callmemajor | (no subject)

Her response is likely to be something along the lines of, "Well, I should hope so."

"We moved here when Evan was fifteen," she says. "His father was stationed at the base."

"We spent a lot of summers here when I was growing up, though," Lorne adds. "My granddad used to live here."

"So you must know it well," Jack says to Lorne. "All the best roads and views and things."

"I know it pretty well, yeah," Lorne says. "Did you want to go exploring after dinner?"

"That'd be great," Jack says with LOTS OF ENTHUSIASM.

Lorne has a very hard time not grinning at Jack's reaction. "I'll show you all my favorite places," he says.

"Make sure you take a jacket," Maureen says. "It's still getting pretty cold at night."

"Yes, ma'am," Jack says and smiles at Lorne in a manner that clearly says, despite his best intentions, "I am going to have so much fun with you."

Lorne smiles back in much the same way.

Maureen, noticing the smiles, asks, "Who's ready for dessert?"

Let it not be said she doesn't know how to read her boy's face.

"I'd love some, please," Jack says and wipes his mouth with his napkin.

On best behavior. Yes. Trying his best.

"Will you help me with these, Evan?" Maureen asks, standing and picking up her plate.

Lorne stands as well and picks up his plate and Jack's. When he passes by Jack on his way to the kitchen he stoops to kiss his hair and whisper, "Love you."

"Love you too," Jack whispers back and leans back in his chair to watch Lorne go.

There's a short conversation between Lorne and his mother while they're in the kitchen that pretty much boils down to:

"He seems like a very nice young man."

"I think so."

"Is it serious?"

Pause. "Yeah, it is."

"Good. I like him."

And then they're back in the dining room, and Lorne sets a slice of apple pie in front Jack with a satisfied grin before taking his seat.

Under the table, Jack reaches for Lorne's hand and gives it a brief squeeze.

"This looks delicious, Maureen."

Lorne squeezes back.

"Thank you, Jack. It's one of Evan's favorites."

"Did you grow the apples here?"

He eats with one hand, leaving the other wrapped around Lorne's.

"Oh, no," Maureen says. "I don't have the time any more to keep up an orchard. I've got a tree out back, but it doesn't give me enough apples to keep all year round."

Lorne slides his thumb over the back of Jack's hand. "Mom makes a lot of apple sauce in the fall."

"My mom used to make applesauce," Jack says. "She'd put a little vanilla in it. I loved it."

"She doesn't any more?" Maureen asks.

Lorne bites his lip nervously.

"She passed away a while back."

Well, it's true.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear," Maureen says, and Lorne gives Jack's hand another squeeze.

After a short and slightly awkward pause, Maureen says, "Well, you'll have to take a jar or two with you when you go."

"I'd love that. Thank you." He squeezes Lorne's hand back.

"Careful," Lorne says. "If you start letting her foist canned goods off on you, pretty soon you'll be taking home the entire contents of her pantry."

Maureen makes an indignant sort of noise and swats the back of Lorne's head.

"Ow!"

Jack laughs and then strokes Lorne's hair to soothe him. "My apartment is very small--I wouldn't have a place to fit your pantry."

Lorne leans into Jack's hand a little and smiles softly at him.

"I wouldn't send you off with everything," Maureen says. "I've got to have enough to send back with Evan when he goes."

He's been trying so hard to behave, really he has, but he leaves his fingers slowly stroking Lorne's hair and hopes it's not disrespectful.

"Also small," he murmurs.

If the way Maureen is smiling fondly at them is any indication, it's not disrespectful at all.

"So Evan keeps telling me. He seems to find places for anything I send him though."

"That's because there will never be a shortage of people wanting to eat your cooking on any Air Force base, Ma."