Chapter 8
…
3 Weeks Later
…
Andrea had been back at the condo for over a week when Sharon had asked about inviting her kids over to meet her, Andrea was more than happy to meet Sharon's kids, if perhaps a little nervous. Sharon was in the kitchen preparing a vegetable lasagne when Andrea appeared behind her.
"Well, how do I look?" Andrea asked.
Sharon turned around to see Andrea looking radiant in a pair of dark jeans and red blouse.
"Oh my, you look beautiful."
"Really, maybe I should dress up a little more."
"Oh Andrea sweetheart for goodness sake, it's my kids you're meeting not the queen." Sharon joked.
"I know but, I want to make a good impression."
"You will, just be yourself…that's all I want. I want them to meet the woman I fell in love with, try and relax okay?"
"Easier said than done…what are you cooking anyway?"
"Lasagne, vegetable…their favourite."
"Butter then up huh."
"Something like that, and we have double chocolate fudge cake for dessert."
"You really are going all out. Is Rusty joining us?"
"Of course, he was going to give us space but as soon as I mentioned the cake, his fate was sealed." She laughed.
"It wouldn't have been the same without him anyway."
"Of course not."
"You're looking as beautiful as ever by the way." Andrea smiled as she drew her arms around Sharon's neck, placing a chaste kiss to her soft lips.
"Thank you, we're sure to go down well tonight then."
Sharon smiled as she looked in to Andrea's eyes, tucking a small strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I'm so glad you made it through, I really thought you weren't going to make it. That moment I heard you were trapped inside, I just fell apart."
"Oh honey, it'll take more than a bomb to get rid of me."
"I love you so much."
"I love you too, come on…let's get organised huh."
Sharon nodded as Andrea began setting the table, happiness flooding through her.
…
Rusty arrived home just before Ricky and Emily were due to arrive, he put his jacket on the hook before heading through to the kitchen where he heard Sharon and Andrea joking about something.
"Hey guys."
"Rusty, just in time."
"Well I didn't wanna miss the cake."
"See, what did I tell you." Sharon smiled towards Andrea.
"So hey look, I got a dvd for tonight, I figured in case you ran out of conversation, it might fill the void."
"Rusty, a movie sounds like a wonderful idea." Sharon replied.
"Cool, I'll go put it though."
Sharon nodded her head in agreement and jumped when she heard the doorbell.
"Oh my god they're here."
"Okay Sharon, now remember what you said to me…relax."
"Relax…"
"And hey, I love you."
Rusty went to answer the door, smiling when he saw Ricky and Emily on the other side. He was glad they all clicked when they'd first met, he'd always remember how nervous he'd been that day and knew how Andrea was probably feeling right about now.
"Hey guys, come on in."
"Hey Rusty, how are you?" Emily asked.
"Yeah I'm good, finished college last week for the summer and I got a job on this detective show Lieutenant Tao works on, nothing much just making coffee and running errands and stuff."
"Sounds like fun."
"It is actually, interesting."
"So come on Rusty, what's she like huh?" Ricky asked.
"Andrea…she's great. Go easy on them okay, they're really nervous."
"I'm sure she's lovely." Emily smiled.
"She really is and I haven't seen Sharon this happy with anyone in a long time."
"She's that good huh."
"Ricky." Emily warned.
"I'll be nice, I promise."
"Ricky…Emily." Sharon smiled as she rushed towards her children, hugging them both tightly.
"Hey Mom." Emily said trying to breath.
"Oh honey I'm so glad you're both here. Ricky how are you?"
"Yeah I'm good Mom, busy."
"Okay you two listen up, before you go in there I just have something I need to say. I know my relationship with Andrea has come as a bit of a shock but I love her, she makes me happy. Now she's been through a lot lately, she's still recovering from surgery and I won't have you being darn right rude to her, do you understand."
"Mom, come on. I told you I was okay with this." Emily smiled.
"I know you did." She said, looking over at Ricky.
"Mom relax, I'll be on my best behaviour I promise." Ricky answered.
"Good, okay, come on through."
…
Andrea was pouring some wine when Sharon walked in, followed by Emily and Ricky. Rusty took a seat on the stool and watched as they were introduced to Andrea.
"Andrea honey, I'd like to introduce you to my kids, this is Emily and this is Ricky."
"Hey, I'm Andrea Hobbs…it's so lovely to meet you at last." She smiled, shaking Emily's hand then Ricky's.
"Hello Andrea, it's a pleasure to meet you at last, Mom told us all about you." Emily said.
"All good I hope?"
"Of course." Emily smiled.
"Ricky, it's lovely to meet you at last, you're mom's told me all about your art gallery."
"Yeah, it's…well it's certainly different. You like art?"
"I do, my favourite is Vettriano."
"Vettriano, he's an amazing artist…what's you're favourite?"
"Cocktails and Broken Hearts is my ultimate favourite, the other is Dance Me To The End Of Love."
"Two great pieces indeed."
"Okay guys, everybody take a seat and Rusty and I will dish up." Sharon stated.
"Let me help mom." Ricky said.
"No darling, you keep and Andrea and Emily company."
Rusty got up and began helping Sharon put the food on to the plates, he looked out to see Andrea in deep conversation with Ricky about his art gallery and spoke a lot with Emily about her ballet.
"Well they seem to be hitting it off Sharon."
"They are, oh thank god. I was worried."
"I told you not to worry."
"Okay smarty pants you were right, come on…let's get the food out."
…
The music was playing in the background as the double chocolate fudge cake was being served; Rusty cut a big piece for himself after handing out slices to everyone else.
"Rusty honey, don't eat too much of that…you'll be sick."
"Don't worry Sharon, I'll be fine."
"So Andrea, why is Cocktails and Broken Hearts you're favourite piece?" Ricky asked.
"I don't know really; when I first saw it in a gallery up town I just fell in love with it, it stood out from all the rest. It also reminds me of the night I fell in love with you mom."
"Oh yeah, how come?" Emily asked.
"Well, your mom hadn't been in charge of major crimes that long when I asked her out for a drink, she'd had a pretty rough week of it…her team weren't always supportive."
"Mom, you never said anything?" Emily replied.
"They were still reeling from Chief Johnson's departure."
"I went to her office that night, she was worn out. I offered to take her out for a few drinks, get drunk…take her mind of her troubles."
"It worked then." Ricky added.
"I took your mom back home in the cab and she was a little drunk, I thought I'd better help her, make sure she made it safely indoors."
"And?" Emily said, the curiosity getting to her.
"It was raining, we were standing on the doorstep to the condo…your mom had the smallest strand of hair falling over her face. I tucked it behind her ear, I think my hand lingered a little longer than I ought to but in that moment, the rain, they way your mom looked at me, how beautiful she looked…I kissed her and I fell in love with her in that single moment."
Sharon smiled as she placed her hand over Andrea's, Emily had tears in her eyes as she listened to Andrea describe the moment they fell in love.
"It was the best night of my life, I found my soul mate." Sharon smiled.
"That is so…beautiful." Emily replied.
"Oh honey you're crying."
"Relax mom, she's a sucker for a love story."
"Shut up jerk." Emily scowled.
"Look guys, I know I was a little shocked about this but…I'm real happy for you both. After all the crap dad put mom through, you deserve some happiness."
"You mean that Ricky?" Sharon asked.
"I mean it."
"Oh honey, thank you…thank you so much. I love you kids so much."
Sharon was on her feet hugging Emily and Ricky before grabbing Rusty and giving him a hug too, quickly removing his plate as she moved past.
"Hey…Sharon what are you…"
"No more cake, you'll never sleep tonight."
She sat back down beside Andrea; placing a kiss to her partners lips as her kids looked on.
…
To Be Continued…