Chapter 188: Meet May, professional homemaker
Andrew and Maxwell barely made it up the stairs to the front door before it swung open and Andrew found himself wrapped in the arms of a smaller, just as fierce version of Richard. Her grip was tight, her arms like a vice, and Andrew laughed as she held onto him.
"Andy, you no good hoodlum. How dare you wait for so long to come and visit?" She was pissed, Andrew could tell, and his heart ached. Was she going to be mad forever? Or was this just a temporary thing?
"I’m sorry." Andrew told her, truly meaning the words. "I don’t know what came over me. I think I...I think I might have thought that after all that I had done in England that you wouldn’t want to see me." Andrew told her, and May Gates reared her head back, glaring up at Andrew. Her brown eyes were harsh, narrowed, and Andrew noticed she had a few more wrinkles then he remembered on her face.
"You damn fool. Do you honestly believe that I would give a rat’s ass about something like that? I have Rose as a daughter, Andy, and there is nothing you could do that could outdo anything she’s ever done. My heart is good and ready to hear about any shenanigans you got up to while you were away. Speaking of," May peeked around Andrew’s arm, meeting Maxwell’s shivering gaze as he held the bonsai. "Welcome to the family, Mr. Beckett. That’s the last time I will be calling you that since Ricky nearly had a heart attack when I said I wasn’t going to call you by your last name. Not if you were dating my adoptive son." She rolled her eyes before she shoved Andrew out of her arms and turned to Maxwell.
Maxwell was shivering in the cold, but straightened his back, letting the older woman look him over. He was clearly nervous, more nervous then when he had been meeting Kim. It was cute, and Andrew felt his heart soften even more for the other man.
"H-Hello Mrs. Gates. I completely understand where Richard is coming from. It must be a little bit awkward having your Boss come over for an informal family dinner." Maxwell told her with a smile. "I...brought a gift. I was told not to bring baked goods, so I went in a different direction. Your husband collects bonsai trees?" He suggested, and suddenly crashing could be heard behind her.
Shortly after, a man about a head taller than May poked up behind her, his hand automatically going to her waist as he peered over her. His blonde hair was peppered with grey, and his grey eyes were wide and bright. His skin was tanned from the sun, even in winter, and he was staring at the thermal bag, practically salivating.
"Did I just hear bonsai tree?" He asked, and Andrew felt his lips tug up. So did May’s, and she rolled her eyes, slapping the older man on his shoulder. She turned, stepping into the entryway and pushing him back into the house, giving them enough space to actually move in from the doorstep.
"Let them get in the door, would you? Then you can take the precious cargo out of his hands and bother him about it. Rose is already here, Andy. No doubt you could tell by the car in front of yours. You two should talk about that. About as snazzy as whatever she’s driving. Her partner, Jordan, is also here. I think you’ll like him. He’s about as cute as your Maxy." The door had barely closed behind them when Maxwell jerked, surprised at being called that. Andrew smirked.