Greetings and Salutations

 

Stan said he would go and Amy was welcomed too. "I do have friends you know."

Amy wanted to laugh, but she couldn't. He really was one for work and no play. She'd never seen him happy that he'd been invited somewhere.

"Sure, I'll go," she nodded thinking where it would be would be better than staying home with her mother.

"Oh, I'll go too," Jen chimed in from her perch in the livingroom. She was surrounded by her laptop, papers, and a few fashion magazines.

Amy crossed her arms. "Are you sure, it's cold. You might get sick. What if you fall and break a hip or something?"

Before she knew it her mother was up and making her way where she and her father were in the kitchen.

"I am not that old," she protested. Amy looked at her dad. She knew he was younger than her mother, but with her mom around she was afraid he'd get really old fast.

 He was making a tomato and basil salad with mozzarella and balsamic vinegar. She knew he never went anywhere empty-handed. He always brought a little something even to Yuki and Em's. Even when no one asked him.

"Maybe, I should just stay home," Amy shrugged. After all, this dinner was at someone's apartment. 

"No, we are all going," her mother informed her. No one would be left behind.

Stan smiled as if it was all good. 

"I invited Stan, hope that was OK," Cedric mentioned while he was getting the Italian Turkey sausage ready for the spagatti sauce.

At the time, Boone thought it was just going to be Stan, but it wasn't. There was Axton and Chili and Lily dropped by with a fruit salad of strawberries and blueberries. She congratulated Dory.

Boone looked around. He guessed they could squeeze around the table. But when the door knocked, it was the three of them and a woman he'd never met had a bottle of red wine. Of course, Stan's daughter Amy was happy to see Axton while Stan unwrapped the salad. 

Boone found out soon enough from Stan that Amy's mom was staying with them during all this harsh winter weather. "She's working from..from home and well, she's been here since Amy's winter vacation."

Soon enough, Jen had the bottle of wine open with Cedric's help. Boone sighed. He knew they were all adults here and there were plenty of soda and even milk to go around with the cozy winter meal. 

Of course, Jen didn't want to sit at the table. She was good just with a salad and the wine on the couch. Gradually, Axton and Chili joined her. They stood around with their food, eating and sipping sodas.

Chili gave a speech about how happy she was for Dory. "I wish you great things this year, just don't leave the coffee shop, anytime soon." She toasted with her can of Bubbly. 

Then Stan got up and thanked everyone for inviting him. "Sorry, I guess I should have told you about my family."

"Yes, you should have," Jen held up her glass. She looked already half asleep. Stan was straight-lipped as if he wasn't sure where this was all going.

It was then that Amy went in on a spill about how Jory played the violin. "You know, you always wanted me to take violin lessons."

Boone winced. What was Amy doing? Before long Jen was in such a good mood. She was willing to shell out some cash to pay Dory. She wanted him to teach Amy violin.