Party Plans and a Potential Party Pooper

"Hey, you don't need to be lifting that." says a handsome 22-year-old black man. He is tall, and lean but also muscular. He has dark brown skin, attractive dark brown eyes and is sporting a close haircut. He grabs the box from Summer and smiles at her, carrying it over to a table. His eyes carry a certain sparkle to them, that is combination of confidence, happiness and just a little bit of mischief. After he sets the box down, a smile breaks across his handsome mustached face.

"There you go." He tells her. "My brother would be so mad with me, if I watched his pregnant wife carry around boxes and I didn't help." He tells her smiling.

Summer returns his smile. "Thank you. But it wasn't that heavy." She tells him laughing. "Just a few decorations."

"Yeah, but you still don't have to carry it. Not when a Lattimore man is around." He shifts through the box. "And I like I said Linc would have a fit, if he saw you carrying that. He's so protective over you."

Summer sighs and smiles at the handsome young man. "He is. Honestly, he's kind of overprotective." She rubs her belly. "But I get it."

The young man nods. "Un-huh. That's Lincoln. That's our mother in him. If he's worried about you, he will hover and fuss until he makes sure you're through whatever it is you're trying to get through."

He smiles at her. "Just know that he's doing that because he's crazy about you and your child." He shakes his head in amazement. "My little niece or nephew." He smiles again and starts taking some more decorations out of the box.

"One of my big brothers is having a child…" He remarks in almost disbelief. "That's awesome though." He takes more decorations out of the box and starts to bring more things over. He continues to help Summer set up in Society, for the surprise party they were throwing his parents later that day. They had rented out the space for the day, and Lincoln was supposed to meet up with them to help them finish decorating.

"Thank you for helping us." Summer tells him gratefully.

He nods. "Of course. What I would like not helping with my own parents' surprise party?" He asks. "Especially when they have been married for like 250 years." He jokes.

Summer lets a laugh. "Monty…." She says laughing some more at her brother-in law.

Monty smiles again and then a more serious look comes across his face. "No, I am happy to be apart of this. I mean how many couples these days can you say have been married for 35 years."

Summer shakes her head. "Not many in this day and age trust me. I know in my family…" Summer's voice trails off. "Let's just say that not too many people can stay together that long and make it work."

Monty nods. "Right, mom and dad are definitely goals. I'm happy to help them but being here the last couple of days with you guys has given me the chance to scope this town out, especially since I will be working here now."

Summer nods. "Are you excited about starting at Jabot?" She asks him.

He nods. "I am. I'm looking forward to this new chapter of my life. Getting out there into the workforce and starting my career. I want to hit the ground running." He tells her.

She nods. "I hear you. And I hope you enjoy Jabot. Jack is like another father to me he's great. And he really appreciates young talent. So, I think you will fit in well there…" Her voice trails off and she thinks for a moment.

"Though if you ever change your mind, there could always be a place for you at Newman too." She gives him a supportive look. "My grandfather founded the company and My Aunt Victoria is now running the company, and my dad works there as well. And you know that I work there too." She reminds him.

Monty nods listening. "Un-huh... I applied to and interviewed at Newman." Monty informs her smiling.

"Really?" Summer asks smiling. "And how'd it go? "She asks him.

"Like everything else goes, I aced it." He says his smile growing brighter. "It seems like a great place to work, but I just feel…" He pauses thinking for a moment. "Like I should be at Jabot. I just got a feeing that I should be there for some reason." He shrugs. "I just have a feeling Summer..., that I'm going to find something really special there." He tells her. "Just a gut feeling. I have."

Summer raises her eyebrows. "Un-huh." They smile and talk a bit more and then Lincoln enters the room.

"Hey there, old man." Monty greets him grinning.

Lincoln looks around. "Dad is here?" He asks. "He's not supposed to show up with mom until this evening."

"No, I'm talking about you man." Monty shakes his hand and then he laughs and the brothers hug.

"I'm just been spending some time with your Missus here." Monty says looking at Summer. "We've been getting some things underway for Mom and Dad's party tonight."

"Can you believe they have been together that long? 35 years." Lincoln says in disbelief. "Almost as long as I've been alive."

"And much longer than I've been alive." Monty says and laughs. "But yeah, that something special, mom and dad they deserve this party. For keeping it together for so long."

"Yeah." Lincoln nods. He then puts his arms and Summer and kisses her. "Maybe one day our own kids, we will be giving us this type of party." He predicts optimistically.

"Hopefully." Summer says leaning into him smiling. Lincoln looks at Monty and smiles. "Maybe you'll also eventually have a party celebrating an event like this little brother." He teases him.

Monty makes a face, thinking. "Maybe… like down the line. But right now, I am going to enjoy being young and single." He gives his brother a wink. "You know what I'm saying."

Lincoln nods. He then looks at Summer and smiles. He looks back at his brother. "But if the right woman comes along you'll change your mind." He says looking at his brother knowingly.

Monty shrugs. "We'll see."

Monty, Lincoln and Summer talk some more continue to decorate the restaurant that they had rented out for the evening. As they are doing that a brunette in her early 50's is spying on them. She watches them laugh and frowns as she sees how close Lincoln and Monty are. And especially when she sees and hears them sharing stories about their parents. She feels like storming over into the group and busting up their happy moment. But she declines not to and continues to watch them, especially Lincoln. She decides to be a little more patient and makes her entrance at another time. She watches them a little more and then slips away. The trio continues to laugh and enjoy preparing for their parents' party later that evening, unaware that the brunette woman had been around.