Chapter 5
Gale paced the room. His thought anxious. All of them. At once. He had hoped to talk to his mother alone explaining to her why he looked half his age. Why he had changed the colour of his eyes, his hair. Why he had changed, if he thought about it. The door slammed closed and he looked around. At the door Mackenzie was looking very guilty as he locked it. Gale came over, he supposed if he had a like kid like Mackenzie there it would be ok, but like always Chryssa had dressed him like a little doll and he wasn't sure his family would like him like that. "Are they here? Did you see them?"
Surprised he was caught Mackenzie jumped and turned around; with wide eyes he opened his mouth. "I didn't do anything wrong." Gale smiled and ruffled his son's hair. There was a knock at the door and Mackenzie jumped again. He run out of the room, up the stairs and Gale heard his room's door close. Sighing, trying to suppress his nerves Gale took the door handle. After everything he had done, started a multi-district company, talked in front a thousand people about almost every topic anyone could think of, but when it came to his family he couldn't take the idea that he would even be seen…he felt as if he were naked in a snow storm.
He collected himself for the last time and opened the door. What he saw was a sight he hadn't seen for over twelve years. He opened his mouth, "Mother…" suddenly he was taken in by a large hug. Gasping as his chest was suddenly crushed he saw the look of absolute shock on each of his siblings faces. Standing behind Rory was a black hair, grey eyed girl who looked about ten. She looks like Harper did at that age, so Rory finally asked her, huh?
"Gale?" Posy said, her face confused, his mother released him from her grip, her hands on her shoulder. Gale looked away from her analysing eyes. Rory was shaking his head. "Not fair…Not fair Gale. Why is that you get show up here looking pretty in the best room of this place? Honestly bro, where you been?" Rory pulled himself into a manly hug. Feeling as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulder Gale moved to the side and gestured for them to come in.
He looked up the stairs to see Mackenzie's curious eyes staring at him. He jumped up and scurried away when he saw Gale, Gale rolled his eyes with a smile and came back into the room. "Would you like anything? Chryssa went a little over board with the food, she wants to make a good impression…Though don't tell her I said that." Rory moved over and slung his hand over his brother's shoulder.
"Who's this Chryssa? Huh? Tell us…"
"I'm his wife, though why I ever married you I have no idea. Now get over here, I'm looking for Mackenzie. Where is he?"
"Upstairs, hiding,"
"Of course he's hiding! Where upstairs?"
"Um…on the top of them."
"Really," Chrysie waved at the guests then hurried up the stairs. "Here I come! I'm going to win!" Gale turned to his brother with a straight face. "That was Chryssa. As she pointed out…we got married. A while ago." Then he noticed Vick's face. "Don't look like that, she's only a few years younger than me." Then Chrysie returned a smile on her face and she seemed to notice the guests.
"Holy Snow. I'm so sorry about that…I was…oh what does it matter? You hate me don't you, no don't say it. It's ok. I'm fine. I'll just…go outside…bye." Gale hurried after her.
"Chrysie, they don't hate you. Don't go outside." She looked at him blankly. Then at the others and sighed, "Fine, I'll get the cake." With that she left the room and went to the kitchen. Gale frowned and walked over to his family. "Do you want to sit down?" He asked his mother. She smiled an odd smile and nodded.
"Lead the way."