Louise was finally completely relaxed. She laughed as she talked to Rachel, Nathan's mother about the mischief that he used to get into.
"I know that he's on the quiet side now but he could sure get into things." Rachel said. "So could Joseph for that matter. Maybe this one will be quieter." she added rubbing her stomach. "You know, you've been good for him." Rachel said.
"I think that it's more the other way around." Louise replied blushing.
Rachel gave Louise an appraising look before she spoke again.
"I know that you're aware of the family history and even though Nathan didn't rape, it had to be difficult for you to hear about it. I just want you to know that if either you or Kevyn want to talk about anything you can come to any of us."
"Thank you." Louise said taking Rachel's offered hand. "When is the baby due?"
"Hopefully after the wedding." Rachel replied. "Speaking of weddings, do you think you and Kevyn will have one?"
"I know that I don't want one." Louise replied, "And I'm pretty sure that Kevyn doesn't either."
"That's alright, Martin and I didn't have a wedding either. By the time we reconnected with his family, we had been mated for several years. But what about your family? I know that your sister Barb is here, what about the others?"
"They're back in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and they don't know about Nathan yet. I'm still trying to get used to it myself and I really don't want to deal with them while I do it." Louise replied.
"Understood." Rachel said. "Being in this family is a big adjustment and unfortunately, your arrival coincided with a pretty intense event. As I said, any of us are here and willing to talk or just to go out to have a good time."
Louise liked Rachel and Martin. When she looked at any of the Sinclaire men who had raped, she understood what Kevyn meant when she said that she had a hard time seeing Patrick in that light. As she looked around the yard, she saw Ethan and Katrina who reminded her of herself in her shyness. She watched Ethan and the way that he treated Katrina and saw that it wasn't much different from the way that Nathan treated her. These men, as flawed as they were, loved their wives and their children.
"How are you doing?" Nathan asked as he sat down beside her.
"I'm good, just getting to know your mom... you were quite the trouble maker weren't you?" Louise teased.
"She's been telling stories I gather." Nathan said smiling at Rachel.
"Of course I have! It's my privilege as a mother-in-law to do so." Rachel replied winking at Louise. "Nathan, she's beautiful and I'm happy for the both of you."
"Thanks mom and I agree. She is beautiful." Nathan said as he kissed Louise's temple.
"By the way, I know that you've had your hands full but have you talked to Joseph yet?" Rachel asked.
"No I haven't but I'll do it soon. Did you see Winston?" Nathan asked.
"Yes... I'm so proud of him!" Rachel replied. "I saw him talking to Joseph awhile ago. Maybe Joseph will hire him."
Louise saw Joseph and Winston talking in a corner. Joseph looked happy but it struck her as a fake happiness. The only thing that he seemed genuinely happy about was whatever it was he and Winston had been discussing. It was then that she realized that she hadn't seen Barb in quite a while.
"Nathan, have you seen Barb lately?" she asked looking around.
"No but maybe one of the others have, stay put, I'll be back." he replied kissing her.
As he walked away, Louise felt a nervousness that had nothing to do with meeting the family.
Barb was somewhere getting into trouble.
*********
Thorne's first order of business was to replace Allen. This time he would choose someone easier to deal with and he wouldn't keep him around as long. His green eyes glittered as he brushed his dark shoulder length hair and tied it back with a black tie that matched the black suit that he was going to wear to the club. He ran down his list of male employees eliminating those who he wouldn't use as Allen's replacement. It came down to two vampires, neither of whom he liked but until he had time to find someone else, one of them would have to do. He chose Billings because he had the least irritating voice and he knew that the timid vampire would do as he was told without question.
Before he left for the evening, he called Noel. It tore Thorne up every time he talked to him but it helped calm Noel down when nothing else did. He needed to go see him and soon because when he did, Noel would be at peace for six to eight weeks. During Thorne's visits, they did whatever Noel wanted to do which was usually paint. In spite of his mental condition, Noel was still a very accomplished artist with his paintings very much in demand. Thorne owned several of them himself but his favorite one was the one of him and Noel together. The second favorite was of the family minus their father.
It wasn't until after their father died that Thorne noticed that Noel had never painted a portrait of him. It was something that he had always wondered about and finally asked his mother Samantha about it.
"I don't know." she replied. "The only thing that I can think of is that your father was always so hard on him about his art and Noel was too afraid to ask."
"Maybe," Thorne replied, "But Noel has an excellent memory for detail; he wouldn't have needed father to sit for him. He painted that portrait of the two of us together and I wasn't here."
"I don't know then." Samantha replied.
Thorne hadn't believed her but didn't press. It didn't seem important anymore. He finished the phone call with the usual admonishments and a promise to visit soon.
"When?" Noel asked his voice tight with anxiety.
Thorne closed his eyes; he heard the signs that were pointing to a breakdown in Noel's soft tenor voice.
"I'll tell you what." Thorne said. "I have to work the weekend but how about I come on Monday? Can you be good until then?"
"Do you promise to come?" Noel asked.
"I'll promise if you promise to be good for mother." Thorne replied.
"I promise." Noel replied some of the anxiety gone.
"Good, I'll see you then and I'll bring some canvases and paints with me."
Thorne hung up hating his father and the Sinclaires for what they had done to Noel. He also realized that Noel was the only person that he really truly loved and cared about and wondered if he wouldn't be better off living with him. However, that meant that his mother would have to come too. He didn't hate her exactly but he couldn't say that he loved her either.
"What?" he snapped when the phone rang. "I'm on my way."
He vanished from his bedroom to the club pushing the issues about Noel out of his mind to think about later.
*******
"Nathan! Wait!" Louise called after him, "I'm coming with you!"
She gave Rachel an apologetic smile.
