Life Choices, Challenges and Changes

Part 2a June 20, 2017 Family Dinner

June 20, 2017  Dinner time

Amanda's daydream stopped when she felt a little hand on her lap.

"G-ma? Come, Mama says."

"Ok, Liam. Let me pick up Lyn and we can go. Where are we going?"

"Here," and pointed to the dining room grabbing her hand.

Lifting Lyn in her arms and putting her on her shoulder she smiled as the little one curled up into her neck pulling her little legs up. She took the blanket she had knitted for her and placing it around her she walked with her granddaughter and grandson into the dining room. The family was already sitting around the large dining room table. Colin, Steph and their two children were there too. She walked in and Colin immediately got up and kissed her followed by Steph. She always considered Colin as her third son and Steph her other daughter in law. She felt so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Finn and Colin had always been close since they met as young boys at the pool here in Hartford. She was not surprised that they both chose to attend Yale and room together when they went away to college. She remembered the excitement in his voice the day he called her from Yale. Finn and Colin had bumped into this amazing Sheila at the coffee cart. It was Rory. He told her that he didn't get her name, but he was going to go to every dorm room and knock on every door until he found her.

Someone or something had guided her son to walk that path passed the coffee cart. He told his mother that they never took that route before. But Finn felt that he was meant to have her in his life. It might have taken them six years before they got together. There were times when he was angry and disappointed about her relationship with Logan, but his Nana told him that good things come for those who wait. When he brought her five years ago to the Manor House and introduced her as his girlfriend it was at that moment that she knew that this was a union that would last a lifetime.

2017 was a good year for her family and she also hoped that Logan's recent engagement and upcoming nuptials would bring him the happiness he deserved.

The family was sitting around the large dining room table in Finn and Rory's home. Amanda placed Lyn in her infant seat near her and Liam. Liam Sr. was talking loudly to the men and passing food around the table. Steph was standing fixing the plates for Bella and Lucas while Finn was convincing Liam that if he sits in his high chair he could sit beside him and Colin. Finally, Liam let his father pull his high chair up to the table and handed him his sippy cup with water. Liam took a sip from his cup and when he realized it wasn't his "Nana's Milk" he gave his father a dirty look and started to pout. Colin had turned to speak to Finn when he saw the face Liam made. He burst out laughing.

"Man, Finn if that face doesn't look like yours when we were in college and I filled your scotch bottle with a different brand of scotch after Robert and Logan had finished"

"Yeah Mate, and you learned not to mess with a man's Scotch too!"

The men all chuckled around the table. Little Liam looked around the table and was still mad. He put his arms across his chest and pouted. Steph, Amanda and Liam Sr. all looked at little Liam trying not to react to his antics. Lucas got up, walked over to his brother and put his arm around him.

"It's ok Buddy."

Picking up his brother's cup, he took a sip and knew what the problem was. It was water. "I can fix it," Lucas told his brother.

Finn watched his son and followed him out into the kitchen. Rory was arranging more food on the platters and turned as the two walked into the kitchen.