Fanfic: B&S episode 702: part 2/4
Season 7 - Episode 02 - New beginnings
By Marea67
About: Brothers & Sisters
Rate: G
Disclaimer: I don’t own Brothers & Sisters - written with love, not for money.
Summary: Ingredients: Take a couple of Walkers, add a few Wandells, a pinch of Holden and a Caplan formerly known as Harper, a dash of Altamirano and Whitley, a teaspoon of Byrolt, Paresa and Salazar and (for added flavor only) a Barry&McCallister. Mix and shake…and… watch it explode.
Warning: It is my very own season 7, you guys! Go with it! ;) Don’t complain! If YOU can do better, post your own story! (I dare you!)
***** Part 2/4 *****
“Hey, Seth, were you looking for Justin?” Tyler walks up to Seth and gives him a quick hug. “Because Justin is just running a little errand for me. He’ll be back in about 20 minutes.”
“I know it’s his day off. Does he have something planned for today?”
“If he has, he hasn’t discussed it with me. After all, I have to work.”
“I see.” Seth seems a little lost and Tyler starts to worry.
“Let me guess. There’s been a Walker-meltdown?”
“No.” Seth suddenly smiles, knowing what she means.
“No illegitimate child that popped up?”
“No.” Seth’s smile becomes even bigger.
“No one suddenly discovered that he or she isn’t who he or she believed to be?”
“Ha! No! My problem isn’t related to the Walkers.” Seth confesses, more cheerful than planned.
Tyler fakes shock and horror, raises an eyebrow and wonders:
“Wait! Are there problems that don’t revolve around the Walkers?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell them. They’ll be devastated…”
Seth isn’t sure if he should laugh or not, but he does anyway. Tyler playfully lets her hand rest on Seth’s hand and confides:
“Don’t worry, Seth. Scotty and I do this all the time. It’s a way for us to deal with how frustrating the Walkers can be, even if we love them to death. So? What is your problem then?”
“I’m empty.” Seth shrugs.
“What do you mean?”
“I wrote a novel. Everyone is expecting me to write another, well, that’s everyone except my mother, who thinks I should never write again.”
“You lack inspiration?”
“I don’t know. I have a million and one ideas, thoughts, sentences and story-twists in my head, but somehow nothing wants to gel with something else, to make it some coherent story.
I watched Grace this morning. She has this wooden box with these differently shaped holes and several differently shaped blocks. and you have to fit the blocks in the right holes. And I watched her and realized that that was exactly how I feel. I have the box, I have the blocks. I just keep trying to shove the square block in the triangle-shaped hole and it doesn’t fit…”
“And what does Grace do, when it doesn’t work?”
“She flings it aside and start to play with something else, so Kitty or I have to clear up the mess.” Seth sighs. Tyler smiles softly.
“Maybe you should do the same.”
“Fling everything aside?”
“Yes, decide for yoursel not to write for a few days. Do anything else except writing… I know that when things don’t go my way, that the harder I try t make it happen, the less it’s likely to succeed. Sometimes you just need to step away, take some distance from the problem and just have a cup of coffee, before you go back to the job.”
“I used to be able to write just anything, anytime and anywhere. These days I can’t even decently construct one sentence.”
“Step away…” Tyler advices again. She waves at someone behind Seth and Seth turns around to see Justin come his way.
“Hey! Come here to see me?” Justin asks.
“No, he sought my advice…”
“What about?”
“Oh, same old, same old. How to survive being with a Walker and such.” Tyler jokes and Justin sticks out his tongue to her.
“And why would you have the answers?” He then asks.
“Because Scotty and I have talked a lot…”
“Alright, you have a point, if you can survive living with Kevin, you’re an expert.” Justin nods. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’ll be glad when Kevin and Scotty will be back. I’ve missed them.”
“I know, isn’t it weird how we’ve come to rely on them to always just ‘be there’? I used to think that it wouldn’t apply to me, but I now realize that I’m very often on the phone with Scotty or just drop in on Kevin or just go to Café 429 just expecting one of them or both to just… ‘be there’.” Tyler agrees.
“Kitty misses Kevin like crazy and I think that Grace misses Daniel. The two of them have been spending quite some time together and she’s a bit cranky lately. It’s either that or she’s teething. I hope it’s the first, because that would mean that I’m right. If she’s just teething it would mean that Kitty is right…” Seth sighs.
“Tell Kitty it is a combination of both. She misses chewing on Daniel while she’s teething. Call it a draw. Kiss and make up.” Tyler advices and Justin hums something along, obviously agreeing with his girlfriend.
“I think I’ll try your advice.” Seth decides with a grateful nod at Tyler for not telling what his real problem is.
*****
“And naturally, we all know that Kitty is wrong and I’m right, but we’ll discuss this after …. the break.” Warren Salters winks at Kitty, though no one except those in the radio-station can see it. Kitty smiles gently.
“I can’t wait!” She says just before the microphones get switched off.
“Are you alright? You don’t seem to be as sharp as usual.” Warren asks.
“I’m fine, just didn’t get enough sleep last night, with Grace so cranky, it will work out, I’m sure.”
“Busy times for your family, if I’m right about the gossip?”
“Yes. A few days from now we will open the doors of not only “Ojai Food and Wine” , but also the renovated “Café 429” and “Carter and Walker”, my brother’s law-firm. The entire family is excited. I heard that my former brother-in-law Jason McCallister and his husband, Chad Barry, will come back as well.”
“The actor?” Warren asks.
“Yes.” Kitty sighs, somehow it always surprises her that people know Chad and not Jason, while for her it always feels like it should be the other way around. She knows Jason and is far less interested in Chad.
“Well, that is great news.”
“Yes. I’m glad too, because I’ve missed Jason.” Kitty replies and she absent-mindedly picks on a thread on her shirt. “With Seth so often away, I often feel alone and Jason is often alone as well when Chad is working…”
“Is Seth really that often gone?”
“Yes, he has interviews and he likes to go to schools and read his story and listen and debate with others, which means that sometimes, I think he’ll be gone for two hours and he comes back six hours later.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be.” Kitty picks herself up again. “Seth finally gets the attention he deserves and he should use it to his advantage… But it means that I can sometimes feel a bit lonely.”
“Guys! News is almost over.” Warren and Kitty nod at the warning and Kitty rubs her hands warm.
“But I should stop crying….” She opens her microphone. She’s on the air. “… So, you think that I’m wrong? … well, let’s discuss this….”
*****
Billy stares at the ceiling. It’s cold and dark in the room. He’s hungry. At first he makes a little noise, but then he becomes a little louder. It doesn’t help. He starts to cry loudly. In the room next to Billy’s room Julia stares out the window. She listens to Billy’s cries for about a minute. Then she walks up to the stereo. She plugs in the headphones.
With the music on her headphones she can no longer hear Billy cry. She picks up a magazine and reads it with a blank face. For a long time the baby-monitor’s lights betray that there’s noise in the Billy’s room, but then the lights fade… Julia takes off her headphones. It’s quiet in the house.
She carefully opens the door. Billy has cried as long as he could, until he fell asleep from exhaustion. She can see his belly go up and down, so he’s still alive… She closes the door, returns to the window. She stares out the window. Not seeing anything, just enjoying the silence.
*****
Scotty puts his suitcase down at the bottom of the stairs and turns to Kevin.
“Well, that was officially the end of our holidays.”
“I know.” Kevin seems to be equally sad. “I wouldn’t have mind to stay another week.”
“Two even.” Scotty sighs and, turning to their kids, he adds. “Bring all the dirty clothes immediately to the washing-machine.”
Kevin watches how Scotty chases the kids upstairs and then Scotty picks up the suitcase again and brings it upstairs, while Kevin himself quickly checks the mail. Once he has seen for himself that there’s nothing important in the mail, he joins Scotty upstairs. He stops halfway when he sees how Daniel goes from room to room, so he can see what’s happening there.
He watches how Mateo and Elizabeth carry their dirty clothes to bathroom. Then he can see Olivia exit her room with her arms full of clothes. He turns around and goes to his own room. Kevin quietly follows him and he sees how Daniel, after struggling with the zipper puts his weekend-bag upside down.
Clothes, toys and books disappear in all directions and Kevin is about to say something about it, when Scotty joins him. Kevin places his finger against Scotty's lips and motions Scotty to look at Daniel, who’s completely wrapped up in his assignment. His arms are too small and he can’t hold all the clothes from the bag.
Kevin and Scotty try not to laugh as the see how Daniel tries to pick up one piece only to drop something else. Scotty turns away, barely able to hold his laughter, and Olivia and Elizabeth now wonder what is going on. But it’s finally Mateo who puts an end to the fun.
“Hey, big man, need a helping hand?”
“They fall.” Daniel pouts, not having seen the others yet.
“I’m not surprised, you’re a big boy, but you have just too many clothes…” Mateo manages to keep a straight face and be all sincere. “Shall I take something?”
“I wanna do..” Daniel is stubborn and Mateo nods that he gets it.
“Of course, you do. You’re big and strong… So,… why don’t you put all your clothes back in bag,… just your clothes, … not your toys or books,…. Yes… just like that…. and now you can drag the bag to the bathroom?” He can see that it’s still a little too heavy for Daniel, so he helps Daniel along with one finger, to not give Daniel the impression that he’s being helped.
Daniel stubbornly drags the bag to the bathroom and throws the bag upside down again, piling his clothes on top of the others.
“Well done, Daniel.” Scotty compliments his son.
“You’re such a great help to us. We couldn’t do it without you.” Kevin agrees.
Elizabeth and Olivia clap their hands to give a little applause and Daniel becomes all shy. He likes to please his dads and the others and he’s happy when they say that he’s done things well.
“Ice-cream?” Daniel suggests sweetly and Kevin and Scotty can’t see a reason why not.
*****
Nora prepares the dinner-table with Tyler’s help. Saul and Jonathan uncork some wine bottles and Sarah and Kitty have joined Julia.
“He’s so sweet.” Julia says. “He hardly ever cries.” Sarah looks at Julia, wondering why that smile somehow doesn’t reach Julia’s eyes.
“He’s very cute.” Kitty coos at Billy, but the child looks at her rather apathetically . She has seen quite a lot of kids with more life in them than this one.
“He’s so tiny still.” Sarah can't help but say it.
“He eats well though.” Julia answers automatically.
“Well, of course.” Kitty says, but the look she shares with Sarah tells them both that she doesn’t believe Julia.
“I bet you can’t wait for Kevin to come back. Now you can finally start procedures to get Elizabeth back.” Seth says to Tommy. He had expected Tommy to reply more enthusiastically, but Tommy merely frowns, not taking his eyes of off Julia.
“Mmmyes, I suppose so.” Tommy replies slowly.
“I don’t think that Kevin will object?” Seth wonders and as if Tommy snaps out of his thoughts, he shakes his head.
“No, sorry, of course not. Kevin won’t be a problem…. And, yes, naturally, I will try to get Elizabeth back…. Sorry, my mind was somewhere else.” He apologizes.
Ryan, who had accidentally heard Tommy and Seth’s conversation, takes the empty tray, which previously held the cutlery, back to the kitchen.
“Tommy seems to be concerned about something. Did you two run into a problem?” He asks. Sarah shakes her head.
“No.” She answers. “None that I can think of. He was somewhat absent-minded, but he went to see dad’s grave. I thought it had something to do with that.”
“Yes, that may be it.” Ryan recognizes. Before he can say something the door opens and two kids run in.
“Olivia! Elizabeth!” Nora greets her granddaughters first and turns to Mateo, who comes in with Daniel.
“Kevin and Scotty are on their way as well. They brought a few gifts for the others.” Mateo explains with a smile. Justin leaves the kitchen to catch Kevin and Scotty.
Mateo can’t wait to see Paige, but when he walks up to her, she takes a step back rather than let him kiss her.
“I’m sorry, I have a cold. I don’t want you or the others to get sick as well.” She explains to him with a sweet smile, that fades when Mateo gives her a quick kiss anyway.
“Need any help?” Justin asks.
“No. Thanks.” Scotty gives his brother-in-law a hug and Justin takes over one of the bags that Scotty is carrying, while also giving his brother a hug.
“I’ve missed you guys. Dan and I had nowhere to go after our shift.” Justin complains.
“Well, sorry about that. But in two days you’ll be more than welcome to join me at Café 429 again.” Scotty laughs and he enters Nora’s kitchen, followed by Kevin and Justin.
“Have you seen the restaurant ?” Saul asks, hugging Scotty.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous. I can’t wait to start working there.”
Kevin spends a few seconds listening to Scotty’s enthusiastic account of how beautiful it is, before sneaking into the dining room where he manages to take Tyler aside.
“Well?” He asks.
“All taken care of.” Tyler nods, giving him a thumbs up.
“I’m so excited.” Kevin manages to say before Kitty joins them.
“Message for you.” She show her brother the message displayed on her screen.
“This is too good!” Kevin grins. “Scotty is going to love this.”
“I have more news.” Kitty says and she searches for another text to show him.
Kevin’s face softens upon reading the display.
“I’ll take care of that.” He nods and Kitty grins and starts texting back. Kevin pauses for a minute and watches how the entire family has gathered together to meet them and he feels blessed with all that he has.
*****
End of part 2/4
**** COMMERCIAL BREAK****
By Marea67
About: Brothers & Sisters
Rate: G
Disclaimer: I don’t own Brothers & Sisters - written with love, not for money.
Summary: Ingredients: Take a couple of Walkers, add a few Wandells, a pinch of Holden and a Caplan formerly known as Harper, a dash of Altamirano and Whitley, a teaspoon of Byrolt, Paresa and Salazar and (for added flavor only) a Barry&McCallister. Mix and shake…and… watch it explode.
Warning: It is my very own season 7, you guys! Go with it! ;) Don’t complain! If YOU can do better, post your own story! (I dare you!)
***** Part 2/4 *****
“Hey, Seth, were you looking for Justin?” Tyler walks up to Seth and gives him a quick hug. “Because Justin is just running a little errand for me. He’ll be back in about 20 minutes.”
“I know it’s his day off. Does he have something planned for today?”
“If he has, he hasn’t discussed it with me. After all, I have to work.”
“I see.” Seth seems a little lost and Tyler starts to worry.
“Let me guess. There’s been a Walker-meltdown?”
“No.” Seth suddenly smiles, knowing what she means.
“No illegitimate child that popped up?”
“No.” Seth’s smile becomes even bigger.
“No one suddenly discovered that he or she isn’t who he or she believed to be?”
“Ha! No! My problem isn’t related to the Walkers.” Seth confesses, more cheerful than planned.
Tyler fakes shock and horror, raises an eyebrow and wonders:
“Wait! Are there problems that don’t revolve around the Walkers?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell them. They’ll be devastated…”
Seth isn’t sure if he should laugh or not, but he does anyway. Tyler playfully lets her hand rest on Seth’s hand and confides:
“Don’t worry, Seth. Scotty and I do this all the time. It’s a way for us to deal with how frustrating the Walkers can be, even if we love them to death. So? What is your problem then?”
“I’m empty.” Seth shrugs.
“What do you mean?”
“I wrote a novel. Everyone is expecting me to write another, well, that’s everyone except my mother, who thinks I should never write again.”
“You lack inspiration?”
“I don’t know. I have a million and one ideas, thoughts, sentences and story-twists in my head, but somehow nothing wants to gel with something else, to make it some coherent story.
I watched Grace this morning. She has this wooden box with these differently shaped holes and several differently shaped blocks. and you have to fit the blocks in the right holes. And I watched her and realized that that was exactly how I feel. I have the box, I have the blocks. I just keep trying to shove the square block in the triangle-shaped hole and it doesn’t fit…”
“And what does Grace do, when it doesn’t work?”
“She flings it aside and start to play with something else, so Kitty or I have to clear up the mess.” Seth sighs. Tyler smiles softly.
“Maybe you should do the same.”
“Fling everything aside?”
“Yes, decide for yoursel not to write for a few days. Do anything else except writing… I know that when things don’t go my way, that the harder I try t make it happen, the less it’s likely to succeed. Sometimes you just need to step away, take some distance from the problem and just have a cup of coffee, before you go back to the job.”
“I used to be able to write just anything, anytime and anywhere. These days I can’t even decently construct one sentence.”
“Step away…” Tyler advices again. She waves at someone behind Seth and Seth turns around to see Justin come his way.
“Hey! Come here to see me?” Justin asks.
“No, he sought my advice…”
“What about?”
“Oh, same old, same old. How to survive being with a Walker and such.” Tyler jokes and Justin sticks out his tongue to her.
“And why would you have the answers?” He then asks.
“Because Scotty and I have talked a lot…”
“Alright, you have a point, if you can survive living with Kevin, you’re an expert.” Justin nods. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’ll be glad when Kevin and Scotty will be back. I’ve missed them.”
“I know, isn’t it weird how we’ve come to rely on them to always just ‘be there’? I used to think that it wouldn’t apply to me, but I now realize that I’m very often on the phone with Scotty or just drop in on Kevin or just go to Café 429 just expecting one of them or both to just… ‘be there’.” Tyler agrees.
“Kitty misses Kevin like crazy and I think that Grace misses Daniel. The two of them have been spending quite some time together and she’s a bit cranky lately. It’s either that or she’s teething. I hope it’s the first, because that would mean that I’m right. If she’s just teething it would mean that Kitty is right…” Seth sighs.
“Tell Kitty it is a combination of both. She misses chewing on Daniel while she’s teething. Call it a draw. Kiss and make up.” Tyler advices and Justin hums something along, obviously agreeing with his girlfriend.
“I think I’ll try your advice.” Seth decides with a grateful nod at Tyler for not telling what his real problem is.
*****
“And naturally, we all know that Kitty is wrong and I’m right, but we’ll discuss this after …. the break.” Warren Salters winks at Kitty, though no one except those in the radio-station can see it. Kitty smiles gently.
“I can’t wait!” She says just before the microphones get switched off.
“Are you alright? You don’t seem to be as sharp as usual.” Warren asks.
“I’m fine, just didn’t get enough sleep last night, with Grace so cranky, it will work out, I’m sure.”
“Busy times for your family, if I’m right about the gossip?”
“Yes. A few days from now we will open the doors of not only “Ojai Food and Wine” , but also the renovated “Café 429” and “Carter and Walker”, my brother’s law-firm. The entire family is excited. I heard that my former brother-in-law Jason McCallister and his husband, Chad Barry, will come back as well.”
“The actor?” Warren asks.
“Yes.” Kitty sighs, somehow it always surprises her that people know Chad and not Jason, while for her it always feels like it should be the other way around. She knows Jason and is far less interested in Chad.
“Well, that is great news.”
“Yes. I’m glad too, because I’ve missed Jason.” Kitty replies and she absent-mindedly picks on a thread on her shirt. “With Seth so often away, I often feel alone and Jason is often alone as well when Chad is working…”
“Is Seth really that often gone?”
“Yes, he has interviews and he likes to go to schools and read his story and listen and debate with others, which means that sometimes, I think he’ll be gone for two hours and he comes back six hours later.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be.” Kitty picks herself up again. “Seth finally gets the attention he deserves and he should use it to his advantage… But it means that I can sometimes feel a bit lonely.”
“Guys! News is almost over.” Warren and Kitty nod at the warning and Kitty rubs her hands warm.
“But I should stop crying….” She opens her microphone. She’s on the air. “… So, you think that I’m wrong? … well, let’s discuss this….”
*****
Billy stares at the ceiling. It’s cold and dark in the room. He’s hungry. At first he makes a little noise, but then he becomes a little louder. It doesn’t help. He starts to cry loudly. In the room next to Billy’s room Julia stares out the window. She listens to Billy’s cries for about a minute. Then she walks up to the stereo. She plugs in the headphones.
With the music on her headphones she can no longer hear Billy cry. She picks up a magazine and reads it with a blank face. For a long time the baby-monitor’s lights betray that there’s noise in the Billy’s room, but then the lights fade… Julia takes off her headphones. It’s quiet in the house.
She carefully opens the door. Billy has cried as long as he could, until he fell asleep from exhaustion. She can see his belly go up and down, so he’s still alive… She closes the door, returns to the window. She stares out the window. Not seeing anything, just enjoying the silence.
*****
Scotty puts his suitcase down at the bottom of the stairs and turns to Kevin.
“Well, that was officially the end of our holidays.”
“I know.” Kevin seems to be equally sad. “I wouldn’t have mind to stay another week.”
“Two even.” Scotty sighs and, turning to their kids, he adds. “Bring all the dirty clothes immediately to the washing-machine.”
Kevin watches how Scotty chases the kids upstairs and then Scotty picks up the suitcase again and brings it upstairs, while Kevin himself quickly checks the mail. Once he has seen for himself that there’s nothing important in the mail, he joins Scotty upstairs. He stops halfway when he sees how Daniel goes from room to room, so he can see what’s happening there.
He watches how Mateo and Elizabeth carry their dirty clothes to bathroom. Then he can see Olivia exit her room with her arms full of clothes. He turns around and goes to his own room. Kevin quietly follows him and he sees how Daniel, after struggling with the zipper puts his weekend-bag upside down.
Clothes, toys and books disappear in all directions and Kevin is about to say something about it, when Scotty joins him. Kevin places his finger against Scotty's lips and motions Scotty to look at Daniel, who’s completely wrapped up in his assignment. His arms are too small and he can’t hold all the clothes from the bag.
Kevin and Scotty try not to laugh as the see how Daniel tries to pick up one piece only to drop something else. Scotty turns away, barely able to hold his laughter, and Olivia and Elizabeth now wonder what is going on. But it’s finally Mateo who puts an end to the fun.
“Hey, big man, need a helping hand?”
“They fall.” Daniel pouts, not having seen the others yet.
“I’m not surprised, you’re a big boy, but you have just too many clothes…” Mateo manages to keep a straight face and be all sincere. “Shall I take something?”
“I wanna do..” Daniel is stubborn and Mateo nods that he gets it.
“Of course, you do. You’re big and strong… So,… why don’t you put all your clothes back in bag,… just your clothes, … not your toys or books,…. Yes… just like that…. and now you can drag the bag to the bathroom?” He can see that it’s still a little too heavy for Daniel, so he helps Daniel along with one finger, to not give Daniel the impression that he’s being helped.
Daniel stubbornly drags the bag to the bathroom and throws the bag upside down again, piling his clothes on top of the others.
“Well done, Daniel.” Scotty compliments his son.
“You’re such a great help to us. We couldn’t do it without you.” Kevin agrees.
Elizabeth and Olivia clap their hands to give a little applause and Daniel becomes all shy. He likes to please his dads and the others and he’s happy when they say that he’s done things well.
“Ice-cream?” Daniel suggests sweetly and Kevin and Scotty can’t see a reason why not.
*****
Nora prepares the dinner-table with Tyler’s help. Saul and Jonathan uncork some wine bottles and Sarah and Kitty have joined Julia.
“He’s so sweet.” Julia says. “He hardly ever cries.” Sarah looks at Julia, wondering why that smile somehow doesn’t reach Julia’s eyes.
“He’s very cute.” Kitty coos at Billy, but the child looks at her rather apathetically . She has seen quite a lot of kids with more life in them than this one.
“He’s so tiny still.” Sarah can't help but say it.
“He eats well though.” Julia answers automatically.
“Well, of course.” Kitty says, but the look she shares with Sarah tells them both that she doesn’t believe Julia.
“I bet you can’t wait for Kevin to come back. Now you can finally start procedures to get Elizabeth back.” Seth says to Tommy. He had expected Tommy to reply more enthusiastically, but Tommy merely frowns, not taking his eyes of off Julia.
“Mmmyes, I suppose so.” Tommy replies slowly.
“I don’t think that Kevin will object?” Seth wonders and as if Tommy snaps out of his thoughts, he shakes his head.
“No, sorry, of course not. Kevin won’t be a problem…. And, yes, naturally, I will try to get Elizabeth back…. Sorry, my mind was somewhere else.” He apologizes.
Ryan, who had accidentally heard Tommy and Seth’s conversation, takes the empty tray, which previously held the cutlery, back to the kitchen.
“Tommy seems to be concerned about something. Did you two run into a problem?” He asks. Sarah shakes her head.
“No.” She answers. “None that I can think of. He was somewhat absent-minded, but he went to see dad’s grave. I thought it had something to do with that.”
“Yes, that may be it.” Ryan recognizes. Before he can say something the door opens and two kids run in.
“Olivia! Elizabeth!” Nora greets her granddaughters first and turns to Mateo, who comes in with Daniel.
“Kevin and Scotty are on their way as well. They brought a few gifts for the others.” Mateo explains with a smile. Justin leaves the kitchen to catch Kevin and Scotty.
Mateo can’t wait to see Paige, but when he walks up to her, she takes a step back rather than let him kiss her.
“I’m sorry, I have a cold. I don’t want you or the others to get sick as well.” She explains to him with a sweet smile, that fades when Mateo gives her a quick kiss anyway.
“Need any help?” Justin asks.
“No. Thanks.” Scotty gives his brother-in-law a hug and Justin takes over one of the bags that Scotty is carrying, while also giving his brother a hug.
“I’ve missed you guys. Dan and I had nowhere to go after our shift.” Justin complains.
“Well, sorry about that. But in two days you’ll be more than welcome to join me at Café 429 again.” Scotty laughs and he enters Nora’s kitchen, followed by Kevin and Justin.
“Have you seen the restaurant ?” Saul asks, hugging Scotty.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous. I can’t wait to start working there.”
Kevin spends a few seconds listening to Scotty’s enthusiastic account of how beautiful it is, before sneaking into the dining room where he manages to take Tyler aside.
“Well?” He asks.
“All taken care of.” Tyler nods, giving him a thumbs up.
“I’m so excited.” Kevin manages to say before Kitty joins them.
“Message for you.” She show her brother the message displayed on her screen.
“This is too good!” Kevin grins. “Scotty is going to love this.”
“I have more news.” Kitty says and she searches for another text to show him.
Kevin’s face softens upon reading the display.
“I’ll take care of that.” He nods and Kitty grins and starts texting back. Kevin pauses for a minute and watches how the entire family has gathered together to meet them and he feels blessed with all that he has.
*****
End of part 2/4
**** COMMERCIAL BREAK****