Home (Grey's Anatomy Series)

Invasion of Privacy

Jackson's POV

Staring up at the windows of my mother's house, I rested my head back in my seat, clenching my phone between my fingers as the sound of wind chimes start to ring. With Theo and Eliza sleeping in their car seats, I stared down at my phone tapping and typing away quickly as I wrote messages for Elena, who hadn't answered any of my calls since I left the hospital. 

'Elena?'

'Hello? Are you there?'

'Answer me?'

Hitting send for the last time, I sighed heavily tossing my phone on the passenger seat when the lights decorating my mother's roof suddenly lit up, reflecting against the hood of my car.

"Woah, that's so cool," Theo whispered, rubbing his eyes open as he pressed his hand against the window.

"Sorry to wake you bud..."

"You didn't wake me, I just got hungry."

"Are you ready to go inside?" I asked, twisting my body to face the back.

"Is mom not coming?" 

"I don't know...but don't worry, I'm sure she'll come." I sighed, unbuckling my belt.

Kicking the cardoor open, I took a quick glance around the driveway trying to see if Elena had parked her car on the side of the road but with most of the catering crew taking up space, it was impossible to see her car as the sun was setting.

"Ooh, pretty lights."

Opening the back doors, I helped Theo out, handing him the diaper bag while I helped Eliza, who was still partially asleep from her carseat.

"Do you think grandma made crab puffs?" Theo asked, leaning on the car.

"...I don't know, buddy. Grandma didn't really plan on making Chinese tonight. Why?"

"Oh, mom said she was gonna bring crabpuffs..."

Wrapping Eliza in her blanket, I glanced down at Theo who kicked the side of the tire with his dress shoes on.

"Hey, I'm sure she'll bring them...but you have to at least eat a good dinner first, alright?"

"Got it."

Grabbing his hand, the three of us heading up to the front door, which was decorated in a fresh and strong-smelling pine wreath around the peephole. 

"Isn't it a little early for Christmas decorations?" Theo mumbled, pointing at the bundles' of pumpkin in the corner.

"You know how grandma is...she's extra."

Wiping some of the dust off of Eliza's blanket, the front door swung open abruptly revealing Richard holding out a platter of deviled eggs.

"Jackson, come on in."

"Thanks...are you serving the guest now?" I asked, grabbing the diaper bag from Theo.

"No, I was snacking. Catherine told me to wait for you to arrive before eating some of the pasteries."

"Well, dig in."

"Is Elena not here with you?" He asked peaking his head out the door as I put Eliza down on the ground.

"Theo, why don't you and Eliza go say hi to grandma."

"Okay!"

Leaving my coat on the coat hanger, I waited for the kids to get a head start before following Richard through the hallway leading to the dining room table, where my mother stood overlooking the dishes the catering crew brought in from the kitchen. Dressed in her festive red and white clothes, I couldn't help but stare at the nude color brace wrapped around her neck as I came up behind her.