"Hey Babe, what are you doing?" Walking into the kitchen, Paige wore bright orange pumps that matched the flowers in her white and blue colored summer dress.
"I am stirring the pasta." Evan gave it one final stir and placed the spoon back on the counter. "And now I am draining the pasta."
Paige grinned widely, rounding the corner of the counter. "I can see that. What I meant is what are you doing around it?"
"Believe it or not, Hank had to step out to buy some last minute things and asked me to step in."
"So you guys have made up?" She inquired, laying her chin in the crook of his shoulder; her long blonde hair brushing against his back as he turned to kiss her deeply on the lips.
"Define making up, because I don't think that's happened yet." Placing the spoon on the counter, he turned to face her.
"Just give him time. He'll come around."
He looked a bit worried as he looked around the house. "I hope you're right, because I'm not really seeing a bright future in that department."
"You've been awfully quiet over there in the passenger's seat." Hank mentioned, glancing in her direction, then turned his attention back to the road.
"Sorry." Jill apologized, sitting up in her seat. "It's just that, shouldn't we have told everyone that I was coming?"
"We probably should have." Hank nodded as they merged into town. "However, with everything that's been going on the last few days with everyone-"
"Right. Please tell me you and Evan have made up by now."
He stayed silent as they stopped to see a little boy straying out into the street as the mom buckled another child into their car seat. "Angelo, come here!" The mother glanced over her shoulder. When he continued to spin in circles and ignore her, she grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards the car. "What did I tell you about playing in the street?"
"Depends on your definition of making up." Hank responded after they had driven past her brother's house. "How is your family taking you staying in a hotel?"
Her eyebrow shot up in surprise. "Oh, they made it abundantly clear they are not happy about it. All my brothers were there at the hospital, minus Lyle who was on the phone."
"Then sorry I wasn't there too." He added a little humor in to lighten the mood. "I was doing some follow ups for a couple of my patients."
"It's fine, really. I'm not sure I needed any more testosterone in that room." She smirked, leaning her cheek against the palm of her hand.
"So you going to tell me the real reason why you're staying in a hotel?"
Her words momentarily got caught in her throat as she looked over at him. It was clear that he knew her well."What I've seen in Africa has been so eye opening. The majority of the area I'm in now, have built their homes out of dirt and sticks and can barely afford food, let alone health care."
"Go on."
"Living there has changed me. I've sacrificed four months away from family and friends to take this incredible journey. I don't know that I have much time to adjust being here right now, but it's hard being back with all of you."
"Ah, I take it you're starting to feel a bit smothered?"
"Honestly, I've been thinking about leaving for days. The only reason why I didn't leave was because I loved holding my niece a little too much. And it made me realize at the same time that I want to have a family one day."
"Okay, but how are you going to do that if you're in Africa, or traveling around?"
She turned to look back out the window, the breeze catching strands of her dark brown hair. Her gaze grew distant as finally pulled into the large area of the mansion. "And I see this place has hardly changed a bit." Unbuckling her seat belt, she stepped out slowly to look around.
They walked around to a walkway surrounded by bushes, until they had reached the familiar entrance to the guest house. The off-white gate creaked open as Hank pushed it open. As he did, he looked around to make sure the coast was clear before ushering Jill inside to the patio.
"Hank, it's that you?"
"Yeah, Evan. It's me." Hank appeared at the sliding door to see Paige and Divya curiously gazing in his direction. "I hope you don't mind, but I found someone along the way and invited them to dinner. Divya stood up from her stool, then tried to peer around the corner. However, Hank was blocking her view.
"I think you do." Hank nodded, extending his arm. At that, Jill exhaled one deep breath and walked into view.
"Jill?" Divya inquired, tilting her head in surprise. Always having dressed impeccably, the Physician's assistant set her purse on the stool and wrapped her arms around Jill.
"How-" Evan stuttered, taking a step forward until he was standing next to Paige, who looked just as stunned. "are you even here right now?"
"Lets just say it started with my older brother getting married."
"Your older brother got married? That's great!" Evan excitedly cheered before his filled with confusion "Wait, what brother are we talking about here?"
"Lyle."
"The only one of her brothers that wasn't married." Hank said with satisfaction as he took the ham out of the oven and set on top of the stove.
Divya stepped forward and enveloped her into a hug. "You don't know how good it is to see you again."
"It's good to see you too, Divya." Jill returned the hug as she glanced over at Paige, who was casting a worried glance towards where Hank and Evan were having their own conversation.
"I take it they still haven't made up?"
"No. However, the solution seems to be in the works." Divya nodded as they stood there and watched Hank and Evan arguing. "How long are you in town for?"
"Until next week." Jill answered distractedly, wagging a finger between the two brothers. "Please tell me you didn't intervene between these two.
"I can't say that I did any such thing?" Divya played innocently as they walked towards the table and sat down. "If you could have seen the these past four months, you'd be itching to solve their problems too."
"She speaks the truth, unfortunately." Paige piped up, reaching over to grab the pitcher of water to fill up their glasses. "Ever since Hank Med broke up, Evan has been edgier and all around moody."
Jill thanked her and took a sip of water. "Wow! Things really have changed since I've been gone."
"They have." Divya nodded, taking a sip of her own water. "On a better note, I did reconnect with my mother."
"Mmm." Jill took another drink as Hank then Evan set the steamed vegetables down on the table, followed by Hank setting the cut up ham on the left side of the vegetables. "And how was that?"
"Honestly, it was a little like sandpaper rubbing against a chalkboard. Because of my father, I didn't think she'd want to spend time with me. Then one day, she showed up and we've been trying to do things together whenever my father is not around."
"Speaking of fathers-" Evan mentioned, sitting down next to Hank on the other side of the table. "Our father unexpectedly came back to the Hamptons."
"So I've heard." Scooting her chair in, Jill glanced over in Diyva's direction. "And why is that?"
"I'm still not sure of that myself." Hank chimed in. "Let's eat."
