Chapter 40 - Host a gathering

Dinner time arrived and the atmosphere is cheerful as Hill family enjoyed their meal with addition of Aiden as their guest.

As soon as Edward met Aiden, he liked the young man, and he took every opportunity to talk with him. Edward monopolized Aiden.

Sarah is happy that her father likes her boyfriend. It seems that Aiden got into her dad's good book . She could not help but wonder, 'If he knows he is my boyfriend would he treat him the same?' Sarah knows it will probably not be the same, but how different it will be, she can't tell. She hopes that changes will not be much from what she can see now.

Sarah can't pick up from her mom if she approves of Aiden or not, but she can tell with confidence that her dad approves of him.

Sarah's thoughts were interrupted with announcement from her mom, "Just so you know, tomorrow evening we will host a gathering here."

Sophia, JoAnna and Sarah stopped eating and just looked at their mother, confused.

"Since snowstorm closed airports, plans of many families in the neighborhood for travel got ruined, so they are home. We chatted and decided to have them come here tomorrow", Edward clarified.

"Why here?", JoAnna grumbled, obviously not happy.

"Does it matter if it's here or at Klark's or anywhere else?", Stella asked.

"Yes!", JoAnna exclaimed, unable to hide her displesaure. "It's better at anyone's place, except here! Then we can leave whenever we feel like. And with guests here we are stuck until they go away."

"What are you talking about?", Stella shook her head. "If you don't feel like socializing, just go back to your room. I only expect you to come and greet people. After that you can do whatever you want."

"Klarks are coming?", Sarah frowned.

Klark family are their next-door neighbors, and they have two daughters who are about Sarah's age. Andrea and Clara are very snobby and believe that they have the right to pick first everything in life, while others need to wait in line and be happy with leftovers. Sarah and her sisters would avoid these two girls forever, if possible. But their mom always tries to force friendly relationships with neighbors, so they need to socialize with them occasionally.

"Yes, they are coming", Stella confirmed. "So are Petersons, and Guilles, and ...", Stella continued naming families, but Sarah stopped listening. She felt like a headache is coming.

"Oh, yes. I will need you youngsters to help tomorrow morning decorate playhouse", Stella added.

"Why us? Can't we just ask staff to decorate?", JoAnna complained.

"Christmas decorations should be done by us. If we hire someone, then it loses the feeling of a family holiday", Stella warned.

It was obvious that they can't bail out of this. Most of the current indoor decorations are set up by Stella while sisters avoided it with an excuse of school and work. They can't escape this, since they are already home.

"Are all of us needed to decorate?", Sophia was hoping that there will be some exceptions.

"Aiden agreed to join me for swimming in the morning", Edward said with a big smile and gave a nod to Aiden.

Sarah was in disbelief. 'Just how much are these two bonding? Will I get a turn with my boyfriend?' She looked at Edward whose face was full of glee.

"Great, just great", Sarah mumbled.

She was hoping to avoid decorations, and to have some time with Aiden. It seems that tomorrow she will not see much of him.

Aiden noticed Sarah's reaction and a small smirk appeared on his face while he kept busy with his plate. Part of him enjoyed this. 'If you told them that I'm your boyfriend, things would be different.' He does not expect her to scream from the rooftops that he is her boyfriend, but the fact that she is hiding it is bothering him.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Edward exclaimed. "Talking about gathering, Mark will also join us tomorrow."

"Mark who?", Sophia froze. There was only one person their family called 'Mark' without further descriptions, and that was her ex-boyfriend who currently works at "Orion Enterprise" as a director of legal department.

"Mark from our legal team." Edward confirmed Sophia's fears. "I spoke with him earlier. He didn't manage to catch a flight in time to be with his family, so now he is stuck in Seattle. I invited him over for tomorrow, and he confirmed that he will join."

Sophia's face dropped. "Won't airports open tomorrow?"

Edward didn't understand Sophia's lack of enthusiasm. He thought that she and Mark are getting along well. "Snowfall is still strong. It should ease up tomorrow, we expect that airports will open on 25th. When they open, there will be a rush from backlog of travelers. In any case, we can say with confidence that tomorrow no one is flying anywhere."

"Owen will also come", Stella said in a quiet voice.

Edward's mood worsened. "Aren't airports closed?"

"If they are not closed, he would come today. But he is driving, so he will be here tomorrow", Stella explained with a mix of emotions in her voice. Then she added with a grim expression, "And he is bringing with him +1."

"Is it new one, or same as last time?", JoAnna grumbled with a frown.

"I don't know. He didn't say name", Stella sighed.

Owen is Stella's younger brother. He never married, and every time he visits, he brings a new girlfriend. He is few years younger than Stella, but all his girlfriends can be described as good looking, with model like figures, not much going on in the smarts department, and with age in early twenties. Owen has a good nature, but he flirts all the time, and his money management capabilities are close to zero. No matter how much money he has, it's never enough. He spends his money traveling and partying without worry that he needs to leave some money for bills tomorrow. Hill family does not hear from him for months. Owen shows up and goes away without much notice, but whenever he shows up, he needs money. Whenever Hills hear that Owen is coming, they all experience mix of emotions. Sisters like their uncle because of his good nature, and he always makes them laugh. But they don't approve that he can't control his expenses. They wish that he can be self-sufficient. However, Stella and Edward can't make themselves to refuse him. For years, they are providing him with a substantial monthly allowance. Even with that, he often runs out of money and asks for additional loan which he never returns. Stella already gave up on asking her brother to return money she gives him. Against all odds, they are hopeful that some miracle will happen, and that Owen will change his ways.

Hill sisters don't understand why their parents are indulging Owen so much. Stella and Edward are known to controll their finances very well, yet when it comes to Owen, it seems that all reasoning is gone and they will give him whatever he asks for.

With mentioning of Owen, Hills fell into silence for some time, each of them with their own thoughts.

Aiden noticed change in the atmosphere, but he didn't want to ask for clarifications. He can tell that it's not something pleasant, and he understands that every family has a story that they would rather not tell.