“What is that?” I asked early morning. What sounded like music and static all at the same time was playing.
A very groggy Liam replied, “I think it is a phone.”
“Shit.” I screamed as I went running from the bed into the kitchen. My phone was on the floor, buzzing and ringing all at the same time.
“Hi, mom.” I answered the phone.
“Where have you been? You said Skype at nine our time. It is now ten.” She demanded from the other side of the phone.
“I am sorry mom. I forgot to set my alarm. Give me a minute.” I said before hanging up the phone. I was going to have hell to pay for this one.
I found Liam sitting up in bed, leaning against the headboard. He did not look too happy to be woken up at the crack of dawn on his day off. “Everything ok?” he asked.
“Yea. Listen, can I use your computer? I was supposed to Skype my parents an hour ago.” I asked.
“In the room on the other side of the kitchen.” He answered. Quickly, though, he added, “Are you going to go looking like that?”
I took a glance in the mirror. He was right. An old t-shirt and my hair a mess. Quickly, I threw it up in a messy bun before saying, “Yes, just like this.”
I found his office easy enough with a silver MacBook pro sitting on the oversized desk. Behind the desk was a behemoth of a chair, cushioned to perfection. Even further behind that was a breathtaking view of London.
It took a moment for me to get situated, but by the time Skype was open, I was ready to face my family.
“ALLIE!” they all answered the Skype call.
“Hey guys.” I could not help but get a little teary seeing all my family. “How is everyone?”
They all started talking at once giving me absolute no answer to my question.
“Guys. Stop. I can’t understand a thing when you all talk like that.” I moderately yelled. They all went silent, and I decided best to talk to people individually. “Sorry I am late, but Happy Birthday Allison and Amanda!” I exclaimed.
“That’s ok.” They both said together. They were almost the same person. It was scary at times how they could communicate with people; one twin saying half a phrase and the other finishing.
Allison continued saying, “We figured you were having fun in London. Too much fun that to remember us! That does not mean we do not expect a present, like, I don’t know. Signed stuff from One Direction.”
She sot me a glance letting me know that at least the twins knew what was going on. “I’ll see what I can do.” I said, hoping that they had not told mom and dad yet.
“Landon, where are Linda and the kids?” I asked.
“They went home a while ago. The kids are young, we don’t like them staying up too late.” He said coldly. Being the oldest, he was the most like our father. He was dry and tended to not show any emotion.
“I am sorry I don’t get to see them, but tell them I say hi.” I had never been close to Landon, but his kids were the sweetest little toe headed kids.
“I will. How is London? Is sitting in a dark cold office treating you well?
“Well, unlike you, the sun and me are not friends. So I rather like sitting in the basement. I love London. The weather is a little dreary, but I am not going to complain.” I replied.
A good fifteen minutes passé din the blink of an eye with the chitter chatter between all of the siblings. I wished I could talk to Donna too, but her being in Africa and all made that quite hard. Even missing her, talking with the other siblings was fun. Each of us telling stories and answering questions.
“Alright, shoo, shoo, shoo everyone! I want to talk to my daughter now.” Mom said as she swatted away her children like flies after she thought we had had enough time to talk. When it was just her left in the dining room, she began to speak. “How are you Allie? You look tired.”
“I am great, mom. Stop worrying.” I said. “I am not tired because I have not had enough sleep, but tired because it is six am and I just woke up fifteen minutes ago.”
“Ok, as long as you are sleeping enough.” She said in her motherly tone.
“How’s dad?” I asked.
“He is doing good. He is still in bed, but not in as much pain. The doctor says that he should be up and running around like normal in no time. He will be working again in a week, but he can not ride a horse for the rest of the month.”
“Dad is going to love that one. How much of a bear has he been over that?” I knew that dad was always happiest when he was on a horse. I was not going to miss being there and trying to be the one keeping him from riding.
“He has been terrible. Grumbling and moaning about how he is fine, but every time he laughs he is in terrible pain. Doesn’t help with Grif being home and cracking jokes left and right.”
“I’ll talk to him, mom.” The two of us talked for a good half an hour. I told her about London and my job. I also told her about Liam and how happy I was. She was curious, but also knew that she should not probe too hard.
When Grif could not wait any longer to talk to me, he came and sat down next to mom. One arm over her chair, he gave her a kiss before saying, “May I?”
“Alright, Allie, Please be safe. And we will talk soon. I love you.” She blew a few kisses before pinching Grif’s cheeks and then leaving.
“Well?” I asked.
“I am taking Caitlin to dinner tomorrow. I am picking her up from Casper International Airport tomorrow at three. I rented a hotel room there and I was going to let her take a shower and change before taking her out. I have a pick nick planned and we are going to walk in the park. I have this whole speech planned, and the ring is safely in the pants pocket in my jeans for tomorrow. Thanks, by the way, for helping me pick out that ring. It is perfect!” He was so excited telling me about his plans.
“You know I wish I could be there to help...”
“But you have better plans.” He said. “Speaking of better plans. Is that boy of yours there? You know you still don’t have my blessing.”
“Yeah, yeah. You can talk to him eventually. I think he went back to sleep.”
“No, I didn’t; I’m here and I come bearing gifts.” A beautiful British accent cascaded over me. Liam was standing in the doorway in a pair of sweats, to mugs of coffee in his hands.
“Well, come here then.” I beckoned.
He handed me the coffee as I stood up to allow him to sit on the chair. He pulled me on top of him.
“Nice to finally meet you Grif.” He said, smiling at my brother sitting half way across the world.
“You know, I looked you up when my sister told me who you were. But, I must say, the pictures don’t do you justice. You are on good looking man.” Grif said.
Liam and me both laughed. “Why thank you.” He said, entirely amused.
“Now that that is out of the way, I do have some serious things I need to say to you.” I tensed, knowing that my brother was going to now play the protective older brother. I hated the idea that he might not like Liam, or that he might actually hurt Liam if anything went amiss. “Allie is one of, if not the most important person in my life. She means the world to me. I don’t want to see anything hurt her, and at this moment, you have the potential to do the most damage. So you need to know that all Allie has to do is ask and I will come and do some damage. Do you understand?”
“I am glad that she has had someone to take care of her, but from now on, that person is going to be me. So, yes I understand you. But no, you are not going to need to hurt me.” He undoubtedly stated.
“Judging by the look on Allie’s face right now, she liked that response. So did I. Allie, you sure did a good job picking this one.” Grif stated. “That confidence, it could be a little too bold; but Liam, it seems that your confidence in the feelings you have for my sister have just won me over.”
“Allie, it seems you had nothing to worry about, since we have your brother’s blessing.” Liam said to me, kissing me on the cheek.
“So, Grif. When are you going to come visit me?” I asked, wanting to give my brother a hug so bad. The distance was hard between my family and myself. But the distance between Grif and me had been like separating a book from its cover; it is just something that should not be done.
“I am saving up money, sis. I will get there as soon as I can.” He said.
“You know what, you two keep talking, I need to use the restroom.” I quickly left my two main men alone to talk. I had to pee so bad out of the blue; I could not get to the bathroom fast enough.
When I returned to the office, Grif and Liam were chatting along merrily. Leaning on the doorframe, I spent a minute standing there listening to the banter back and forth. They were already friends. I listened to the mixture of British and American accent wondering if that is what it sounds like when Liam and me talked. I was pulled from my trance when there was a knock on the door.
“Are you expecting someone?” I asked Liam.
“No.”
“Huh. I’ll go get it. It is too early for guests.” I made my way to the door and peered out of the peephole before opening the door.
A very drunk Harry stood at the stoop.
“ALLIE!” he screamed when I opened the door, throwing his entire weight onto me in a big hug. “Allie, you are pretty.” He said.
“Harry, oh geese.” I groaned as the overwhelming smell of alcohol discharged out of his pores. I tried my hardest to pull him into the room, but he could hardly walk. “Come on Harry, stand up please.”
“Who is it?” Liam asked from the office.
“A very drunk Harry.” I yelled back to him. That was all he needed, because the next second Liam was taking all of Harry’s weight off of me and pulling him into the hall bathroom.
“Go finish talking to Grif. I’ll deal with Harry.” Liam said.
Back in the office, Grif seemed amused. “So, a drunk band member shows up at your door step on Friday morning at seven. Is this normal?”
“I am not quite sure. This is a first for me.” I laughed. “First time for everything. So what were you two talking about?”
“You. Mostly you. And guy stuff.” He was being a little too secretive.
“Alrighty, what are you too up to?” I asked.
“Nothing. He was just giving me advice for tomorrow.” He said.
“Sure he was.” I was not convinced, but decided not to push it any further. “Listen, I should probably go and help Liam. Promise me you will call me tomorrow as soon as Caitlin says yes.” I was sure she was going to say yes.
“It is going to be early in the morning for you.” Grif said.
“I expect a call.” We said our good byes and I closed the computer.
Harry and Liam were still in the bathroom; I could hear the shower running so I decided better to knock then to just enter.
Liam opened the door. “I’ll handle this. Why don’t you go have some breakfast or something?”
“Okay. Oh, and Liam. Thanks for talking to Grif. I think you reassured him that I am doing okay here.” I said.
“He never doubted you doing well here, Allie. Grif is just glad that you are happy. And so am I. I love you.”
I kissed him before saying, “I love you, too.” I was never going to get sick of saying that to him.