Fic: Engraved Invitations (CSI:Miami) 1/2

[miss_lucy21]

Engraved Invitations

Disclaimer: Anyone you recognize from the television belongs to the creators of CSI:Miami and themselves. Anyone you don’t belongs to me.
Feedback: Always!

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Order of Operations: Blind Memory, The Edge of Darkness, All These Things, Thrill of Hope

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Chapter 1

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If you would try you might decide to go,
and you can do anything if you want to,
and you can be all of that if you want to,
and you can say anything,
but you can't say I'm wrong,
when you won't even listen

“Please Try to Understand,” The Stereo

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He was bent over the keyboard, typing furiously when he heard Calleigh come in behind him. “Hey, how’s it going?” she asked.

 

He automatically flung a hand out to keep her quiet. “Gimme a minute,” he muttered.

She didn’t reply, but he knew she was still standing there. “Just gotta wrap…there,” he said, sitting back after finishing the sentence he was writing. He scrolled up and read the last paragraph. “Whew,” he sighed, spinning the chair around to face her. “Hi, sorry.”

“No problem,” she said, with a smile. “Have you been writing all day?”

“Most of it,” he said, stretching his arms overhead. “But it’s done!”

“Great!” she said. “Which one is this, the lab report?”

“No, the paper on Miranda-Escobedo,” he replied. “There’s some interesting stuff there that I didn’t know about. Theory and whatnot. I only ever knew the practical stuff.”

“Huh,” she said. “I only know the practical stuff, too. Nothing more than they went over in the Academy.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think I’d like the legal stuff, but it’s actually kinda interesting,” he said. “Anyway, how was your day?”

“Good. Nothing exciting, until now,” she said, holding up an envelope. “This came in the mail for you.”

He frowned as he stood up to take it from her. “What’s so exciting about it.”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “But it looks important.”

He looked down at the envelope. It was small, but his Trace experience told him the paper was semi-expensive. “Looks like an invitation of some kind,” he mused. “Maybe my cousin’s getting married? But Mom didn’t mention anything. She usually keeps me up to date,” he said, as he turned the envelope over. “Huh, that’s weird.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

“That’s my parents’ address. It’s a bit early for graduation announcements, right?” he said, slitting the envelope open.

“I think February is a tad early, yes,” Calleigh replied. When he didn’t answer, she said, “Tim?”

He blinked down at the card in his hand. “Yeah?”

“What’s it say?” she prompted.

He laughed a moment and shook his head. “I don’t believe him.”

“What’s it say?” Calleigh repeated.

“It’s an actual engraved invitation,” he laughed. “It says, The presence of Timothy Daniel Speedle is graciously requested at the New York State Athletic Association Swimming Championships in Albany, New York, on the Fourth and Fifth of March, Two-thousand and Five. Sincerely, Matthew Robert Speedle”

“Matt sent it?” she asked.

He nodded, and turned the card over, feeling something attached to the back. There was a note there that read: Hey, Tim. It’s looking really likely that I’m gonna make States. The District Meet is this weekend and I already beat my time for last year’s Districts by about 6 seconds last weekend in the Sectionals. So we’re pretty optimistic. It’d be really great if you could come up for the meet. If you just can’t, I understand, totally. You don’t even have to explain. But I’d really like you to get a chance to see me swim, since everything is up in the air yet for next year. Getting to States is going to change everything apparently. I don’t even want to think about it- there’s no offers yet, but that doesn’t mean anything, they said. Calleigh can come too- the more the merrier. Well, you know how it is around here. Anyway, let us know! Even if something happens and I don’t make it, it would still be great to see you. See ya, Matt.

“Are you going to go?” she asked, somewhat cautiously.

“I…don’t know yet,” he said, glancing up at her. “You’re invited too, actually,” he said, handing her the invitation and the note.

She glanced it over. “Well, that’s really kind of sweet,” she said, smiling. “If you want to go, I’d be happy to go with you.”

“You’re supposed to be going to Louisiana next week for your birthday, I thought,” he said.

“I know, but I talked to Mom yesterday afternoon, and she said that she’s going to be going to Baton Rouge because Marybeth’s due to have her baby the day before my birthday. She wants to help with the kids, she said. So I’m not going to go right now. I’ll see her in the summer, I guess,” she said, shrugging. “I can probably move the weekend off to that weekend. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Well, don’t do anything just yet,” he said. “I don’t know about this yet.”

“Of course,” Calleigh nodded. “I’m just saying, if you want to go, I’ll go with you.”

“Ok,” he said. He laughed again. “I cannot believe he sent me an actual engraved invitation.”

“That is pretty funny,” Calleigh said.

“It’s funnier if you know that the phrase ‘what are you waiting for, an engraved invitation?’ is a pretty common one in my family,” he said, wryly.

“Matt thinks it’s time you came home, then,” she surmised.

“Yup,” Tim nodded, more seriously. “I’ll think about it.”

“I think that’s probably all that he’s really asking, Tim,” she said. “But it really might be good to go and have done with it, you know?”

“I know,” he sighed. “All right. Anyway, what do you want for dinner?” he asked, changing the subject.

She raised her eyebrow at him, but went along with the conversation. “It’s my turn to cook, isn’t it?”

He shrugged. “Probably. There’s soup in the freezer. We can make sandwiches to go with.”

“What, you don’t want to eat my cooking?” she joked.

He shook his head. “You made the soup, if I remember rightly.”

“Ok, fair point,” she agreed. “Soup and sandwiches it is, then. Come on out of here, if you’ve been holed up in here all day,” she suggested as she left the room.

He trailed after her, considering the options of New York in early March.

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Chapter 2

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It's hard to argue when
you won't stop making sense
But my tongue still misbehaves and it
keeps digging my own grave

“Hands Open,” Snow Patrol

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“So, what’s up?” Andy asked as he sat down across from Tim. “What’s new and exciting?”

Tim shrugged. “I dunno.” He never knew how to begin these things. He knew it was frustrating for Andy, and it was a bit for him as well, but he just couldn’t seem to ever just launch into things.

Andy sighed. “Sure you do. How’s school?”

“Fine,” he said.

“Have you decided if you’re going to apply for the program?” Andy prodded.

“Yeah, if I can get Megan and Horatio to write me letters,” he nodded. “I didn’t think I’d like it, but I do.”

“Good,” Andy said, nodding firmly. “So the quarter ends at the end of March?”

“March 25th, yeah,” he replied.

“So about another 5 weeks, then?” Andy asked.

“Yeah. I only have to sit one final, though. The other one is a paper,” he said.

“Well, that’s good,” Andy said. “So, then, I’ve got a letter here from Dr. Barak saying that you have finally been medically cleared to go back to work.”

“Yeah?” he asked, blinking. “No one told me that.”

“I imagine he wanted to save it until he knew if I’d clear you,” Andy replied.

“Oh,” Tim said. “Huh.”

“So, what do you think? Do you feel ready to go back?” Andy asked.

“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “I miss my lab.”

“Good. I’ll work up a schedule for you, then and email it to you to take over to Lieutenant Caine,” Andy said.

“Ok,” he said, nodding. “Wow.”

“I know,” Andy said. “We’re not done here, yet, though, you know?”

“Oh, I know,” Tim replied.

“Just checking,” Andy said. “And I’m only letting you go back two days a week until your quarter ends. Then we’ll see about half time.”

“That’s fine,” Tim said, agreeably.

“All right, then, that’s settled. So what’s still bugging you?” Andy asked, raising an eyebrow.

A wary look crossed Tim’s face as he fidgeted with the cuff of his shirtsleeve. “What makes you say that?”

“Tim,” Andy said, half-sternly. “Spill.”

He sighed. “It’s like this,” he said. “Matt sent me an invitation to come to New York and see him swim in the state swim meet.”

“Ah,” Andy said. “When’s the meet?”

“March 4th,” he said.

“So? What’s the problem?” Andy asked.

“I…don’t know. It’d mean going to Syracuse,” he said.

“And why is that a problem?” Andy asked.

“Because…because…” he trailed off. “Because.” he said, finally, unable to articulate a reason.

“I see,” Andy said, folding his hands in front of him. “You’re afraid to go to Syracuse.”

“No…yeah,” he admitted.

“What do you think they’re going to do to you there? String you up?” Andy asked.

“No,” he replied, squirming.

“Are you afraid someone will yell at you?” Andy asked.

“I dunno,” he replied.

“Are you afraid you’ll get there and have a massive panic attack?” Andy pressed.

“Well, yeah,” Tim admitted. “I mean…it’s cold, there’s snow, I haven’t been home since…since everything happened.”

“Tim, you have panic attacks in the middle of Miami all the time,” Andy pointed out.

“Not all the time,” he protested.

“No, ok, you’re right. You don’t have them all the time. Anymore. But you did. And you know what to do when they happen now, right? You worked hard on that, didn’t you?” Andy prodded.

“Yeah,” he admitted.

“Is Calleigh going to go with you?” Andy asked.

“She said she would. If she can change her weekend off,” he nodded.

“Well, ok, then, what do you have to worry about? If something happens, Calleigh will be there, and she’s not going to let anything bad happen to you. You know that, right?” Andy pointed out.

“I suppose,” Tim admitted.

“So, go to Syracuse,” Andy shrugged. “If you can handle going back to work, you can certainly handle going to New York for a couple of days. I’ll make it so you don’t start back to work until the 10th, and you’ll have plenty of time to come home and rest before then.”

“Are you making me?” Tim asked, warily.

“I hadn’t thought to, but now that you mention it…” Andy said, thoughtfully. Tim groaned. “Seriously, Tim. If you don’t want to go because you just don’t want to do it, then don’t. But if you don’t want to go because you’re being irrationally afraid of something that probably won’t happen, then go.”

“Some help you are,” Tim grumped.

“Were you expecting me to tell you not to go?” Andy asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“I really do think it would be a good idea. Get that set of demons put to rest before we send you in to confront the other set,” Andy said. “Calleigh will be there. Your parents will be there. You’ve got at least three people who know how to help if you need it. You can always call me if you need to, although I doubt you will. I think you can handle this.”

“Fine,” he sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good enough,” Andy said, knowing that was as much of a promise that Tim could give. “Let me know if you’re going, ok?”

“I will,” he sighed.

“All right, then. I’ll email you the schedule and see you on Monday, ok?” Andy said.

“Yeah, all right,” he sighed.

“Behave yourself,” Andy said, bemusedly as they stood up to leave the room.

“I am behaving,” Tim muttered as he let Andy usher him out of the office.

An hour later, he slumped on the couch and regarded his cell phone. Sighing, he scrolled through the contacts list for a familiar number.

“Melissa Speedle,” his mom answered.

“Hey, Mom,” he said.

“Hi, love,” she said, slightly warily. “Before you say anything, I had no idea what Matt was up to until after he sent it. I’ve already told him if he upset you unduly, I’m going to pound him.”

He laughed. “No, it’s fine. I thought it was funny. Did you know he sent me an actual engraved invitation?”

She chuckled. “I didn’t, no. That is rather amusing.”

“I thought so,” he agreed. “Anyway, I’m not mad.”

“Good,” his mom said. “I had hoped that would be the case.” Neither of them said anything for a long moment. “Tim?” she asked.

“I’m thinking,” he said.

“About?” she asked.

“If…and I’m only saying, if…if I were to come, could we make it so it wasn’t a big thing?” he asked. “I mean, that wouldn’t be very fair to Matt.”

“Your intense dislike at being the center of attention notwithstanding,” his mom replied dryly.

“Well, yeah, that too,” he admitted.

He could hear her smile over the phone. “I think that could be arranged, yes.”

“Ok,” he replied. “You know he invited Calleigh, too?” He hoped she did. Or at least that she’d be all right with Calleigh coming, because there was no way in hell he was going to New York alone.

“I didn’t, but it makes sense. She would be more than welcome, of course,” his mom replied.

He was quiet a moment more, then sighed. “All right, all right.”

“All right, what?” his mom asked.

“If Calleigh can get her weekend off switched, and if we can get reasonable plane tickets, we’ll come,” he sighed.

“Good,” she said. “I didn’t want to say anything, but I know it’ll mean a lot to Matt.”

“I know,” he sighed. “Don’t tell anyone just yet, ok? Don’t tell Matt. Let me see about getting there and all that, and I’ll call and tell him myself, ok?”

“I think that would be best, yes,” his mom said.

“All right, then,” he sighed. “I’ve got homework to do.”

“Well, you’d best get that done,” his mom said. “I’ll talk to you later, sweetie.”

“Ok, talk to you later,” he replied. “Love you,” he added.

“Love you, too.” she said. “Bye.”

“Bye,” he said, hanging up the phone.

What the hell did I just agree to do? he thought.

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Chapter 3

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So I must find my fears and face them
Or I’ll cower like a dog
I’ll kick and scream or kneel and bleed
I’ll fight like hell to hide that I’m giving up

“Another Travelin’ Song,” Bright Eyes

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He sat in the car and stared at the building, dimly aware that he’d done the same thing nearly six months before in the rain. Sometimes he could hardly believe it had been that long. Sometimes he was all too aware of how long it had been. He hadn’t seen the lab since he left with Eric to investigate the warehouse. Just before all hell had broken loose and his life had completely dissolved around him. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. I don’t have to go in there, yet, he thought. I can mail the papers. Or ask Calleigh to take them in for me. But if he couldn’t do it today, what made him think he could do it in two weeks?

“Speedle?” a familiar voice drifted through his open car window, making him jump. He looked up, his heart hammering, to find Frank Tripp standing next to his car. “Sorry, man.”

“No, it’s fine, I just didn’t see you there,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

“What’re you up to?” Frank asked. “I didn’t think you were back yet.”

“I’m not, not yet,” he replied, shaking his head. “I’ve got to drop some stuff off with Horatio.”

“Oh,” Frank said, nodding.

Neither man said anything for a long moment, then Tim sighed and opened the car door. Might as well get on with it, now, he thought. He’d made the intention public, which meant he had to go through with it. Tripp watched him, but didn’t comment. Tim was vaguely aware that he was probably required by social conventions to say something small-talky now, but he was a bit tongue tied and not terribly good at small-talk to begin with.

“You look good, man,” Frank said, breaking the uncertain silence to throw him something of a lifeline.

“Thanks,” he replied, relieved that Frank had picked up the ball. “How have you been?” he asked.

“Oh, can’t complain,” Frank said, falling into step with him they started walking towards the lab.

“That’s good,” Tim said, nodding. They reached the doors to the lab, and he hesitated a minute, taking a deep breath that Frank pretended not to notice. “All right, then,” he mumbled to himself as he reached out to open the door.

The entrance to the lab looked the same. He didn’t know why he’d expected it to look different. Frank followed him to the reception desk, seeming to realize that he was a bit uncertain. Tina, the receptionist, looked up as they approached. “Oh, my God,” she said, softly, her eyes widening as she caught sight of him.

“Hi, Tina,” he said, hoping like hell she wouldn’t make a scene about this.

“Hi, Speed,” she said, smiling. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” he said, nodding. “I’ve got something for H, is he in?”

“I think he said he’d be in his office, but let me call up and check,” she said. “I’m sorry, I can’t let you just go back and find him,” she added, apologetically.

“No, no, I understand,” he said, nodding. He reached for the visitor log sitting on the desk. “I’ll sign in and all.”

She smiled and turned away to place the call. Frank nodded. “Well, you take care. We’ll see you soon?” he asked.

“Soon, yeah,” he nodded. “The week of the 6th sometime, if everything goes through.”

“Good,” Frank said, firmly. “See you then,” he added, as he walked away.

“Thanks, Frank,” he replied.

Tina turned back to him. “He’s up in his office, Speed. He says you can go on up.”

“Great, thanks, Tina,” he said, accepting the visitor badge from her with a smile.

“It’s really good to see you,” she said.

“It’s good to see you too,” he replied as he turned to walk to the elevators.

He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall of the elevator. So far, so good, he thought. If he was lucky, he’d be able to just go see H and get out of here before people really knew he was there. He knew eventually he’d have to face all his coworkers, but that was perhaps more than he’d bargained for today. Walking into the building was enough. The hallway was deserted, another piece of good fortune. He knocked lightly on H’s half open door as he poked his head around it.

“Come on in, Speed,” Horatio said, smiling.

He slipped into the office and glanced around. Someone he didn’t know was sitting in one of the visitor chairs. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” he trailed off before he said interrupt, realizing suddenly how familiar the tableau was.

Horatio shook his head. “Not at all. You won’t have met Jack yet,” he said, as the other man stood up to offer his hand. “Jack Maret, Tim Speedle.”

“Nice to meet you,” Tim said, automatically as his manners took over.

“Likewise,” Jack said. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Um, thanks,” he said, unsure how to really reply to that.

“Jack, could you go let Sam know that I need him to take a closer look at those paint samples, and let Calleigh know I’ll be down in a couple minutes to catch up with her?” Horatio asked.

“Sure, no problem,” Jack said, nodding. “Good to meet you,” he repeated to Tim as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Horatio smiled as he indicated a seat. “You all right?” he asked.

Tim nodded as he sat. “I think so, yeah.”

“Good,” Horatio replied. “I told Tina not to tell anyone you were here.”

“Thank you,” he said, relieved.

“I thought that might be more than you needed to deal with,” Horatio nodded.

“A little, maybe,” Tim admitted.

“So I hear you have papers for me?” Horatio asked. “Release papers, at that.”

Tim smiled a little as he handed over the manila envelope in his hand. “Yeah.”

“This is good news,” Horatio said, opening the envelope and scanning the contents. “Very good news indeed.”

“Thought you might like it,” Tim said. “It’s really part time at first.”

“That’s fine,” Horatio said, shaking his head. “Believe me, easing you back in is all part of the plan. I will take as much of you as I can get.”

“I figured,” he nodded.

Horatio finished reading over the papers and set them aside. “Looks good to me. I’ll pass them on to the Board and get that all taken care of. I don’t expect any objections; your doctors have been really good about communicating with the Board.”

“Ok, good,” Tim said.

“Are you looking forward to it?” Horatio asked.

“Yeah, I am,” he admitted. “It’s been weird doing lab work for school. I keep expecting supplies and things to be in certain places, and obviously they’re not. I miss my lab.”

“Well, it misses you, I can tell you that,” Horatio said, amusedly. “We tried to keep it in good order for you, but I won’t be surprised if we didn’t quite manage to put everything where it belongs.”

He smiled at Horatio’s half-joking tone. He knew his compulsiveness about how the lab was kept was well known. “I’ll probably be days putting it back in shape,” he replied.

“Probably,” Horatio nodded. “You and Calleigh are going to Syracuse?”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “On the third.”

“Good,” Horatio said. “I know she’s looking forward to it. Matt’s swimming in the State meet, she said.”

“Yup,” Tim said, proudly. “He’ll be in two events, and he’s got a good shot at placing in one of them.”

“That’s great,” Horatio said. “Are you nervous about going?”

“A little,” he admitted. “I haven’t been back in twelve years. And it’s winter. The timing isn’t the best…”

“But it’s good to go,” Horatio pointed out.

“Yeah, I know,” he sighed. “Anyway, don’t be really surprised if we call you Monday morning and tell you we’re snowed in. I guess it’s been bad up there this year.”

“You’ll be fine,” Horatio said. “Don’t forget that it’s pretty, too.”

“Hmm?” he asked, confused. “What do you mean?”

“You said that in North Carolina,” Horatio explained. “You said you forgot how pretty the snow was.”

“Oh,” Tim said, squinting. He didn’t remember that conversation at all. But then again, his memory of North Carolina was pretty patchy at best.

“So don’t forget that, ok?” Horatio continued.

“I’ll try,” he promised.

“Good enough,” Horatio asked. “All right, I have to get back to work.”

“Hang on, can I ask you something first?” Tim asked.

“Of course. What’s up?” Horatio replied.

“Can you…would you write me a letter? Of recommendation, I mean,” he asked.

“For school?” Tim nodded. “Of course. When do you need it by?”

Tim smiled, relieved. “March 15. I can email you the forms.”

“Sure thing,” Horatio said. “You’re applying for the program, then, I take it.”

“Yeah. The application is kind of a formality, since they’re accepting me regardless, they said. They’re assigning me an advisor and everything when I go up there tomorrow. But they need to process all the forms anyway,” he explained. “So I need a letter from you and Megan said she’d write one, too.”

“Understandable,” Horatio nodded. “How’s Megan.”

“Good,” he nodded. “She likes Chicago.”

“Good, I’m glad. Give her my best when you talk to her next, please?” Horatio said.

“I will,” Tim agreed. “And thanks.”

“You’re welcome, Speed,” Horatio said, standing up. “I’ll see you later, then?”

“Yup,” Tim agreed. “Would you ask Cal to call when she’s on her way home because I’m going to just order pizza for dinner?”

“Sure,” Horatio said.

“Thanks,” he said, smiling. He let himself out of the office and went downstairs. No one accosted him on his way out of the building, much to his relief. That wasn’t so bad, was it? he thought. Maybe he really could do this again.

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Chapter 4

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Confusion never stops
Closing walls and ticking clocks
Gonna come back and take you home
I could not stop that you now know singing

“Clocks”, Coldplay

---

“Tim, come on, Alexx is going to be here in five minutes,” Calleigh said, poking her head into the living room.

“I’m ready,” he said, looking up at her with surprise.

“You don’t have your shoes on,” she sighed.

“Oh,” he said, looking down to find that he was indeed in stocking feet.

“Tim,” Calleigh said, slightly sternly. “Please tell me we are not doing this again.”

He couldn’t remember how many battles he and Calleigh had fought over his shoes. When everything had been so awful and painful that he couldn’t stand it, he would refuse to put on his shoes so he didn’t have to leave the house. She had proven to be almost as stubborn as he was. The memory made him flinch and he said, embarrassedly, “No, no, we’re not. I swear. I meant to put them on and I just forgot, really.” He got up from the couch and went to the bedroom to retrieve his shoes.

“Ok,” she sighed, following him. She watched him put them on and asked, “Is there something I should know? I mean, that I don’t already know?”

He shrugged. “What do you mean?”

“Tim,” she sighed.

“I…haven’t flown that much,” he admitted.

“Ah,” she said, looking enlightened. “Let me guess, you haven’t flown since 9/11?”

“No,” he admitted.

“And airplanes include at least two of the things you really dislike, don’t they?” she asked. “Crowds and enclosed spaces?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “I’d have rather taken the train.”

“We don’t have time to take the train,” she said, gently.

“I know,” he said.

She thought a moment. “Well, ok. We’ll put you in the window seat, that way I’m the only one sitting next to you and there aren’t people trying to push past you. That should help, right?”

He nodded. “Maybe, yeah.”

“And if all else fails, we’ve got Ativan, right?” she said.

“True,” he admitted.

“Ok, then. I think we can handle the flying part,” she said. A horn honked outside. “Come on, I’ll tell you all about the security part while we’re on the way. That’ll help, too.”

“Ok,” he said, following her out of the house to Alexx’s car.

Three hours later, they were in the air. Takeoff had been a bit unnerving, but he’d managed.

“So,” Calleigh said, obviously trying to distract him from the fact that they were 30,000 feet in the air. “I get to see the restaurant?”

“Yes, definitely,” he said, nodding.

“And the house you grew up in?” she asked.

“Not quite. I didn’t so much grow up in a house as in a series of apartments. We’ll be in the house my dad grew up in, though. My parents moved into my grandparents’ house after my grandfather died, the winter I went to Columbia,” he explained. “My grandmother couldn’t manage the house on her own, so she moved into a retirement community, and Dad had first refusal on the house, since he’s the oldest.”

“I see,” she said. “Tell me something. Your parents are awfully young, aren’t they? They didn’t seem to be hardly older than Horatio.”

“No, they’re older than H. Dad’s 50, Mom is about to turn 50 in March, and Marianne will be 50 in April. They were all 19 when I was born, so I guess they were kinda young,” he shrugged. “I wouldn’t have guessed your parents would be much older than that, having met your dad, Cal.”

“No, Daddy was 27 when I was born. Mama was…oh, 24, I think,” she said. “They had to wait for Daddy to finish law school.”

“Ah,” Tim said. “My dad never did get to college. He was too busy making sure everyone else got to go.”

“Marianne?” she asked. “I remember you saying she went to school after you came around.”

“No, I don’t think so. Well, maybe he did send her through, at that. He may well have, it’s the sort of thing he’d do,” he replied. “No, I meant Mom and his sibs. Papa- my grandfather- had a massive heart attack when I was about four. Dad had to take over the restaurant then because there wasn’t anyone else. The rest of the kids too young- none of them had graduated high school yet, and the four youngest were still in grade school.”

“The four youngest? How many are there?” she asked.

“Eight altogether, seven still living,” he said. “Dad’s the oldest.”

“So, if he was only 19 when you were born, then some of your aunts and uncles must not be that much older than you,” she said, raising her eyebrows.

“Nope. The youngest, Carrie, is only about four years older than me. And she’s resented me the entire time,” he said, with a wry smile. “I usurped her position as the baby, you see.”

“Goodness,” Calleigh said. “That’s a bit…”

“Ridiculous?” he asked. “Yeah, it is. Who knows, she might have mellowed out now that she’s got two or three kids of her own. I may be pleasantly surprised, although I’m not going to hold my breath.”

“That sounds like a really large family,” she said. “Are any of them going to be there?”

He laughed. “All of them. Well, except maybe my Uncle Chris- he’s a priest in Rochester, I think. And I think a couple of my oldest cousins might be away at college, although I think at least one of them goes to Syracuse.”

“They all live in Syracuse?” she asked, surprised.

“Yup. I may well be the only one who’s left, permanently. My cousin Jennifer went down to Binghamton to go to school, but I think she moved back when she graduated last summer,” he said. “Most of the kids are younger than Matt- he’s kind of the youngest of the older set- so they’re all mostly still in grade school, yet.”

“And you’re the oldest,” she said.

“By far. Jennifer is the next oldest, and she’s 22 or 23,” he said. “I told you, everyone else went to college. And Janie is six years younger than Dad.”

“Right,” she said. “I can see why you told your mom you didn’t want to make a big deal of anything.”

“There’s certainly enough people to make a big deal with,” he agreed. “Although, I haven’t met any of the cousins who are under 12. Which is something like half of them, I think.”

“Ah,” Calleigh said. “And now I know partly why you’re so nervous.” He smiled, sheepishly. She knew he didn’t like meeting new people. “Tim, they’re little kids. They’re not going to care.”

“I know,” he said.

She reached over and squeezed his hand. “I’ll protect you,” she joked.

“Yes, you will. Why do you think I brought you along?” he replied, with a smile. “Fresh blood.”

She laughed. “Oh, I see! You’re going to throw me to the sharks and go hide in a corner?”

“That was the plan,” he said, only half-jokingly.

She shook her head. “All right, all right. I’ll be your fall guy. But someday I’m going to drag you along when my mom visits and use you as camouflage,” she threatened.

“Gladly,” he said. “I owe you.”

She smiled. “Of course,” she said, lightly.

The flight attendant interrupted them with drinks and pretzels, another good distraction. He glanced at his watch. 45 minutes until they landed in DC. Then an hour between flights and another hour and a half until they finally got to Syracuse. So, they were about a third of the way there. He leaned his head back, tiredly. I hate traveling, he thought. It would be so much better if we could just be there already.