The Way We Were

The Way We Italy

The large group yawned as they made it to their grandparents' estate. The sun was peeking over the hills and the sky was a brilliant lemony peach.

The staff led them inside and to their rooms. They each unpacked and took a nap before seeking their grandparents out, leaving the babies upstairs with the nannies.

Christina was in the kitchen with her chef, Louise. They were whipping up food for the weary travelers. Louise was making their favorites while Christina was baking her famous orange cake.

"Grandmom! Louise!" They yelled.

Christina hugged them all. "My babies!"

"Hello to you all!" Louise loved seeing them.

"I've made your favorite!"

"Is it done?" Mike asked hopefully.

She cupped his strong chin. "Yes, it is. You all sit and I will get milk for you."

The siblings and Mally, Mickey and Riley sat at the large farmer's table as Christina gave them glasses of icy milk. Louise cut thick slabs of orange cake to bring to them.

Mike moaned happily as he ate his first bite of warm, fragrant cake and took a sip of iceberg cold milk at the same time.

Mercedes and Quinn, on either side of him, leaned on him, amused by his greediness and love of food.

"Good?" Christina wiped Riley's chin.

Riley lifted her spoon and waved it happily. "Nummy!"

The others chuckled as Louise started plating up pasta, bacon, hash and roasted veggies.

Christina watched her grandkids eat in silence until she was sure they were distracted. "We'll see Percy today then go shopping."

They each (over the age of four) stilled.

Drat! She'd hoped they were so taken with food that they'd just accept it.

"Grandmom." Marc started. "This is a hostile takeover."

"I can't sing." Mike added.

"Yes, you can!" His wives were supportive.

"I can't be in front of people." Mal shook his head.

Marcy gulped.

Laura chewed on her bottom lip. "Rethink this, Grandmom."

Christina whistled sharply. "He is coming here to hear all eight of you sing and that's final."

"Even me?" Maddie didn't know how she felt about that.

"Even you. Now finish eating then go change. After he leaves, we're going shopping." Christina stood up and left.

The boys pouted. "Aw man!"

The girls were nervous. "Poo!"

Mally and Mickey knew they were stressed so they began chanting for more orange cake. It worked as their mother got up to slice them more cake and their aunts, uncles and father chuckled at their hearty appetites.

W.W.W

Percy Gunn was tall, stocky and intimidating. To everyone but Marcy. The moment she saw him, she calmed. She'd faced people like him before and she refused to cower.

When he was shown into the music room, he spoke politely but seemed disinterested in them. He was only there as a curtesy to his friend.

"Who wants to go first?" Christina sipped her tea.