet the older man's firm handshake. "Nice to meet you Sheldon. A quick question. You're a first year student at university right?" He questioned arms folded as he leans against the door frame, Sheldon still standing on the other side. "Yeah. Yes sir I am." Sheldon stuttered. Ryan didn't say anything just nodded his head. "And you do know that my sister is still in school?" He asked again seeing how nervous and uncomfortable Sheldon was getting. "Yes sir I know what." He answered. "Okay, ad what are you intentions with her?" He asked again. "I enjoy her company sir. We're really just friends." Sheldon assured the big brother scrutinizing him right now. "Then I'm glad we understand each other." Ryan smiled unfolding his arms and gave Sheldon a really solid, firm squeeze on his shoulder seeing his face crease a little. "Well come on in I'll go get her." Ryan was halfway upstairs when Amorey came down seeing how nervous Sheldon was standing around downstairs, rubbing his hands together. "Hey, I thought I heard your voice." She smiled cheerfully skipping down the steps, Ryan disappearing into the kitchen again. "Uhm, can….can we reschedule and go out some other time? I don't think your brother likes me. I mean the way he squeezed my shoulder made me wince. So, umh I'll come back some other time when he's gone." Sheldon said walking towards the door. "Sheldon wait." Amorey said walking behind him but he shook his head at her from the porch. "I'll call you later." He got into his car and drove off.
"Some big brother you are, Ryan." Amorey appeared in the dining room where he stood behind the table watching a game on TV. "Seriously, why would you do that?" She asked hitting his shoulder. "Hey stop." Ryan answered firmly. "Amorey you're 18 years old, having a boyfriend at this stage is not a priority. Focus on school, there will be other guys out there when the time is right." He looked at her intently but she shook her head at him. "Whatever, just leave me the hell alone, I can live my life the way I want to. You know Ryan I get that you had to grow up quickly when dad left since you were the only guy in the household. But you're not my father, you can't dictate what I can and cannot do. So stop acting like you are! Because you're not! " She yelled and ran up the stairs to her room. Ryan let out a slow steady breath composing himself.
"What was that all about? She's usually chirpy." Alex stated looking at her husband quizzically. "Did you have something to do with that?" He didn't answer just looked at her and nodded her head. "Sheldon was here a few minutes ago, I just asked him if he knew she was still in school. And then he told her he has to go." Ryan explained making it sound simple but knowing Alex she won't leave it at that. "Okay, I won't meddle." Alex put her hands up in surrender. "Just don't overreact." She pointed a finger at him and he nodded, retrieving some of Phoebe's bottles to pack into her diaper bag since Sita and Theresa wants to leave soon.
"All right, everything is packed call if you need anything." Alex said taking her daughter before saying goodbye. "We will be fine you two go do something with your lives." Sita laughed carrying Phoebe while Theresa had the diaper bag. "First time parents. Were we like that?" Theresa asked her friend. "I heard that mom." Ryan said from the door. "You were supposed to." She laughed, setting the baby in the car seat and securing it before they drove off.
"You ready to go?" Ryan asked Alex a few minutes later. "Yeah, wherever it is you're taking me." They got into the car and drove out of the busy streets of the city, heading towards the coast. Once Alex smelled the salty air of the beach she let her window down staring out of the window smiling. Ryan reached over and grabbed her hand as he drove along the street. She missed these moments. It feels like the first few times they went out on a date just the two of them and the setting sun making the ocean glow golden. Although it was in the middle of the day. "You remember that one time you taught me how to surf?" Alex laughed when they drove past a surfer walking with his board. "And you thought a shark might be hiding under the wave you were riding. Ended the lesson there and then." Ryan reminisced back to how scared she was and refused to go back into the water, so they settled for ice cream and a walk along the beach.
Ryan parked the car at a small café on the corner, and they got out to have lunch. Holding hands across the table. They looked at all the people passing and walking towards the beach, talking about nothing important but just enjoying the time they have together right now. "What did you want to be when you grew up?" Alex asked thinking it would be fun to see if wither of them achieved it. "Seriously, you're going to ask me that embarrassing question right now." He laughed thinking back. "Come on, it'll be fun." Alex pushed. "Okay, don't laugh at me. I wanted to be a Newberry award winning author. And clearly my life took a very drastic turn." He smiled and Alex laughed. "Hey you said you won't laugh. How about you?" He prompted taking a sip of his beer. "I wanted to be a princess, ballerina, astronaut. I was intent on forming some magical super being into one, doing pirouettes on the moon." Alex hid her face in her hands knowing how absurd that sounds right now, but at the moment she decided on that profession, it was a good idea. "That's badass. And you were laughing at me becoming an author. Princess, ballerina , astronaut." Ryan laughed saying those words out loud. "Stop it. You're terrible." Alex smiled and he puts his hands up in surrender. After their late lunch they got up, paid and walked hand in hand on the sidewalk enjoying the see breeze.
Theresa and Sita ranted the shops buying baby clothes. Once they entered the shops they vowed not to buy more than four outfits, but they were at nine now. Whenever they walk into the next aisle something new catches their eye and they can't resist buy it. At the checkout the cashier looked at Phoebe who was surprisingly still awake staring at her with bright big eyes. "You are pretty, baby girl." She smiled at the two grandmothers. "Will that be all?" She asked once she packed and ringed everything up. "Yes." They answered simultaneously. "If we don't leave the shop right now we're going to be in baby debt." Theresa joked as they walked out with the bags in hand and Phoebe in the stroller. "How about we change her into one of these outfits and take her home like that." Sita suggested and Theresa was game. Cleary when you go out with two grannies anything goes. They certainly are going to spoil her when she's older, it doesn't matter what her parents say. After all that's part of the criteria of being a grandma.
At home the girls were busy baking a cake they searched the recipe for on the internet. Alex sitting at the table reading out the instructions while the other three had three mixing bowls each mixing things on their own before throwing it all into one bowl before putting it in the oven. Ryan caught up with an old friend from school, so once again it was just the girls home alone. "Please don't burn down my house." Theresa said when she entered and saw what they were busy with. Theresa switched on the kettle making coffee for all of them, when Alex looked over to the sleeping baby dressed in a light pink dress. "Did you two spend whole day in the shops buying clothes?" She asked observing the bags on the couch. "Yes, for Phoebe not for you Alexandra." Sita said knowing how she's been complaining that everyone looks past her and Ryan now and that they're all focused on Phoebe.
Around the table, all the batter the sisters mixed separately were thrown into the big mixing bowl and mixed for a few minutes, before the cake batter went into the oven. "Aunty Sita can I ask you something?" Amorey looked over at her. "Sure." Sita replied taking a sip of her coffee. "At what age would you recommend dating?" She asked seriously earning glances from everyone around the table. "Well, I'd say between 18 and 21 would be a good start. Believe me you have to kiss a few frogs before you meet your prince." Sita answered the youngest Booth sister's question. "Thank you!" Amorey slapped her hands on the table showing her appreciation that someone finally understands. "There was this guy." She continued. "Was?" Simone interrupted. "Okay is. Kind of. He was here this morning but Ryan chased him away. Being all big brotherly, saying I'm too young to date." Amorey ranted. "That might have been your future and Ryan send him away." Sita encouraged, amused by Amorey. "Exactly! Why are you the only one understanding me right now?" Amorey said leaving them all laughing. She really was the light and life of this family.
After the cake was done they all played a part in decorating it, and ate big slices of it. Complementing the bakers on a job well done all though there were moments of doubt. Sita and Theresa just didn't know that they were mixing the third batter since the other two either had an egg too many or way too much milk. But alas, it was edible. After some more laughter and conversation Sita greeted the girls and she and Alex made plan to meet up tomorrow before they head back home.
Ryan came home sometime after 10 and saw the house was dark, except for the light in the lounge and the sound of the TV. He went into the kitchen and saw the cake, cutting a slice eating it in the kitchen before checking up who was in the lounge. Amorey was binge watching one of her series, she looked up to see who was standing in the doorway. Once she saw her brother standing there she switched the TV off and got up, ready to leave. "Please don't." He said and she sat back down sighing loudly. " I'm not 7 years old anymore, Ryan." She looked up at him and he took a seat next to her. "I know and it's kind of hard for me to accept that you're growing up. Maybe I was overreacting but I just want to protect you. I don't want you to get hurt sis." He replied honestly. "And I get that. But if I don't make mistakes how am I ever going to learn? You can't always protect me from the big bad world out there. I love you and thank you for caring. I mean it." Amorey hugged her brother tightly. "I love more pipsqueak." He smiled knowing how much she hated it when he called her that. "And I'm sorry about those things I said earlier. I always try to win arguments by bringing dad up. I didn't mean it I was just really pissed at you." She said looking down at her hands. "Yeah I know you were. And it's okay." Ryan said kissing her forehead and ruffling her hair. "I baked you a cake as part of my apology." She smiled. "Yeah killing me softly. If I'm sick tomorrow I'll know it was you trying to poison me." He laughed. "I'm going to lay down with my ladies, good night." He said walking across the living room towards his bedroom, leaving Amorey to her series.
Hey guys, thanks for reading :D. I am an only child and wished I had siblings so I always have fun writing things like this where they do fun stuff together. And we made it to Chapter 60! Couldn't have done this without you guys and your input and help when I'm stuck, you guys are awesome. Hope for many more to come. *There was something I wanted to say but I cant remember – 21 getting the better of me lol*. Anyway, thanks for reading and enjoy. Lovies-S.