Pulling up to the house in his Lamborghini Veneno; Benton looks at his brother’s house for the first time.
“It looks smaller than the house we grew up in.”
Getting out of his gas guzzling monster; Benton activates the alarm for his car and heads to the front door. Before he knocks, the door is opened and Benton can see his younger brother greeting him wearing jeans and an ugly grey t-shirt.
“Well they say clothes make the man,” Benton the first to speak.
“One doesn’t wear Armani when hauling furniture and prepping a room for painting,” Lance answering; “or putting a crib together.”
“I’ll give you that,” Benton seeing the logic in Lance’s attire; “got any coffee?”
As Benton was let in the small bungalow, he was given a brief tour of the place on the way to the kitchen. Seeing the living room with a cozy couch and the latest wall mounted LED flat screen t.v. Benton could not help but notice the odd looking décor. The window curtains and wallpaper in direct conflict with each other, while the couch looked like it was held together with duct tape and rubber bands. Lance giving and excuse that they have been slowly redecorating, but had to put it on hold as Lila became pregnant.
The kitchen no bigger than the living room; but looking like it hasn’t been renovated since the house was originally built. Still looking like it did when the house was constructed back in the eighties, the only modern items in the kitchen was the stainless steel fridge and modern glass top stove. Sitting at the kitchen table with a fresh cup of caffeinated coffee, Benton can’t help but shake his head.
“Have you ever thought about giving this place a major facelift,” Benton sipping his coffee; “it looks older than us.”
“We are doing it one room at a time right now,” Lance answering; “we started with the living room.”
“But now that I have a bun in the oven,” Lila entering the kitchen; “the plans have naturally changed.”
“You got all your files backed up on the computer,” Lance answering; “the books secured and what not?”
“Yep,” Lila answering; “it’s now safe to for you and my brother to start turning the home office into a nursery.”
“When is Rick expected to…” Lance’s line of thought trailing off as he hears a large pickup truck; “never mind. You go great your younger brother dear,” Lance kissing Lila; “I’m sure Benton will want to talk with me on a few private matters.”
Lila cocks and eyebrow as she heads to the front door to talk with her were-tiger brother; giving Lance a chance to ask Benton an important question.
“So did you have a chance to think about what we talked about last night,” Lance looking at his brother.
“More than that,” Benton smiling; “I started my counterattacks. Jack Crawford will no longer be messing with the construction of the new elementary school.”
“What about the rest of what we talked about,” Lance asking; “regarding Kenya’s past?”
“Oh I’m keeping mum on that,” Benton smiling; “but I did tell Amanda. I can’t wait to see your reporter rake them over the coals on Monday. Think I can get an advance copy of your newspaper,” Benton chuckling; “I want some good news to read while having to suffer through decafe coffee and those horrible egg white frittatas Amanda is forcing me to have in the morning.”
“Sorry,” Lance laughing; “you’ll just have to wait like everyone else on Tuesday. Hell even I don’t know what Ella Alyn has written up just yet,” Lance looking bemused; “I might get a tidbit or two if I check in at the gazette later today, but Ella likes to keep her cards close to the chest as it were.”
Benton and Lance chat a few more minutes before Lila comes back inside with her brother Rick. Looking completely surprised and thrilled she rushes over to give her husband a surprise kiss and a hug.
“You’ll never guess what happened last night.”
“Regarding your brother and Ester,” Lance answering; “I don’t need to guess. I think I know,” Lance winking.
“Not that,” Lila looking thrilled; “mom and dad finally called.”
“I though your parents were unreachable,” Lance asked; “didn’t you say they were running around in Africa enjoying being with other tigers?”
“Tigers are Asian,” Benton snorting; “they are not indigenous to Africa.”
“Details,” Lila shutting her brother in law down; “as I was saying. Mom and dad finally called last night.”
“I had a long talk with them,” Rick speaking up; “They are not only surprised that Lila is married, but is now expecting. They are making arraignments to come back to town for a visit.”
“When,” Lance asking; “when do I get to meet your parents?”
“Some time next year,” Rick answering; “They like Africa to much apparently.”
“I will have had my baby by then,” Lila answering; “just like them to miss out on the important moments. They never visited or once called after Ester had Jasper and Yogi,” Lila growling; “they could have at least written a letter of congratulations.”
“As much as this is amusing,” Benton getting up; “but aren’t we suppose to get a nursery ready?”
“Hope there is beer,” Rick responding; “cold beer.”
“It’s in the fridge,” Lance rolling his eyes; “I’ll show you the room while my brother rages in putting the crib together.”
“I’m probably going to need a few beers toady as well,” Benton finishing his coffee and getting up; “how difficult can this crib I got for Lance be?”
“I snuck a peek at the instructions,” Lila grinning; “most of its in Swedish and German. Have fun,” Lila cackling as she starts making sandwiches for later.
“That just means it’s European,” Benton shrugging; “the instruction are primarily in pictures.”
“Where did you get the crib anyway,” Lila looking at Benton as he starts opening the box; “from what store in town?”
“Ordered it online,” Benton answering; “it comes from a high end furniture company in Europe.”
“Does it meet the federal safety standards for baby products,” Lila asking.
“If it didn’t,” Benton speaking; “than I wouldn’t have ordered it. I’m not an idiot.”
“So says the were-panther wearing a suit and tie while constructing a crib,” Lila laughing as she walks back to the kitchen.
“Yeah,” Benton pausing while making sure all the pieces for the crib were present; “I guess a suit isn’t the best thing to wear while doing this.”