Page 54 of Cinnamon Strudel
Still stuffed from breakfast, they decided to skip lunch and continued right to the Christmas treats. Even though she tried not to show it, she was anxiously awaiting Morgan’s arrival. When the text finally came that he was on his way, her mother made Jude pick up all the toys while her dad whisked Percy upstairs to avoid any problems with Blue.
“What else will help him?” Denise asked, closing the lid on Jude’s toybox.
Ruby’s heart melted. “You’re all already doing everything you can. Well, besides being nice,” she added with a pointed glance at Remi.
“Rhett said he’s fine with him and apparently he’s used to brotherly treatment of his own.”
“Please?”
Remi sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll be nice—at first.”
“At least that’s something.”
“Is Uncle Moe’s dog coming too?”
Everyone chuckled, with Denise’s eyes widening and mouthing an apology behind Jude’s back.
Ruby pulled Jude into her lap. “Yes, Blue is going to come too, but remember—when he has his harness on, it means he’s working so you can’t pet him. He has to concentrate on keeping Morgan safe.”
“And no jumping on Morgan,” Rhett added. “He can’t see you. So, when you need something from him you have to say so.”
“Why can’t Uncle Moe see?”
“Some people are born that way. Remember the book that we read last night?” Denise said.
“Just like Grangran. She can’t see well either.”
Grangran was what Jude called her great grandma on Denise’s side. Ruby nodded and combed through Jude’s hair. “So, when you talk to Morgan you have to use your words. He can’t see you nodding or shaking your head.”
“Can he see me dance?”
“We can record it for him. He will be able to see it on his phone.” Ruby held her hands in front of Jude’s eyes. “He can see everything up to my hands, so he has to be very close to see something.”
Jude nodded and then proudly announced she had to go potty, hauling Rhett with her.
“I didn’t know you got her a book.”
Denise grinned and pulled it out of her bag. “I just hope she doesn’t say something rude.”
“I think he can handle that,” Ruby chuckled, flicking through the pages. “He thought it was super helpful that Dad gave him a virtual tour of the house.”
“Loved Mom’s commentary,” Rhett laughed. The video had made its rounds the past few days. “Very insightful.”
That earned him a smack on the shoulder. “We just wanted him to feel comfortable. I’m sure a new environment is stressful enough for him without adding meeting the family on top of it.”
When her phone chimed, she jumped off the couch and opened the front door to see Morgan’s Uber arrive in the driveway and him directing Blue to find the front door.
Morgan
Though he tried to focus on his time with his brothers, they clearly didn’t miss how nervous he was. He’d tried to keep up with the conversation, but his façade cracked with the glass of water spilled over the table.
“Fuck,” he hissed fumbling to find the cup, only for another hand to straighten it before he got the chance.
“Shit, you’re nervous,” Alexander stated worriedly.
“You’re meeting Ruby’s parents, right?” Jack asked who had joined them for brunch after all.
“Her whole family actually.”
