"Damn it woman, this is entirely appropriate!" Luke looked down at his semi-clean shirt promoting his blues club and jeans. The jeans were not only clean, but they had no holes in them, a feat Laura knew was rare in his closet.
"I cannot have you greeting our guests looking like a homeless beggar." Laura assured him as she smoothed out invisible wrinkles.
"Guests?" Luke snorted. "Since when does family count as guests?"
"I appreciate your effort on my behalf dear brother." Bobbie laughed from her spot on the couch.
"See? Barbara Jean doesn't mind! And the boys don't even know how to tuck in their shirts!"
"Oh, they'll learn tonight!" Laura shot back. "Now are you going to go comb your hair, or am I going to have to help you with that too?"
Luke paused and regarded his wife critically. "Who else is coming to dinner that I don't know about?"
"Why do you ask?" Laura was a bad liar and she knew she couldn't keep up the pretense much longer.
Quickly glancing at the table, Luke smiled. "Because with just the boys that is seven places. You had me set the table for ten."
"So we're expecting a few new faces? You don't have to be so grouchy about it."
Seeing her brother about to protest, Bobbie stood up and walked towards him. Placing her hands on his shoulders she looked him dead in the eyes. "Now don't you want to show Lucky and Patrick's new girlfriends what a real man looks like?"
Luke tilted his head to side, pondering her question. "Well there is that fact."
Sensing weakness Bobbie moved in for the kill. "And Lulu's young man? Do you really want him to think you are an old fuddy-duddy he can just get around?"
Watching her husband's eyes go ablaze at that little tidbit of information, Laura tugged on his collar. "Relax."
"Relax? Lulu is entirely too young—"
"She's the same age I was when we met." Laura cut him off wryly. "Now go change so you can scare him properly like you are currently planning." Once her husband had disappeared up the stairs, Laura turned to her sister-in-law. "I don't know if I trust that man to dress himself."
"You probably shouldn't. Isn't that why we clean out his closet once a week?" Bobbie countered.
"Can I tell you something?" Laura asked in a quiet voice. Her husband was notorious for listening at the top of the stairs.
Bobbie nodded, holding one finger up as she moved towards the stairs. Glancing up and not seeing her brother sitting there, she gave Laura an all-clear thumbs up. "Yes please."
"I kind of interrupted something I wasn't supposed to, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I haven't told anyone...until now." Laura explained sheepishly.
Bobbie moved towards the couch, patting the cushion next to her. "Well feel free to explain."
"It's kind of how I found out about Patrick and Robin." Laura went on, taking a seat next to Bobbie.
Bobbie nodded. She had been curious as to how her sister-in-law had found out. If Cruz hadn't had told her, she doubted Robin would have said anything. Apparently even her son had been aware of this and actually kept quiet about it. For once in his life Lucas Jones had managed to keep a secret.
"I should have phoned before stopping by, but I had an early meeting--I wasn't going to leave Morgan with Lulu. Lord knows what she'd let happen." Laura pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to block out the image of her naked nephew snuggled up next to his archenemy.
Bobbie laughed. She loved her niece dearly, but she did have a reputation of letting things happen when she baby sat her nephew and cousins. Bobbie was almost sure that there were many stories Cameron had been bribed to keep from his father. "Perfectly understandable. But you didn't call because you had my key." She guessed.
"Yes, that's right." Laura nodded. "Morgan was asleep so I put him in his bed. It was pretty early, but I expected Robin to be awake."
"She is an early riser."
"She had a good reason to sleep in." Laura replied, hoping Bobbie would catch on. She didn't know just how to articulate what she had seen. It wasn't so much that they had slept together, only that she had felt as if it had come out of nowhere.
Bobbie arched an eyebrow. Was Laura implying what she thought she was? "You didn't..." She could barely get the words out.
"I didn't mean to. The door wasn't locked…" Laura let the excuse hang in the air.
"How much?"
"Robin in her nightgown and Patrick buck-naked. He wasn't quick enough to shift the sheet." Laura answered softly.
Bobbie whistled through her teeth. "I assume you were caught and that's why he's actually bringing her here tonight?"
"I have to think that's why. She was still asleep. I don't think she even realizes..."
"You don't think he's told her?" Bobbie was horrified. She had thought Patrick would have had more sense than that.
"I really have no way of knowing until I ask her."
"This will either embarrass her horribly or set off a mighty fight if he didn't tell her."
"Don't you think she has a right to know?" Laura asked defensively.
"I do."
"Then there's really no other option."
Lulu raced for the door, hoping to open it before her father came down the stairs. It was bad enough her mother and aunt were about three minutes away from bringing out the naked baby pictures. Brad was already nervous enough. Luke coming down the stairs at this point would run him off forever. Hopefully it was one of the boys with Robin or Elizabeth. That would effectively distract her mother for a few minutes. Throwing open the door, her face fell. "Oh it's you."
Cruz laughed and felt a rush of relief run through him. Maybe she had finally gotten over that silly crush. "Well hello to you Pippi."
She groaned at the nickname. When she had first met him she had gone through a phase of only wearing her hair in braids. Even though it only lasted a few months, Cruz never let her forget it.
"Pippi?" Cruz turned his head as unfamiliar male voice hit his ear. He grinned as he caught sight of the clearly nervous young man seated between Laura and Bobbie. The boyfriend. Oh this was going to be a fun night.
"It's her middle name." Cruz hugged Lulu close to him, crushing her against his side.
"Cruz!" Lulu pushed him away. "Don't listen to him Brad. He's no one important."
Cruz fought the urge to laugh. This was going to be too easy. He moved towards Laura and Bobbie. "I'm important, aren't I Laura?"
"You're the son I always wanted." Laura answered, watching her daughter turn an even deeper shade of red.
"See I even outrank your brother!"
"Oh sure when I have the kid with me, I'm the best son she could have ever want. Take Cameron away I'm chopped liver." Lucky's voice boomed as he held the door open for Elizabeth to follow him inside.
"Well we all have our usefulness." Cruz quipped.
"Boys, let's not fight. I have pie." Glancing up, she thought maybe she would catch Patrick coming up behind her son. "Did you make sure to give Patrick the correct time?" She asked Lucky.
"Yes. But is he capable of arriving on time? That's a different question."
"I'd have thought Robin would help him get a handle on things." Turning toward her son's girlfriend, she smiled and said, "Elizabeth, it is so nice to see you again. My son tells me that I might need to apologize for our last conversation. I didn't mean to come on so strong."
"Your son is full of paranoia. No apology necessary." Elizabeth smiled at Laura.
"Would you like to help me in the kitchen?" Laura offered. It wouldn't be very hostess-like of her if she didn't do whatever was necessary to make her guests comfortable. Besides, Lucky looked like he might have her head for her direct greeting.
"That is very kind of you, but I don't want to poison you all tonight."
"Poison?" Brad's voice cracked.
"Don't listen to her, Bradley dear. She's just being modest. Elizabeth, please." She prodded.
Elizabeth did not miss the way Lucky's eyes lit up when he spotted the young man on the couch. Judging by Lulu's mortified expression, Bradley had to be her boyfriend. The poor girl. She probably thought her brother was going to be nice. Elizabeth held up a small tin. "Actually I brought the only thing I can make well. Brownies."
Lucky moved towards the couch his eyes locking in with Cruz's. He kissed his aunt hello on the cheek and sat down directly next to the increasingly nervous looking boy. The kid was practically sweating and dad hadn't even made it down yet. "So Aunt Bobbie, is this your new boy toy?"
Cruz immediately started a coughing fit to hide his shocked face. Bobbie struggled to keep her expression neutral. If Lucky only knew. "Very funny. This is your sister's boyfriend, Bradley."
"Buford! Nice to meet you!" Lucky enthusiastically shook his hand.
"Actually it's Bradley. Brad really."
"Sure it is Brady. So I'm Lucky…the brother. This over here is Cruz, he's our bodyguard. Obviously you know Lulu and you've met my mom and aunt. That beautiful woman is my girlfriend Elizabeth. And anyone else is completely unimportant. Well except for dad of course. But don't worry. He's gotten better with medication."
Cruz nodded. "Yeah just keep sudden movements to a minimum. And don't use words that start with 'g.' It makes him crazy."
"Mom! Make them stop!" Lulu pleaded.
"Act your age or I'm not going to feed you." Laura warned the boys sternly.
Seeing them both immediately look down, Elizabeth smiled in admiration. "You have got to teach me how to do that."
"It comes with being a mother." Laura replied nonchalantly.
"Danger Will Robinson. Danger! Danger!" Lulu called out in a sing-song voice.
"Mother." Lucky fairly growled as he moved towards Elizabeth, who was blushing fiercely. "We talked about this."
"I don't know what you mean." Laura answered suppressing her smile with some difficulty. "I wasn't suggesting that Elizabeth--"
"Don't even think of finishing that."
"Luke, your son is threatening his mother." Laura accused, knowing she had won when she saw her husband come running down the stairs.
"Junior what have I told you about that?"
Lucky blinked in confusion as he took in his father's outfit. Who had told him that Lulu had a boyfriend coming over? His father had a red velvet blazer over a white shirt, hanging loosely over jeans. He had also tied a bandana over his head and had put in the skull earring. "I know what my father told me but I don't know about you there Captain Hook."
"Lucas Lorenzo Spencer!" Laura shrieked, causing both father and son to turn and stare at her.
"What?" they asked at the same time causing the rest of the room to dissolve into laughter.
"You get upstairs and change right this instant or I'm taking your precious motorcycle to the dump!" Laura stated, her mouth set in a tight line. As if Lulu didn't have enough on her plate already. The first boyfriend she had felt brave enough to bring home and her boys were making the poor young man an absolute mess.
"Woman sometimes you take all the fun out of life." Luke paused long enough to make eye contact with the newest person sitting on his couch. "Sit tight there Bubba. I'll be right back."
Laura retreated the kitchen, seething.
"Wipe your feet." Patrick told Robin as they stood in front of the Spencer house. She and her "five more minutes" spiel had been what caused them to be so late. With his luck, the family had finished off the dessert. The party itself was to serve two purposes: celebrating his twenty-sixth birthday and congratulating Cruz on his big win for his magazine.
"You are such a strange little person." Robin regarded him with a raised eyebrow and a half smile. After twenty minutes of whining at her about being late to his own party, she had blasted the radio to drown him out. Sometimes he was about as mature as a four-year-old. It was rare moments in history when he actually acted his age. He hadn't thought her poking fun at his ripe old age of twenty-six was all that funny when she had called him this morning. He had been in a bad mood ever since, no matter how much she tried to cheer him up.
"Says Thumbelina." Patrick teased, lifting his right hand to the top of her head and measuring her for the simple purpose of pissing her off. She was such an easy target sometimes. When she caught his smug stare with narrowed cinnamon eyes, he knew he was in trouble.
"Go ahead. Keep it up." Her tone warned of what was to come, or rather what might not happen at all. She wouldn't mind staying away from him for a few days, ignoring his phone calls, and leaving him alone if she thought she would get her way.
"But it's okay to swear you saw a gray hair on my head the other night?" His voice was challenging and his hands were thrown out in front of him in frustration.
"It could have just been the moonlight." Robin supposed, her tone light, her eyes playful.
"And if it wasn't?" Patrick wanted to know.
"Stop pouting." Robin ordered. "Did you make sure to wipe your feet?" She asked just to watch him do it again. Biting the inside of her cheek to suppress her smile, she raised her hand to knock.
"Why are you knocking? They're expecting us." Patrick reminded her.
"It's polite?" Robin tried.
"Watch and learn Scorpio." Patrick twisted the doorknob and let them into a house bustling with noise and activity. Everyone was huddled around the couch and he found himself wondering what had attracted so much attention.
Elizabeth looked up from the crowd long enough to see Patrick and Robin enter the home. Realizing she couldn't really do anything at this point to help Brad, she left the crowd to greet her friend. "Oh I think Lulu is going to kiss your feet."
"What happened?" Robin asked, concerned but not sure why. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shock of golden blonde hair and a golf ball sized welt growing on his tanned forehead. This must be the boyfriend. That poor kid. What had the guys done to him?
"Robin, can I move in with you and Morgan?" the young blonde whispered seriously.
Placing a smile on her face for her benefit, Robin brushed the golden hair off of the forehead inspecting the bruise more carefully. "Have you tried smelling salts?" She asked no one in particular.
"Salts smell?" Luke asked. "Since when?"
"Never mind. How long has he been out?"
"Not long enough." Lucky muttered under his breath. For the life of him he could not figure out why his sister was interested in this kid. He had no spunk. He was too easily spooked. Lucky would put very good money down that the guy had never made it through a Haunted Trail walk. Lulu would lose interest quickly.
A soft moan proved that the young boy was at least conscious. His golden-green eyes were narrowed in confusion as he took in the strangers around him. "Did I fall?"
Lucky and Cruz turned quickly to muffle their laughter, missing the dirty look Bobbie and Laura shot them. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"Must have caused brain damage." Patrick muttered, looking like he wanted to laugh but wasn't brave enough to let it leave his tightly closed lips out of fear of what Robin would do.
"If there was one to damage." Luke responded just as quietly.
"So are we done inspecting the kid? Can we get to the cake?" Patrick asked impatiently.
All four women groaned at his immaturity and looked on to see if they should help the kid up. It was only the sharp glance Laura sent the guys' way that made them drag Brad to his feet. He stumbled a little, glancing at his still knotted tennis shoes.
"Come on Barney. Easy does it." Lucky patted the younger man on the back.
Looking startled, Brad shuffled from foot to foot, not sure what to do. The door wasn't too far away. If he laced-up his sneakers, he might make it before anyone noticed what was going on around him. Lulu was a nice girl and all, but she wasn't worth physical injury. "Thank you." He said to the group, attempting a genuine smile.
Lulu mentally started counting down the minutes until Brad attempted to leave with a lame excuse. Narrowing her eyes into a glare, she vowed to make Lucky and Cruz pay for their running off yet another guy.
Laura noticed this as well and tried to think of the best way to keep the boy from leaving her home. No way was going to have a disgruntled guest. "Brad, would you like some ice for your forehead? It doesn't look as bad as it probably feels." Ignoring the looks she got from her wary guests, she continued on in her soothing, motherly voice, "I baked my famous chocolate cake and there is nothing else like it."
Bobbie hurriedly offered, "And now we are all set to eat with both guests of honor here. Come and sit right here." She said, patting the chair at the head of the table.
"Hey that's where I sit!" Luke almost roared.
"Is he seriously getting a piece of cake before I do?" Patrick complained, shaking his head in confusion.
Laura fixed her best stern look to her face. "Or we could just forget dinner altogether."
"See what you did?" Cruz snapped at Patrick.
"What I did? I didn't trip the guy!" Patrick argued hotly.
"Are you going to start throwing rocks soon?" Robin wondered.
Elizabeth let out a relieved breath and muttered just low enough for Robin to hear. "And I thought the motherhood proposition was bad."
"Motherhood?" Robin whispered back, her eyebrows drawn together.
"Horror story only fit for girl's night over a bottle of wine."
"For goodness sake..." Laura didn't feel she had to explain further. Luke, looking sheepish, motioned for everyone to head over to the table. He took her chair out for her, but the stiffness in her shoulders proved that he had a lot to apologize for later.