| Chapter Twenty Six |
| "Momma, Daddy, we're here." She set her suit case down in the entry way, Justin doing the same, JC had left his in the car, not sure if he would stay or not. "Scooter!" Her father scooped her into his arms, spinning her around once while Justin and JC gave each other odd looks while mouthing scooter. "It's been far too long, little girl, I've missed you." "I missed you, too. This is Justin and Josh." She pointed to each of them, as her father started for the living room. "Nice to meet you guys." He shook thier hands then motioned for them to sit on the couch. "You, too." They each countered, then took seats on the couch. "Where's Momma?" Brianne stayed standing, as well as he father, as he looked her over for any signs that she wasn't taking care of herself. "She'll be here in a second, you look tired, are you getting enough sleep?" "Plenty, long drives always make me look tuckered." He shook his head in disbelief, then turned back to the two on the couch. "This one is non stop, now which one of you is trying to steal my little girl's heart?" He looked over each of them, as Brianne turned away to hide the blush starting to form in her cheeks. "That would be me." JC chuckled uncomfortably, then looked to Justin for help. He was always the smooth talker, he could talk to anyone. "And I am her brother." Justin blurted out the first thing he thought of to change the subject, not sure what her father would think. "When did that happen? I don't remember your mother having another child." Her father turned his attention back to Brianne letting a smile take his lips. He liked that one, bold. "Justin and I decided not too long ago, he doesn't have a sister and I don't have a brother, so it just kind of seemed sensible." She took a seat on the floor, next to the coffee table as her father took the seat next to Justin. "Good, you need a big brother to watch after you, just take good care of her." "Promise." Justin playfully held up his fingers to display scout's honor. "Why do you call her Scooter?" "When she was little she didn't crawl. She just sat on her butt and scooted herself across the floor. I don't think she ever crawled, straight from scooting to walking." "I'm right here, stop talking about me like I'm not." She pushed her father's knee, making it knock against the other. "Pushy, pushy, who have you been hanging out with?" "These guys, and the three others, they were busy though." She started to go into an explaination, but her mother came into the room and all eyes were on her. "What can I get you to drink?" She shot her husband one of those looks when she noticed none of them had been served yet. "I'll help you Momma." Brianne stood and made her way to the kitchen when all the orders had been placed. "We're breeding another hostess." Her father chuckled, shaking his head after them. "You sure are, Mr. Carlson." Justin looked after the spot the women had disappeared in. "It's Bryan, how's Brianne's job, she isn't stressed is she?" He begged them with his eyes to tell the truth, knowing Brianne wouldn't. "No, not unless she is around Joey too long." Justin chuckled as he remembered the pick up line feud that had been going on. "But we try to make sure that doesn't happen." JC added, more than happy to join the conversation. "Good, Lord knows she wouldn't tell me if she was." "Here we go." Her mother reentered the room, Brianne a few steps behind, and began to distribute the drinks. "Thanks." The men all said in unison, taking sips soon after. "Shall we eat?" They were all led by her mother, to the table, then served. "Looks good." JC sat next to Brianne, still in another world. "Yes, Momma, you outdid yourself." "Who wants to say grace?" Her mother asked, waving away thier complements. "I will." Her father waited until they all joined hands, JC thankful he was between Justin and Brianne, then continued. "Heavenly Father we'd like to thank you for this food, and pray that you let it nourish our bodies. We'd like to also thank you for friends and family, our health, and having our Scooter here. In Jesus name we pray, Amen." "Amen." "Daddy, you shouldn't thank the Lord for me coming to see you." Brianne scolded her father, dropping his hand after the prayer. "Yes I should, it takes and act of God to get you here lately." "No it doesn't and you know it. I've been busy." "I know, by the way, how are you feeling Justin?" Her father stuck his tongue out at her, successfully changing the subject. "Great, I'm sorry for keeping Brianne from you." "No problem, we're glad she was there to help." Her mother set a hand on his, telling him it was just her father's way to be playful. "So was I, ma'am." "It's Valerie." She corrected, then turned to her daughter. "How is work? You aren't working too hard are you?" "No, Momma." "Are you taking your vitamins?" Her father was readying himself to lecture her on the importance of vitamins. "Of course, Daddy. Can we talk about something other than my health?" She giggled at her parents, they had been that way since she left home for college. At least her father no longer called her every morning to remind her to take her vitamins, and only asked when they saw each other now. "Sure, I saw Binky today." Her father teased, ready to tell her another hilarious story of the sock puppet, which was on a constant quest to take over the world, he had amused her with since she was a child. "Really what about Jack?" Jack was Binky's side kick, a stuffed dog she had insisted be included when she was younger. "Yeah, he was there. Binky was drawing up plans to turn my car into campaign mobile, complete with speakers on the top. He muttered something about the human race and imbociles when I refused to hand over the keys, then told Jack to go for the ankles. Jack was too full to try though, thankfully." He smiled at his daughter's shaking figure then chuckled himself when he looked at JC and Justin, who were both completely confused. "Misty!" Brianne suddenly stopped and yelled for her cat, which was immediately in her lap. "Not at the table!" Her mother warned, but didn't enforce when Brianne threw her a pleading look. "You ready to go home with your Mommy?" She asked the cat, it had been the main reason she had come home. She hadn't been allowed to have her in the dorm room, but now she would be able to take her home. |