“So, uh...don’t take this the wrong way guys, but what the hell are you doing here? Ma and Pa gave a few hints that I might see at least one of you, around these parts in a few months, but...well, that was supposed to be in a few months.” said Wallace. After taking a sip from the cup of coffee that sat in front of him.

It was the morning, following the evening of their reunion. After the initial Meetup Wallace had decided that he was probably just a tad too drunk, and his sibling and new sister-in-law too tired from their harried trip, to have a proper conversation.

So after saying hi, he’d asked Missus Patterson if she could set them up with a room. Being the kind, old, Auntie that she was, the woman said yes.

Of course Wallace would have to pay her for the room later, but that would be later. Business was business, private was private, it was to be expected, and it wasn’t like Wallace was particularly hurting for money at the moment.

“Well,...I guess, after the wedding, Mom and dad thought it’d probably be a good idea if I came out to your neck of woods, to see if you could help this young sir, get on his feet.” said Edwin.

Stirring more sugar into the dregs of his mostly finished coffee.

Wallace looked at his brother and then he looked at the woman who was once his sister, who sat at the young man’s side. Even without the letters that came from their parents when the trouble seemed to be starting up, Wallace would have still been able to roughly guess what had happened.

“Alright, I guess I can help you out...But first, I can’t help wondering how you guys got here so fast.”

Edwin opened his mouth, but it was Vanessa who answered. Wearing a wry expression as she softly blew into her tea.

“Well, you know our brother...he’s always had a strange hobby or two...It just turned out that one of these made travelling a little more convenient for us.” said Van.

Her answer was vague, but even someone as socially inept as Edwin could read between the lines. Not to mention clever, old Wallace.

Wallace looked around, his eyes passing over the other patrons that sat in the cafe. Most of them were friends and people he knew from this particular quarter in the city, but it was still not too strange if she felt the need to be cautious about who heard of what exactly happened.

Wallace took note of it, reminding himself to ask about what exactly happened later, in a more private setting.

If whatever the details were, were that sensitive, he’d definitely want to know more about it later. Vanessa’s reticence had made him curious.

While he’d always been one of those who was content to let well enough alone when it came to his brother’s strange antics, he’d also been one of the few who believed the younger Van when she’d come talking of the strange things she’d seen her baby brother doing.

“Mhm...I guess that was lucky then...In that case, I hope you guys don’t mind me asking what you’re plans ar-”

Wallace’s words were interrupted by a loud clap on his shoulder. He looked up and saw a familiar cheeky face looking down at him. Orange like a tangerine, pretty like the sun rise.

Bright white teeth flashing amidst a wide, slightly mean-spirited, smile.

“Ah, isn’t brother Wally being cold now...Aren’t you going to introduce your family to the folk who’ve adopted you in the city?”

Wallace rolled his eyes at Patricia’s diatribe. She and several of the usual suspects had come to introduce themselves and see what kind of kinfolk that the slightly infamous Wally the Cutter, would have.

Having waited till the appropriate amount of time had passed, to purposefully come and make trouble for their friend as he’d so kindly done before.

“Hmph,... Edwin, Vanessa, meet Patty and the boys. Patty and co, meet my little brother and his new wife.”

“Oi, say our names dammit!...Somehow I feel like my existence becoming even less heavy each time you say that...What’ll you do if I suddenly float away?!” complained Otto.

No one paid him any mind.

There were some mumbled greetings from the guys. Patricia Patterson leaned forwards proffering her hand to the young couple, who shook it in turned.

“Nice to meet you...my name’s Patricia Patterson. While Wally hasn’t said much about you two, I’ve only ever heard good things in the things he has said.” said Patricia.

“Nice to meet you too, future sister-in-law. Thanks for taking care of my older bro. He’s smart but sometimes he gets too clever for himself.” said Edwin.

Reading the way the two sat across from each other, and the intimate way they interacted, the slight changes in hormonal level, and the times they’d looked at each other in the last minute or so, and taking a fairly accurate guess at their actual relation.

Wallace sputtered, choking on the coffee he’d been drinking. Patricia turned a brighter shade of orange as the blood flowed into her cheeks.

Vanessa who sat by the side, just smiled faintly, amused by her husband’s gaffe. Whether it was her skill at reading people, or the so-called women’s intuition she’d been able to see that the two had something building between them, as well.

Taking the other young woman’s hand, Vanessa stood, bowing slightly at the waist. Hurrying to repair things, before things in the conversation and later between the two in mention, ended up becoming too awkward.

“Vanessa vis-Oddmund, at your pleasure. Thank you for taking care of our brother Wallace. Please don’t mind my husband, he’s been slightly daft since childhood.”