Unlikely Meetings

CHAPTER 6 - AFTER HOURS

"Uncle Max!" Two voices called out in unison with the pitter patter of feet and paws on the home's hardwood floor. Noah and Chelsea's children ran to the front door as their babysitter tried to keep the children from falling in their excitement before jumping into the grizzled man's arms.

"Hey there kiddos! I'd ask if ya missed me but I think I can figure that out myself!" Lifting up the young children in each arm he gives them a warm hug against his sides. "Just so you two know I missed you!" Rubbing his stubbly chin against them forcing giggles and pleas of 'cease fire' and 'stop' rang out into the air.

"C'mon Max let em breathe." Chelsea passed him, dropping her windbreaker on one of the hooks next to the front door. "Besides, you have to introduce them to your new girlfriend." Chelsea's sly smile was complemented by both of her kids giving a harmonized 'Ooooo' just as their father passed the door.

"Kids, be nice. Well to her at least, I like her." Noah shed his layers as he passed the kids and planted a raspberry on each of their heads as he passed with them giggling from the attention. He was a good father, at least from what Max had seen and he had seen a fair amount of his parenting skills.

That's when both of them had their eyes go wide. Standing in the doorway was Eli nervously wringing her gloved hands as she took in their home. Their brown and green eyes locked with her ruby orbs before calling out. "You look like the TV lady!"

Eli looked confused before Max laughed. It was a strong belly laugh with a wide smile showing off his straight teeth. It took a moment for him to steady his breathing to fully explain what was so funny about their innocent comment. "There's a snake character in one of their cartoons and she looks nothing like you!"

Eli lets out a soft laugh as the ice was broken between the children and herself letting her finally step past the threshold into Noah and chel's fairly small home. "I kind of want to see the show they're talking about. Not too many reptiles in media."

"Alright kids, don't bother our guest." Noah called from inside their home before the distinct sound of a beer cracking open rang out. "You can bother your uncle instead!"

As if a sleeper agent's activation phrase was uttered they sprung into action. Limbs and shouts rang out as they flailed from Max's grip before the young girl quickly tied his boots together as the son distracted with lightning fast stomach punches before scurrying away with his sister. "Hey get back he-OMPH!" He fell on his face as he tried to reach for the children just out of grasp much to the enjoyment of Eli. "Oh when I get y'all I'm going to tickle you until you pee!"

They laughed as Max worked his tied laces free before bounding into the house prompting Eli to follow into the kitchen. Noah was handing a few bills over to a young labrador girl that she assumed to be the babysitter before standing awkwardly in the kitchen. "Oh hun come sit down with me! Max will be a bit preoccupied with them for a little while so we can get some more time to chat." Chelsea patted the seat next to her at their dinner table with her wide smile painting her face. As she sat down Chelsea leaned in a little and whispered to her. "So what did you do to him? Did you hypnotize Max? It's almost like he's been a different person these last few days."

Eli chuckled as she looked between Noah that had joined them after practically pushing the lab girl out of their home and Chelsea's warm smile. "Oh no nothing like that but sometimes it does feel that way. He didn't smile when we first met but ever since our first date he's been nothing but smiles around me." The sounds of children laughing and harsh grunts from Max drew her eyes past the married couple and pulled a question to the forefront of her mind. "What are their names? I don't think you've told me."

Chelsea's eyes lit up like she just heard the best news in the world before she clapped her hands together and motioned towards the kids currently climbing all over their uncle. "The young man over there with the lightning strikes is Michael and the resident trickster husky is Sarah! They make quite the dynamic duo don't they!?"