Hide and Seek
A/N: Not only low review turnout, but fewer hits on the last chapter. I suppose if you're reading this, you're reading the story, but if something is turning readers off the story, please tell me so I can attempt to fix it. Thank you to reviewers and to readers
The Booth men dressed in their suits and ties and fled downstairs to the TV, leaving the upstairs to the women. It was Lucy who knocked on Tempe's door. She was still trying to decide on what to wear.
"I was just wondering if you needed a hair straightner or curler or anything?"
"No, thank you."
"What are you wearing?" she came in further.
"I don't know. What would be more appropriate?"
"The black. This other dress is nice, but it's too long for a 'get together'."
"Is this okay?"
"It's beautiful. Are you going to Mass tomorrow?"
"Uh -,"
"It's fine if you don't. Mark is an Anglican and I myself am a little lapsed. Greg usually takes the boys to church, but Mom doesn't need to know that."
"Uh – I don't really believe in a higher power. I went to church with Seeley once. A couple of weeks ago."
"Right. Well, that's fine. I'm not sure if Alice is going or not, and Mark might find a church or something, I don't know. Whatever happens, you're welcome to sleep in."
"Okay."
"What are you going to do with your hair?"
"Oh – I don't know."
"We're all in Mom's room. She's downstairs getting everything ready. Join us when you're changed."
"Okay."
So she went downstairs with the rest of the Booth women, including Alice, in another hour. Her hair was curled and piled on top of her head.
"Could one of you do me a favour and go get the boys? They're still down in the basement." Lisa asked. Mark and Greg were already waiting for their wives.
"Odds and evens." Alice said. Katherine had drifted off to the teenage children of the visitors.
"What?" Minutes later, Alice was helping Lisa and Tempe was struggling down the stairs in a pair of heels Angela had 'encouraged' her to buy.
"Uh, hello? Lisa says you have to come up now." She looked around and saw no one.
"Hello?" a childish giggle behind a chair gave them away. She looked to find Parker crouching there. "Where is everyone?"
"Hiding. Daddy said if we hid really good we could take off our ties."
"Well, Grandma's not going to like this."
"No she won't." Seeley came out from under the stairs. "Come on, guys. Fun's over. Boring party stuff now." Jared and the twins and the girls emerged from various hiding spots, groaning.
"Wow." Jared said.
"I heard that." Alice said, coming down the stairs. "What's taking so long?"
"They were hiding." She explained.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" Alice asked her. "Come on, kids, let's go. And 'kids' includes you two." She gestured to the grown men.
"I have to agree with Jared, Bones. You look – wow."
"Thanks." She said, a little uncomfortable. "You too." And he did.
"Shall we?" he offered his arm and she took it, knowing she would have to get up the stairs in the heels.