The event had been something which was loosely planned. Madison and Tag occasionally had Fin over to their home for dinner and it was that, perhaps, which spawned the idea of an even larger dinner party. It would be on a Monday, a day off for the bar so that both employees, Fin and Charlie, could be present. Charlie was so new to Charlie's Bar that Tag hadn't even been aware of her being hired in the vacuum that had been born from Cris' passing. It had only been a few days that she had started and Madison was already giving her time behind the bar, learning.
Monday, they said. Monday we will gather and bring food and come to the house.
The home required some preparation because it was a modest one, especially now that Ame was born. His son shared their bedroom, but Penny had her own. When someone walked into the house they were immediately greeted with a living room that had a couch three cushions long and two chairs which all pointed inward to the coffee table. On the right was a large, doorless threshold that lead to the kitchen. The windows over the sink of the far wall and to the right overlooked the garden Tag tended to. There was the pantry and laundry room joined to it as well on the left hand wall. In the living room there was a door, just a handful of paces after the kitchen door, which was the guest bathroom and, also, Penny's. She had a few of her items still in it, decorated a bit so that it felt a little more like it was "her's".
In the living room, the door to the left leads to Penny's room. The door nearly opposite of the entrance leads to the master bedroom.
That day, he had to open up the kitchen table and slide in three leaves so that it could accommodate everyone. This was as large as the table was willing to handle but it seemed happy for the expansion.
Madison and Tag did their best to have everything prepared. Tag didn't enjoy walking inside the home with his shoes on, but he knew it wasn't a common practice for everyone. They might have noticed, upon stepping in, that there was a mat to the right against the wall with shoes on it. Either they would take it as a hint to do the same or keep them on. He found that women, especially due to their heels, were loathe to slip out of certain footgear.
Fin was the first to arrive, appearing of course with Lucy. It was not long after them that Charlie and Ray likewise knocked on the door. Tag worked around the food they brought while Madi entertained, showing off Ame who seemed more intent on sleeping than cracking open his eyes and grabbing the fingers of strangers. There was no denying it-- the kid was a match for Tag's eyes and asian features but there was a spark of something, of gunpowder and prairie, undeniably about him.
Penny was excited and also working on her aloof, bored teenager mood. It wasn't very successful. It was no small secret that she liked Fin, and tended to brighten up when he was around. Tag thought it was either because he fell into the dreaded classification of 'cute boy' or because he was an adult that was not her father, wiggling a stuffed sheep at her like she was still a baby. Fin also occasionally brought gifts while Tag tended to be conservative. Fin was like the young uncle who showed up to share in his good fortune and spoil the kids he could.
After dinner Tag worked on getting Penny to bed amidst all the excitement. Madison was no doubt getting Ame settled in the crib. It was about half an hour before the two of them reappeared, still somewhat tentative about whether or not one of the two children would stir again. They offered drinks from the bottle Fin had brought over last time, that piece of him cut out of Scotland and shared with the group. Ray unfortunately had to pass on the opportunity because of the hour he would need to be up. They shared stories of themselves and he found it strange and remarkable that each one of them carried a certain amount of grit in their hearts. Perhaps it was the echo of similar scars and knowing pauses which kept the moments comfortable instead of awkward.
It was around 11:30 pm that they had to go. Ray had to work early, which was something Tag understood all too well. Construction jobs tended to start at 5am, before the sun, heat and traffic could affect their work. They left at the same time, leaving their home aching for the sounds and warmth of what had been. Tag and Madi would keep its heart beating and return its serenity but the house would wait expectantly for their return.
Stories that were shared... food that was brought... clothes worn... they were all parts of the evening held inside his chest.
Monday, they said. Monday we will gather and bring food and come to the house.
The home required some preparation because it was a modest one, especially now that Ame was born. His son shared their bedroom, but Penny had her own. When someone walked into the house they were immediately greeted with a living room that had a couch three cushions long and two chairs which all pointed inward to the coffee table. On the right was a large, doorless threshold that lead to the kitchen. The windows over the sink of the far wall and to the right overlooked the garden Tag tended to. There was the pantry and laundry room joined to it as well on the left hand wall. In the living room there was a door, just a handful of paces after the kitchen door, which was the guest bathroom and, also, Penny's. She had a few of her items still in it, decorated a bit so that it felt a little more like it was "her's".
In the living room, the door to the left leads to Penny's room. The door nearly opposite of the entrance leads to the master bedroom.
That day, he had to open up the kitchen table and slide in three leaves so that it could accommodate everyone. This was as large as the table was willing to handle but it seemed happy for the expansion.
Madison and Tag did their best to have everything prepared. Tag didn't enjoy walking inside the home with his shoes on, but he knew it wasn't a common practice for everyone. They might have noticed, upon stepping in, that there was a mat to the right against the wall with shoes on it. Either they would take it as a hint to do the same or keep them on. He found that women, especially due to their heels, were loathe to slip out of certain footgear.
Fin was the first to arrive, appearing of course with Lucy. It was not long after them that Charlie and Ray likewise knocked on the door. Tag worked around the food they brought while Madi entertained, showing off Ame who seemed more intent on sleeping than cracking open his eyes and grabbing the fingers of strangers. There was no denying it-- the kid was a match for Tag's eyes and asian features but there was a spark of something, of gunpowder and prairie, undeniably about him.
Penny was excited and also working on her aloof, bored teenager mood. It wasn't very successful. It was no small secret that she liked Fin, and tended to brighten up when he was around. Tag thought it was either because he fell into the dreaded classification of 'cute boy' or because he was an adult that was not her father, wiggling a stuffed sheep at her like she was still a baby. Fin also occasionally brought gifts while Tag tended to be conservative. Fin was like the young uncle who showed up to share in his good fortune and spoil the kids he could.
After dinner Tag worked on getting Penny to bed amidst all the excitement. Madison was no doubt getting Ame settled in the crib. It was about half an hour before the two of them reappeared, still somewhat tentative about whether or not one of the two children would stir again. They offered drinks from the bottle Fin had brought over last time, that piece of him cut out of Scotland and shared with the group. Ray unfortunately had to pass on the opportunity because of the hour he would need to be up. They shared stories of themselves and he found it strange and remarkable that each one of them carried a certain amount of grit in their hearts. Perhaps it was the echo of similar scars and knowing pauses which kept the moments comfortable instead of awkward.
It was around 11:30 pm that they had to go. Ray had to work early, which was something Tag understood all too well. Construction jobs tended to start at 5am, before the sun, heat and traffic could affect their work. They left at the same time, leaving their home aching for the sounds and warmth of what had been. Tag and Madi would keep its heart beating and return its serenity but the house would wait expectantly for their return.
Stories that were shared... food that was brought... clothes worn... they were all parts of the evening held inside his chest.