In the house, Greg and Lana were welcomed by not so bright image. Greg's mother froze in the middle of the hall, folding her arms across her chest. Opposite her, Brian stood in the same defensive posture, Vicky hid behind him, and gloomy Nikki was supporting them from the other side.
All three sisters immediately took a position behind the mother, as an evil retinue with their Dark commander. Brian frowned at his opponents.
Greg looked around, searching for the nearest exit, but immediately caught Lana's gaze full of panic. It seems there was no way out. Otherwise, a bloodbath will start here soon, except he has not decided yet who should be saved first.
"Mom, tame your enthusiasm a bit. Let me introduce everyone first." - Greg spoke up, exhaling as if preparing to throw himself into the abyss and headed into the thick of the confrontation. All eyes immediately moved to him.
Seeing what an uncomfortable situation Greg was in, Lana hurried after him. Coming closer, she took his hand and gathered all her courage turned to Greg's mother and sisters.
"This is Ruslana. My girlfriend." - Greg began confidently, holding her to him. - "She works in the cafeteria of our company as a baker. We have been dating for a while. She is very caring and kind, even helps the homeless."
For some reason, to Lana at this moment it seemed that the situation is similar to the one where the son brought a puppy picked up on the street and justifies himself before the mother. Like the next word should be - "Can we keep it? She definitely won't piss on the rug and chew your slippers! "
Meanwhile, Rosie, Greg's mother, narrowed her eyes carefully studying Lana.
"Is it by any chance the same Lana as back then?" - Growled the woman suspiciously. Greg winced, and Ruslana decided to take everything into her own hands. Moving forward slightly, she spoke boldly.
"Yes, I'm really the same Lana. We have dated with Greg before, and we broke up because of me." - Greg wanted to insert something, but Lana stopped him. Once she had already decided to connect her life with him, there was nowhere to retreat. And with his family, she decided to start a relationship with the truth. Not all of course ... but judging by the darkened face of Greg's mother, she could hardly endure the whole truth right now.
"The truth is, I was married before meeting Greg." - Lana continued.
Rosie's face immediately changed, instead of suspicion a confusion appeared on it.
"But ..." - She began. Lana did not let her finish, having decided to just dump everything at once, and then take care of the consequences.
" Yes, I got married at 16. Then I gave birth to Nikki, and then Vicky. When we met with Greg, they were with me. We ran away from home because the ex-husband beat me. And I left Greg when this man found us again and took us back. Only a few months ago I managed to break this relationship finally. He was arrested because he almost killed me. And then I met Greg again. Something like this ..." - Lana blurted out in one breath. Greg's mother's face froze like a wax mask. For a couple more moments, she looked with blank eyes at Lana, as if all this news had immediately broken something in her head. Lana wanted to add something else, but at this moment Rosie suddenly moved, after a moment Lana found herself in incredibly warm and tender embraces.
"Oh dear! That's so horrible! How could something like this happen?!" - began to coo Rosy, stroking Lana on the back. The woman was shorter then Lana by a head, but in the circle of her hands, Lana suddenly felt like a little girl again. The girl who all this time was waiting ... Even not understanding this, not admitting to herself, but she still expected her mother to come, to protect, to be there for her. But she did not come ...
Yielding to the momentary impulse, Lana hugged Rosie back and burst into tears. It was not a quiet tear, it was a real ugly wailing with snot and sobs. And for some reason, Rosie was never surprised, the woman only pressed Lana closer to her and led her away.
"Gregory, why the hell are you rooted to the spot like this! Go, make some tea for your girlfriend!" - she threw command over her shoulder, seating Ruslana on the sofa and settling down too.
"But ..."
" Quickly, I said! What a helpless boy you are!" - The little strong-willed woman barked and immediately turned back to Lana again, whispering something pacifying in her ear. All three sisters also huddled around the couch, creating an actual support group.
In the kitchen, Greg caught up with Tony.
"I thought you would immediately rat me away to mom and sisters." Grumbled Greg, starting to open drawers looking for cups. Tony stopped at one of the sideboards, finding a cupboard with dishes from the first try and with a grin handed over a cup to gloomy Greg.
"You never learned to understand women, did you?" - He said, and in the eyes danced sly sparkles. - "If I had told them about everything in advance, while we arrived here, they would have had time to digest and discuss this among themselves a thousand times. And the result on arrival could be utterly unpredictable. I just hoped Lana would behave the way she did. After all, if you laid out the truth to them yourself, the situation could have a different outcome."
Greg stared at his friend, not understanding a word.
"There is absolutely no logic in your words. You said something now, but I didn't get anything at all. Marina is wrong, it's not me talking like a zombie, it's you. And your brain is rotten through and through." - Greg snapped.
"That's why I love Marina more than anyone else! She's so cute! Just like a transgender who doesn't care about his sex. Such a treasure for any psychologist." - Tony laughed in response.
"Biologically, I'm a woman. But basically, I need this information only when filling out any questionnaires and in general it does not limit me at all." - Marina announced, coming into the kitchen, - "And if I am a godsend for a psychologist, then only electroshock therapy could help you to become sane, Tony. "
Anthony in response blown her a kiss and winked, making the girl twist in disgust.
" Are you going to be here for a long time?" - ignoring Tony, Marina turned to Greg. - "Mom sent to check if you are still alive. This is, by the way, a quote."
"I don't know where to find the tea," - Greg finally admitted, gritting his teeth, - "I can't even imagine how it should look like."
" You just beat all records on a scale of uselessness!" -Said Marina, rolling her eyes.
" I never brewed it before. There is no place for tea in my coffee room. Besides, I have a bunch of other useful qualities." - Snapped Greg.
"Leave your presentation for Lana!" - Marina interrupted him, grimacing. Tony, meanwhile, managed to find somewhere a pack of tea, boil a kettle and brew a flavored drink. Brother and sister noticed it and exchanged glances.
"You know, Tony, if you weren't so disgusting, I probably would have married you long ago." - Marina said, taking a cup of tea.
" I would be first in line." - Greg confirmed. Nodding thanks to a friend.
"You're so cruel," - Tony grinned back, following them into the living room. "If I wanted to become someone's slave, you would both be at the very end of my list."
"I thought you were all already in a coma there," - Rosie's discontented voice interrupted their dialogue. Marina silently chuckled in response and handed the cup to Lana, who was no longer crying. Ruslana confusedly thanked the girl, hiding her eyes. Her sudden emotional explosion subsided, leaving behind a void and an impending sense of shame. Noticing this, Rosie immediately hurried to change the subject.
"Ok, I think it's time to continue the introduction. For starters, let me introduce my girls. You seem already know Marina." - She said, pointing to a girl with short, disheveled hair, standing in front of Lana. The girl smiled broadly in response.
"We met a couple of times when Greg went to college. But only briefly." - Lana answered, smiling shyly in response. - "Nice to see you again."
" And this is my oldest - Rebecca." - Rosie pointed at the girl with a ponytail and a strict suit. - "Do not pay attention to her appearance, in fact, she is the mother of four children and the owner of a farm with llamas in the suburbs. "
"And what does that mean?" - Becky snapped with angry, putting her hands on the hips. - "My farm is a proper business too. I dress like a business lady. "
"You are all business lady even combing your llamas?" - Marina nudged her right there.
"I do not comb them, I am the owner of the business. And yes, if I want it that way, I will work on the farm in a suit. Unlike you, I do not take out clothes from neighbors garbage cans." - Rebecca threw back. Apparently, this argument has been going on for a long time and to no avail.
"Stop it, girls," - Their mother snapped, and turned to the third sister, who had been watching the action around her all this time with a thoughtful smile. - " This is Madeleine. She is our youngest and as you can see with the same problem in fashion taste."
"What is wrong with me now?" - Immediately responded the girl with purple hair and tattoos. All just silently exchanged glances.
" She is our genius and has a hobby in changing workplaces. Now she is temporarily settled in the Winter Corp."
At the mention of her father's company, Lana immediately started and looked at Brian. He studied the younger Wells with a new interest.
"I don't remember our company having such a radiant person." - He drawled, looking arrogantly at the girl. She immediately bristled and answered in the same tone.
"Oh, yea? And I somehow don't remember Our company having such Ken on steroids."
There was a silence in the room that was interrupted by Greg's muffled giggle. He was ready to say something, but Lana interrupted him.
"Sorry for my brother's inappropriate behavior, he had a hard day today. His name is Brian Winterbourne. And I am sure that he is not offended by what Madeleine said." - She immediately tried to settle the situation. Maddy, at this moment, hung slightly with her mouth open, staring at Brian.
"Why shouldn't I be offended? I am very offended!" - Began Brian. But then Risa pulled him down.
"Okay, Bri, stop the mischief. By the way, I am Risa, girlfriend of this troublemaker." - the girl said, speaking to everyone. - "And these are Lana's wonderful children, Nicky and Vicky."
They all immediately looked at the siblings standing slightly away. Those noticing such concentrated attention were taken aback a little. Vicky stepped closer to her brother and grabbed him by the hand. And the guy just moved forward, as if ready to protect his sister.
" Gosh! How cute they are!" - Maddie exclaimed and came closer. The children crept a little but did not retreat. The girl suddenly spread her arms to the side and froze in anticipation. Nicky and Vicky looked at her with a dumb question in their eyes, not knowing what to do. Maddy stamped her foot not getting what she wanted and demanded.
" I want hugs right now. Go hug your future aunt Maddy."
The pair continued to look at her in astonishment, not moving from their spots, barely suppressing the desire to step back, or rather to run away
"They hug me all the time." - Suddenly Brian was boasting in a caustic tone. His face was so smug that Lana could barely keep from laughing.
"Okay, stop fooling around!" - Announced Rosie in the commanding tone. - "It's time to cook dinner. Lana, since you are a baker, I hope you will not refuse to help me."
Ruslana immediately nodded a few time like a dummy, confirming her readiness for everything. Nicky went after her, and Vicky, with Risa and the three sisters, proceeded upstairs to look at the rooms. Brian, Greg, Frank, who all this time was fiddling with the grill in the courtyard and arrived only by the end of the performance, stayed in the living room. And of course Tony was there too.
There was some kind of awkward silence. Only now, when emotions have subsided a bit, Greg realized that the presence of his sisters, mother and Tony here today is dangerous not only to his sanity. What will happen when the full moon shines in the sky?