An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Six

Sunday

Tim and Trudy chatted happily in the back seat, excited to see their cousins. Daniel glanced over at Christine in the passenger seat.

"So how did work go this week?" he smiled as he glanced at his wife.

"Fine," was all she said, staring straight ahead without looking in his direction.

"Did you interview many models this week?"

"A few," Christine replied sullenly and turned to look out the passenger window.

Observing their mother, the twins ceased their conversation.

"Mom, Grandma and Grandpa aren't going to torture you," Trudy admonished her with a sigh.

"They love you," Daniel added quickly, grateful he had support.

Christine closed her eyes and sighed.

"Grandpa said he'll take us to visit BC," Tim chimed in. "He even offered to drive us for a tour of the campus if you and Dad are too busy that day."

They were all relieved when Christine relaxed her shoulders and her frown disappeared.

Daniel's parents were always good to the twins. In fact, his whole family embraced the children as soon as they came into their lives. The tightness in Daniel's stomach loosened and he was able to relax as he continued driving. The kids were always a great help whenever they visited his family. He was as cognizant as Christine was at their initial reaction when he announced he was engaged to her all those years ago. He knew they still had reservations accepting her, but through the years, the twins and her dedication as a wife and mother had softened their initial outrage.

***

"Grandma, here they come: Uncle Daniel, Tim, Trudy, and the shiksa," Michael, ten years old, grinned mischievously out the window.

"The shiksa's coming! The shiksa's coming!" Charlie jumped up and down and stared out the window. Even though he was only three years old, he wanted to be part of the action.

"Shhh! Don't say that! One of these days she's going to hear you and then we'll all be in big trouble," Grandma reprimanded them.

Rachel, the boys' fifteen-year-old sister, rolled her eyes as she put away her magazine. "Yeah, you guys got to control yourselves. We don't want any fights or speeches. You remember the tongue-lashing you got from Uncle Daniel the last time."

The mention of their uncle was enough to silence their banter.

"Is that Daniel and the shiksa?" Grandpa boomed as he trudged down the stairs.

"Umm, we agreed not to call her that," Grandma glared at him. "Harry, will you run a comb through your hair? You want to look a little presentable."

Grandpa headed for the downstairs' bathroom, mumbling, "I'm an old man. Aren't I entitled to take a nap during the day? I spent forty years looking my best for my job. Can't I take it easy at this stage in my life?

"Not when we're having company..." Grandma began.

"Company, hmpf! My own kids and grandkids. Should I put on a shirt and tie too?" he growled as he headed toward the bathroom.

"Grandpa," Rachel stood up. "You're still a handsome guy! And you don't want Michael and Charlie to think it's okay not to comb their hair. They give mom a fight every morning while I'm trying to concentrate putting on my makeup."

About to enter the bathroom, Harry's eyes lit up upon hearing his granddaughter. His tone softened considerably and he actually smiled as he said, "You know you're right, Rachel."

"Grandpa always thinks Rachel's right," Michael said dismissively.

'Well, this time it comes in handy," Grandma said as she looked out the window again. "And here are your parents. I hope they enjoyed their night out alone last night...oh, Uncle Daniel is also here."

***

At this point, Daniel and his family also arrived and parked their Hyundai in front of the house next to his brother's Lexus.

The two brothers and their families met outside and greeted each other before they went up the steps.

"Hi! How's everyone?" Seth, Daniel's younger brother, shook his brother's and his nephew's hand and kissed Christine and Trudy on the cheek. "Getting ready for college?" he asked the twins.

"We're still waiting to hear whether we're accepted or not," Trudy bit her lip as she responded.

"Don't worry," Seth's wife Heather came around. "It'll all be good."

After Heather kissed everyone, she exclaimed, "It was such a relaxing night without the kids. Christine, I'm so glad I took your advice and had them stay over their grandparents."

"Every couple needs a break," Christine agreed. "It did wonders for Daniel and me when the twins were little."

"And they let us do whatever we wanted. We drank coffee, ate lots of ice cream and stayed up late," Trudy chimed in.

"Yeah, it was actually a bummer when you picked us up," Tim added.

"I'll bet," Daniel replied in mock anger, but his wife had to swallow her objections. She never allowed the twins to drink coffee and was always strict about their bedtime when they were little. To this day, she always encouraged healthy eating habits.

Grandparents are grandparents, she thought with a smile. Her own parents had listened to her instructions more carefully when they used to babysit, but you can't have everything.

Heather reached for Christine's arm and showed her her new pumps.

"Very nice," Christine smiled approvingly.

"This is the style all the models are wearing, isn't it?"

Christine nodded.

"I got them on sale. Otherwise, they'd cost a fortune. With you, I feel like I have a fashion consultant."

Christine chuckled. Her sister-in-law considered her a fashion guru.

By the time they all reached the door, Daniel and Seth's mother had already opened it.

Before any greetings, she announced as she put her hand over her chest, "They were wonderful, but Dad and I are not as young as we used to be."

"We know, but thanks, Mom. I think in a year Rachel will be able to take over the job," Seth said as he kissed his mother.

"I hope you had a good time last night."

"Oh, Judy! The break did us wonders!" Heather exclaimed. "We now feel refreshed and energized."

"Then it was all worth it," Judy smiled. "They're wonderful, but Harry and I can't handle the action like we used to."

"That's understandable. I'm having trouble with it myself," Heather confessed in a low tone.

"Daniel, how are you, honey?" His mother studied his face. "The doctor said the tests were fine, right?"

"That's right, Mom," he kissed her quickly so he would not have to lock eyes with her.

Tim and Trudy kissed their grandma and promptly went over to their cousins. Trudy put Charlie on her lap and soon got into a discussion with Rachel about hair and makeup while Michael begged Tim to arm wrestle with him.

Judy finally turned to her other daughter-in-law, opening her arms to hug her, but then settled on patting her shoulder awkwardly "How are you doing, Christine?"

"I'm fine. And you?"

At this point, Harry emerged from the bathroom with his hair well groomed. He shook his sons' hands and kissed both daughters-in-law. The twins stopped what they were doing and greeted him.

As much as Harry was opposed to the marriage, his heart always melted upon seeing Christine. She always appeared uneasy when they met, but Harry could not resist kissing a woman who still looked like a striking model. That part, of course, he kept to himself.