Closed Welcome Party

[Tara Hawthorne]

Tara and her siblings had all been working together to organize tonight- Basil and Miran were working at the clinic downstairs so that Martine could have the night off, and Maisie was still in school, so that just left her and Casper. They'd set it all up- cleaned the place top to bottom, made their mom's favorite dinner from scratch, grabbed a few bottles of her favorite wine, and they'd just finished setting it all up and decorating. Plus a bit of a surprise from Casper, too, of course- well, a few surprises, but Tara doubted the second one was really a surprise. She was humming, hanging the last of the streamers while Casper took care of the last of the balloons. Hearing their mom at the door, she dropped down, and as the door opened she threw up her arms. "Surprise!" She cried out in time with her brother.

 

[Casper Kinnek]

Casper was happy- engaged, doing well with his art. He was just generally happier, happier than he'd ever thought he could be, and it was all Lindens doing. They were busy planning for the wedding, and Casper had to admit he was beyond excited for it. He was trying to hide it, but he couldn't resist it all the time. For right now, though, he was helping Tara to set up a party for his mother. There was her favorite wine, they'd cooked her favorite meal, and he'd brought almost a dozen small canvases with paints so that they could spend the evening painting together. He was excited for it. They'd just finished setting up when the door opened, and he hopped down, holding open his arms. "Surprise!" He declared in time with Tara before rushing forward to try and steal a hug. He was perhaps one of the clingiest of Martine's children and he was finally comfortable enough that he wasn't ashamed of it anymore.