Ianto turned and headed to his bedroom. Closing the door, he stripped before taking his shower. Afterwards he dressed quickly, deciding on a pair of dress slacks and a shirt, but foregoing the full suit today. This was supposed to be a day to relax, so he was going to do so. Slipping into a pair of shoes he made his way back to the kitchen. Rhi was flipping through a magazine she had taken out of her bag.
"I'm all set, what next?" He asked. She pointed towards the phone on the wall and he groaned.
"Call Mam," she said. He nodded and made his way across the floor to the handset. Dialing, he listened to it ring while he watched his sister. She seemed remarkably calm, and he was wondering when she was going to start quizzing him more about Jack. His thoughts were interrupted by his mother answering the phone.
"Bore da," his mother said.
"Bore da, Mam," Ianto said. He stretched the cord across the room as he refilled his cup from the coffee pot.
"Ianto love!" His mother exclaimed. "Ddedwydd ben-blwydd, darling!"
"Thank you, Mam." Ianto said. He smiled as he took a sip of his coffee. He could just picture her bustling around the kitchen. "Up to anything fun?"
"Just some baking," she replied. He could hear her moving bowls or pots in the background. "I see your sister found you."
"Yes, Mam," Ianto said apologetically. "I'm a terrible son, ignoring you for weeks on end." Rhi giggled somewhere behind him.
"Yes you are," His mother agreed. "When am I going to see you? Some time this decade or century?"
"Hmmmm, a decade is cutting it close," Ianto teased. "I might be able to squeeze you in this century however. I'll have to check my calendar." His mother laughed and he smiled. With this simple exchange he knew that his past transgressions were forgiven. "I do promise get up to see you soon. Things have been insane at work and the days just get away from me."
"Ianto, you work too hard. You need to tell your boss you need some time off," his mother scolded. He could hear her opening the oven door and placing a pan inside of it, before setting the timer for her baking. He could picture her in the sunny kitchen, her hair pulled back in a bun with probably some flour on her face. He had such a feeling of longing to be there with her that he felt his breath catch.
"I will, Mam. Hopefully I can find some time soon," he promised. They chatted for a few more moments while he told her that he was spending the day with Rhiannon and they were going to go out and wander the city, perhaps do a little shopping for the kids.
"And what about tonight? Any plans with your friends?" She asked. She worried about him being in the city by himself. There was so much odd stuff that happened there that she didn't want him mixed up in the middle of it all. It was a good thing he had a safe job at the tourist centre. What could possibly happen to him there?
"Got a date tonight," he said. He watched his sister's eyes widened and she made motions as if asking whether he was going to tell their mother with whom he had a date. He shook his head and she tsked him. He knew he was being chicken, but he wasn't sure it was something he wanted to tell his mother over the phone. On the other hand, it might be easier than saying it all face to face.
"Oh, Ianto, that's lovely!" His mother exclaimed. "Who is she?" Ianto rested his forehead against the cabinet door. In for a penny, he thought to himself.
"He," Ianto said with a sideways glance towards his sister. She looked up quickly and stared at him. "His name is Jack."
"Oh, do you work with him?" His mother asked.
"Yup," Ianto said. He made himself busy while he rinsed out the coffee pot and his mug. "He's my boss. We're uhm, seeing one another." He listened to the long pause at the other end of the line while his sister mimed fainting at the table.
"Ianto?" His mother said her voice full of questions that she didn't know how to ask. "Your boss?" He lost a bet with himself since he had debated whether that or the fact that his boss was a man was going to be the first concern. He should have known better.
"Yup," Ianto said. He grinned at his sister while he twined the phone cord around his finger. "It's okay, that hasn't been a problem."
"Could it be?" She asked, the concern evident in her tone.
"No, Mam, you don't have to worry about that. He's great. We get along very well. In fact," he said with a grin, knowing he was going to get into trouble by his next comment. "Rhi's already met him."
"She has?" His mother exclaimed. Rhi shot him a dirty look. "Let me talk to her." Ianto laughed and held out the phone to his sister.
"You're turn," he said softly.
"You brat," she returned as she took the phone from him. "Hi Mam!" Ianto turned away and cleaned up the remains of their breakfast while he listened to his mother grill his sister about Jack.
"No, Mam," Rhiannon said. "He's very nice. Yes, he did. Said he was taking Ianto out for dinner and maybe dancing later on." Ianto raised an eyebrow at this bit of news. "Oops, hope that wasn't supposed to be a surprise," she said with a laugh. He snorted and shook his head. "I only met him for a little while before he had to go to work."
Ianto groaned as he knew the question that was coming next. Rhiannon mouthed an apology. "Yes, I'm afraid I woke them up. What?" Her voice got quiet as he stared at her. "Yes, he's still here. Just a minute." She held out the phone to him. "Sorry."
He should have known better. She was never good at keeping things to herself, but in the long run, this was probably dealt best this way.
"Hi Mam," Ianto said.
"Ianto," his mother started. "I'm sure you heard your sister's side of the conversation."
"Yes, Mam. What would you like to know?" Ianto asked. He leaned against the counter and tilted the handset so Rhiannon could lean in and listen.
"Are you sleeping with this man?" His mother asked.
"Yup, have been for some time." Ianto said boldly. Rhi covered her mouth with her hands to stifle any sound she might make. She shook her head as she slanted a glance at her brother.
"Is that why you haven't called me? Are you embarrassed by this?" His mother asked. She was seated at the table, where she had been after his sister had dropped her bombshell.
"No, and no," Ianto said. "We really have been busy. Crazy hours and all. Since we're civil servants we've been pulled into helping out with the reorganization in the city after those terrorist attacks a while back. And what would I have to be embarrassed about?"
"You tell me," his mother said.
"Absolutely nothing, Mam." Ianto said firmly. "Look, I know there isn't anything regular about any of this, but in some ways, it's kind of like what happened with Lisa. Jack just does it for me. Believe me, I went through the whole thing about wondering what to do about the work situation, but sometimes you just fall together because you spend so much time with one another. Besides, we really click, if you know what I mean."
"Are you happy, sweetheart?" His mother asked.
"Yes," Ianto said. "Very."
"Can I meet him?" She asked. She finally got up when the timer went off and turned the cake pan around in the over before resetting the timer.
"Absolutely," Ianto said. "Not sure when though."
"Make it soon," she told her son as she washed out the bowl in the sink. "I want to meet the man that does something for my son." Ianto grinned as he shared a look with his sister.
"I'll see what I can do, Mam," he promised. "And yes, I will call you back before the turn of the century. I promise."
"All right then. Go out and enjoy your day, sweetheart," his mother said. He told her goodbye before hanging up the phone.
"Well, this is certainly a day for surprises," his sister said with a grin. "I can't believe you told her. What were you thinking?"
"Honestly?" He said as he turned to her. "I have no idea. I must be possessed."
"Oh, I could have told you that a long time ago," his sister said blithely as she passed him and grabbed her bag. "Come on, little brother. We have some shopping to do!"
*
