The tree leaves danced to the rhythmic sweep of the wind that was slightly influenced by the speed of Lucifer's driving on the quiet road that led upstate, New York. Murphy's Manor, Lila's family home, was situated just at the end of the second turn-off which was still about twenty-nine miles away from the first.
"Hmmm, I like this song," Lucifer said, turning up the volume of the car radio.
"Dr. Henry Bates, listening to a pop? Did hell happen to freeze over while I was away?"
"I just can't stop myself from nodding to the beat," Lucifer grinned, swinging his head back and forth in a goofy manner.
Lila giggled and soon joined in his goofy display.
"Hey, are you sure you're okay about this?" Lila asked just as the song faded away.
"Why won't I be?"
"I mean, I hope this eagerness and warmth isn't just an act because of- you know, the accident. You know the talk is gonna come up sooner or later, right?"
"I do," Lucifer answered. "But I believe the company and I have bounced back after so much that there shouldn't be a question to the narrative anymore... Bottom line, I'm ready for anything, babe," He faced her with a smile that turned her cheeks blushed.
"Okay, babe."
Henry was quite jealous, not because of how Lila laughed at his jokes, but of how they seemed to have bonded over a short period. He was jealous because all he could do was watch.
I AM HERE LILA. HE ISN'T ME. WHY CAN'T YOU NOTICE THAT HE ISN'T ME?
The drive went on for close to an hour before Lucifer finally pulled up in front of the huge manor gates. Through its iron bars, Lucifer could see a man and a woman discussing beside a minivan. They looked young and flamboyant, fitting the description Henry had given him the night before about Lila's sister and her fiancé, Sarah, and Edward.
The truth was, flamboyance and elegance was a trait traced in everyone who bore the Murphy name and it could be seen all the way from the driveway that led to the gates. The manor house sat on acres of unmarred land acquired by the Murphy family long before. The yard space was arrayed was well trimmed shrubs, with bright colored flowers to go along and the terrace adornment wasn't anything short of splendid as would expect.
Sarah and Edward had stopped their conversation, holding each other and gazing happily as the car drove in.
"Remember what we talked about, Lucifer," Henry voiced. "Keep it down a notch."
Lucifer scoffed and turned off the ignition. He and Lila stepped out almost simultaneously.
The gates swung open slowly after two honks and after an eased half turn around the water fountain, the car came to a halt.
"There's our happy couple," he cheered with his arms wide before queueing up for a light hug from Sarah.
"Hi, Henry," Sarah said in the middle of the embrace. She was of average height, her blonde hair was long and straight and she smelled like fresh flowers.
"Hello Sarah," Lucifer replied before moving on to greet Edward. His shake was firm, and his eyes were direct.
"Nice seeing you again, man," Edward voiced with a straightened chin. According to Henry, Edward was an ex-marine, who now serves as part of the security detail for the white house.
"You too, Edward," Lucifer replied.
"Where's mum and dad?" Lila asked.
"They're inside with aunt Edna, and Hank, and the twins..."
"Yes, everyone," Edward cut in. "Let's go inside, shall we?"
The interior decor seemed to have undergone major architectural restructuring although the house itself was over a hundred years old. The windows were draped with silky long patterned cloths. Lucifer admired the design of the chandeliers and stairways as they walked into the hall.
"Fancy, right?" Lila asked with her hands circled his arm, realizing this was the first time she was taking Henry to her family home.
Suddenly, two little boys ran across the room, tearing Lucifer and Lila's tender wrap off each other. The four of them gasped in astonishment as they watched the two boys run off and back to circle Lucifer.
"Owen, Ethan, stop running" Hank, their father voiced as he came into view. He was a large man with a beer belly in his forties. His receding hair was short and curly and he wore an overall tired look on his checked shirt and blue pair of jeans trousers. Edna, his wife was out moments later. She wore a dress that had white and red roses printed on it, a design that brought out the beauty of her chubby cheeks.
"I said stop!"
Hank's words fell on deaf ears as they kept circling Lucifer.
"Oh, the twins!" Lucifer exclaimed. "You two must be quite the trouble."
"Edna, please tell the boys to stop." Hank pleaded.
"Boys!" Edna growled, stopping the boys in their tracks immediately.
Lucifer grinned.
"I think it's clear who wears the pants in this relationship," He said, loud enough for only Lila to hear.
"Babe!" Lila jabbed an elbow to his stomach. Her gaze soon swayed to Hank. "Hello, Hank,"
"Hey Lila, hey Henry," Hank replied, dragging the twins away by their arms.
"What took you so long? We could have started dinner without you two." Edna frowned.
"It's alright, Aunt Edna, At least they got here in time." Sarah cut in before Lila could speak.
"Well, your dad is already starting to get grumpy so we better get going," Edna suggested.
Lila rolled her eyes.
"We'll meet you all at the table," she said. "Come on, Henry, let me show you our room," she took Henry by the arm and walked away.
** ** **
Everyone was seated by the long rectangular dinner table by the time Lila and Lucifer return. Lila's father, Robert, sat at the far end of the table. He was a man fast approaching his sixties but still as sharp as a fox- a trait known since his days in the army. His gray brows furrowed as his eyes observed Lucifer holding out a seat for Lila before taking his beside her. Robert's wife, Barbara was seated by his left, gladdened by Lucifer's romantic gesture.
"Awww, don't you just love young love?" Edna whispered to Hank.
"I'll give them one more year, or when they have their first kid," Hank grunted, knowing too well that he and Edna were once in their shoes.
A Butler emerged from the kitchen as soon as Robert clapped his hands, serving them the meal of the evening- chicken salad and sweet potato served with some extra broccoli for the twins. Two bottles of white wine were presented moments later of which Lucifer was the first to pop one open.
"Yay!" Ethan and Owen yelled at the sound of the travelling cork.
Lucifer grinned. "Do you want some?"
"Uh-uh" Their eyes beamed in delight.
"Henry!" Lila frowned.
"I'm joking," Lucifer laughed as he poured some of its contents on the glass. "You know, for a while, I saw children as pests, but think I might be taking a liking to these ones."
"We wouldn't mind you taking them off our hands for a little while, you know. Let's say, the whole of next summer?"
Edna gasped in shock.
"What? It doesn't seem like there are ready to have theirs anytime soon, does it?" hank cracked.
"Come on Hank, I'm sure they're just trying to take things slow," Edna argued.
"After getting engaged over a year ago?" Hank scoffed then turned to Lucifer. "Tell us then, what's keeping ya?"
For the first time since Lucifer had been in Henry's body, he seemed to be dumbfounded.
"Lucifer, say something." Henry urged.
"Well..."
"As Aunt Edna said, we're trying to take things slow." Lila chimed in. "A lot has happened since then, you know- my promotion, Henry's research, the explosion, the company scandal... We haven't really had time for anything in between."
"I see," Robert nodded as he munched his salad. "So, you're saying it's Henry's fault nothing concrete has been set yet? Not even a date for the wedding?"
"Robert, please," Barbara cut in. "Not now."
"No woman, she doesn't seem to be heading anywhere with him and she must know it."
"Dad," Sarah mouthed in shock.
The whole room was becoming so tense that even the twins fell silent. All except Lucifer, of course.
"It seems there's a member of the family who doesn't like you after all," Lucifer said only in his head to Henry. Then he turned to Robert.
"With all due respect, Mr. Murphy, this weekend is supposed to be about Sarah and Edward and not us. Why don't we make it drama-free for their sakes?" He offered. "And although it might seem so, your daughter definitely isn't wasting her time with me. That problem was with the old Henry.
Robert kept his eye on him for a moment before switching his gaze to his plate.
"Mhmm," he grunted before putting his fork in his mouth.