Theo And Reed's Unfortunate Homecoming

Chapter Five

Cassandra pulled away and looked at her son. A slight smile spread her thin lips and she lifted up her wrinkled liver spotted hand to delicately stroke his face. " Theodore," she murmured solemnly. " You look so much like your father. Malcolm was the most beautiful man I've ever seen in my life when we first met. He was not handsome. He was beautiful. Inside and out. The gentlest man. You are your father. " Theo drew in a deep breath, fighting back a sudden rush of tears. He leaned forward to press a kiss to his mother's lined cheek and hugged her again. She smelled like expensive lilac scented perfume and baby powder. " Thank you, Mother. I love you. " " I love you, too , my son. My only son. "

Reed went to the large sectional sofa where Saint sat with Darren. He and Darren fist bumped quietly before he sat down. " Hey , Reed ,man ," Darren said," you getting tubby. Food that good up in the city? "

Reed grimaced and patted the small stomach pouch he was starting to regret. Maybe he should start jogging in the morning. " Nah ," Saint laughed wryly," he just eats too much."  " You should talk ," Reed retorted with a poke into Saint's own stomach. " That was made by too many of Matt's pastries and bread. "

Darren laughed but not too loud. " How y'all get them men to cook for you? I can barely get Grace to do more than pull up GrubHub most nights. I would auction off a god damn kidney for a home cooked meal. "

Matt was on his hands and knees with the three children playing blocks and laughing softly. Benji had found a toy car and was zooming it up Matt's back.  Saint was glad to hear Matt laugh again. It had been too long.

Grace appeared next to her mother and brother. Cassandra kissed her daughter on the cheek. " I love you too, Grace Ann. Enjoy your family and friends, children. I'm going to take a rest. I'm tired. "

Then the indomitable Cassandra Walton swept from the room with all the elegance and regal grace of a queen. A grieving queen who had lost her king.

Grace motioned over Matt who pulled himself off the floor and went to them. Grace looked at them. " You all just solved a murder in DC. You might need to solve one here. I need to talk to you. Both of you. Mother won't listen. She won't do an autopsy. But she needs to. Father should not be dead. " Her voice was low and hushed but still had grave urgency in it.

" Who ? ," Theo asked. " What's going on, sister? "

" Yeah ," Matt said. " I met Malcolm at the wedding. He seemed a nice old man. Very kind and smart. Sweet. Who would want to hurt him? "

Grace reared her head back and said a name with such venom it stunned both Theo and Matt. " Phoenix Realty and Construction. That is who. Let's go to the kitchen. We'll prepare lunch and I'll tell you a story. "