In-Laws

Part 9

“Well, young man, we’re here.  Despite my better judgement, I’ll follow Reid’s wishes.  What overly indulgent concoction would you like to order?”

Ethan rolled his eyes.  “I’m totally stuffed from all the spaghetti and meatballs I ate at lunch.  If I eat anything else I’ll puke.”

Miriam Oliver sat back in her seat, eyes narrowed.  “So why did you insist on us coming here rather than letting me go home and prepare for tomorrow?”

“You don’t catch on as quickly as Grandmother -- that’s Lucinda Walsh -- do you?”

“What do you mean, I don’t catch on?”

“Simple.  First of all, it was obvious Reid needed to get me out of the way so he and Luke could deal with whatever the heck is going on with Noah and Kevin.  Second, I wanted to get to know my new grandmother, and third, I could use some help figuring out what to get them for their wedding.  After all, Luke is my big brother and loaded, and Reid, well he’s more than my brother-in-law.”

The edges of her lips turning upward, Miriam looked at the boy sitting opposite her in their booth at the hotel’s casual dining restaurant.  “How do you think of my son?”

Ethan looked down and started playing with the fork sitting in front of him.  “Well, Reid is--”

“I didn’t quite catch that... Ethan.”

“I know he might have some trouble seeing me as his son, but he’s basically my dad now.”

“If I’m not mistaken, Reid is your father now.”

“I know.”

“Is there a reason you’re unhappy about that?”  Miriam lowered her voice, trying to remember what it was like to talk to a child.  Reid had seemed so grown up, beyond his years, at such an early age.  He had been gifted and talented in so many areas.  Recognizing that, he was, in fact just a child had been almost impossible for her.

“No.  I’m really glad Reid agreed to be my dad.”

“I detect a but in there somewhere.” 

“You’re smart, like Reid.”  Ethan stopped playing with the fork and started worrying the hem of his shirt.

“Reid loved his father very much.  Unfortunately he died when my son was still a boy, about your age.”

“My father died almost three years ago.  He was with my mother.  They died together.”

“I heard about it from Reid.  I’m sorry.  You must have loved them very much.”  Miriam took one of Ethan’s hands in her own.  She wasn’t even sure why she did it.  It just felt right.

“I’m not sure Reid wants to be my dad.  That’s why I don’t push him, don’t call him Dad or anything.  I don’t want him to leave Luke and me.  We both need him.”

Miriam was surprised by her overwhelming urge to hug the newest member of her family.  It was a good thing there was a table between them so she could maintain her dignity.  “Can I give you some grandmotherly advice?”

Ethan’s eyes brightened a bit.  Maybe being a grandmother wasn’t going to be as horrible as Miriam had imagined.  “Sure, if you really want to be my grandma.”

“I believe the job is mine already, or so you reminded me earlier.  I never turn away from an important responsibility -- especially one that gives me the chance to fix some mistakes from long ago.”

“Huh?”  Ethan tilted his head.  It was no wonder Reid fell for both Snyder boys.  They were both adorable and incredibly charming in their own ways.

“I’ve known Reid all his life and I’ve never seen him more attached or devoted to anything, or anyone, before you and your brother came into his life.”

“What about medicine?  He loves his job.  It sounds cool too -- cutting into people’s heads and fixing their brains.”

“Medicine’s a close second, but you and Luke seem to have first place secured in his life.  The emails he’s sent during the past few years have been filled with your names.”

“Does that mean you think Reid really likes being my dad?”

“I’m quite sure of it.  And here’s a big surprise, even to me...”

“What?”  She loved watching Ethan’s big brown eyes go wide.

“I think being Grandma Miriam is a title I’m going to thoroughly enjoy.”

“Cool!”

“Cool, indeed.”  She snickered.

“Does that mean you’ll help me find Luke and Reid something they’ll like for their wedding?  I can’t afford a lot.  They don’t give me that big an allowance.  Luke’s the one with all the family money and he said I don’t get to share in any of it until I’m twenty-one.  What a gip!” 

“I’ll most definitely help you, Ethan, if you keep your promise.”

“What promise?”

“Teach me how to be a terrific grandma and I’d also like you to fill me in on some of those gifts you’re hoping to find under your tree at Christmas.”  Miriam Oliver winked at the new addition to her life.

“Friggin’ cool!”

“Is friggin’ a word you use often?”

Ethan bit his lower lip.  “It’s better than using a word that’ll get me in trouble.”

Miriam gazed at him briefly until she realized the actual word he was avoiding.  “Oh dear!”  She left a few dollars on the table for holding it without ordering.  “I think we’d better get going if I’m going to help you prepare for the big day tomorrow.”

“Got any ideas, Grandma?”

“Actually, I do, but they’ll need your final approval as they’re to come from you, and you alone.”

Ethan nodded and followed Miriam out of the restaurant and the hotel.

*~*~*~*~*

Luke rested his head in the crook of Reid’s shoulder.  The curtains were drawn so the lights of the city wouldn’t keep them up too late, both men wanting to be fresh and alert the next day.

“Ethan seemed pretty happy when he came back with your mother.  I can’t believe how fast he fell asleep.  They must have had quite an afternoon.”

Reid glared at Luke.  “We’re recovering from mind-blowing orgasms and you bring up my mother and your little brother!”

Chuckling, Luke kissed Reid’s neck.  “I’m thinking about tomorrow, and how much I love you for arranging today as you did.  I never got the chance in the past to tell him, in a way I thought he would be ready to hear and understand, just how deeply he had hurt me.  Today, I finally got the opportunity because of you.”

Reid embraced Luke tighter.  “Anything for you.  I think you know that by now.”

“I do.  It just makes me love you more.  The way you handled everyone.  You’re amazing.”

“I am amazing, but I think you already knew that, didn’t you?”

Although it didn’t seem possible, Luke snuggled in closer.  “I’ve known you’re amazing from the moment I met you.  You never do anything halfway.  I wanted to hate you when you first came to Oakdale, but somehow you grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go.”

“I felt the same way about you the second or third time I laid eyes on you.  Turns out Noah did get the short end of the deal.”

Luke looked up at Reid, his brow furrowed.  “You gave him his sight.”

“But I took you.”

Shaking his head, Luke pressed a kiss to Reid’s chest.  “You didn’t have to take me, I wanted you before you ever kissed me.  If I hadn’t wanted you as much as you wanted me, there would have been no Luke for the taking.”

“You wanted me before the trip to Dallas?  Why didn’t you say so back then?”

“Guilt.  I should have majored in that while I was in college -- I was a natural.”

“Hopefully, you’re long past that.”

“Absolutely.”  Luke peppered kisses along Reid’s jaw and neck.

“Keep doing that and we’ll never get any rest before tomorrow.”

Smiling, Luke lay his head down once again.  “So what do you think happened between Ethan and Miriam?  They seemed far chummier than I ever expected.”

“I know.  She seemed pretty damn mysterious about where they’d been too.”

“Maybe she taught Ethan how to play chess.”  Luke ghosted his fingers over Reid’s chest.

“No chance.  My father was the chess player.”

“It’s too bad he never got the chance to see how brilliantly you turned out.”

Reid squeezed Luke.  “I’m glad Holden got to see you grow into an incredible man.”

“Ethan will have you.  Because of you, he won’t miss having a father in his life.”

“I hope he’ll be able to see me in that role someday.”  Reid absentmindedly began running his hand up and down Luke’s arm.

“You don’t think he does yet?” 

“He’ll find a way to tell me when I’m more than his brother-in-law.”

Luke nodded against Reid’s chest.  “Thank you for being patient with him.”  Reid kissed the top of Luke’s head.

“Although it won’t be legal in Illinois, by this time tomorrow, in the State of Massachusetts, you and I will be married.”

“Someday Illinois will recognize our marriage; I’m counting on it.”

“I know you are, Luke.  I hope you won’t be disappointed.”

“As long as I’m with you, I won’t be.”

“Glad you made me bring a sports jacket.  I’d hate to get married in a Red Sox T-shirt and jeans.”

“When have you ever worn a sports T-shirt?”

“There’s always a first time.  Besides, the Red Sox win games.  The Cubs are a whole other sad story.”  Reid yawned as he laughed.

“Getting tired old man?”  Luke poked Reid in the ribs.

“You may be a mere child, but I’m planning on beating the odds.”

“What does that mean?”

“For my fortieth, I have every intention of wearing out you <i>and</i> our mattress.”

“Did you forget we’ll have Ethan with us?”  Luke laughed.

“Did you forget, he’s related to half of Oakdale?  We’ll find him a place to stay for the weekend.”

“You are planning a marathon!”

“Think more like the Ironman Triathlon.”

“I have a feeling I’m going to have more fun on your birthday than you will.”

“And I’ll make sure you remember it for the entire week thereafter.”

Reid rolled Luke onto his back, kissing him, sharing his love and desire as he pushed his tongue past his partner’s soft, moist lips.  Since they were staying together the night before their marriage there was no reason they shouldn’t start practicing for the honeymoon.

“I love you, Reid.  Can’t wait for tomorrow.”

“Good.”  Grabbing the tube of lube to keep it close at hand, Reid moved just enough to share his passion.  He could feel Luke responding beneath him and the two moved together, their desire never dimming.  The time for conversation ended.  There would be plenty of time to talk in the judge’s chamber the next day.  Tonight they could share their love in a way they continued to perfect every time they joined together.

[TBC]

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