Chapter 52 Chapter 52
She paused, making eye contact with several of the unfamiliar faces. "If you're here to learn about design theory, welcome. If you're here for gossip, I suggest the campus coffee shop, where you can waste your own time rather than ours."
At the Maxwell home, Leo sat at the kitchen table surrounded by his four sons. The boys had been unusually quiet since learning that their weekend plans now included a visit to the Lawson estate.
"Will we still get to see Iris at Christmas?" Jakob asked again, his young face creased with worry despite his parents' previous reassurances.
Leo reached across the table to ruffle his youngest son's hair. "Of course, buddy. Iris is still your sister. She's just found some additional family she didn't know about."
Buck, the oldest at fifteen, studied his father's face with unusual seriousness. "Is she going to live with them now? Instead of coming home for breaks?"
The question struck at Leo's deepest fear, that the Lawsons, with their wealth and biological connection, would gradually draw Iris away from the family who had raised her.
“I’m sure she’s going to want to get to know her other brother, two of them are older than her, and the other is younger than her. However, he's not much older than two of you. As much as she’s gaining new brothers, so are they, and the four of you.” As those words left Leo’s mouth, there was a knock at the door.
Coral answered it; it was Theodore, Victor and Bryce Lawson, the three other brothers of Iris in question.
“Mrs Maxwell, we’re Iris’s biological brothers, Theodore, Victor and Bryce. We wanted to stop by in person. I’m sure Buck, Finn, Jakob and Nikolaus have questions, and we were hoping that we could give them some answers,” Theodore said once the door was open.
Carol stood frozen in the doorway, momentarily overwhelmed by the presence of the three Lawson brothers on her modest front porch. Theodore, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit despite the early hour, carried himself with the confident authority of the eldest. Victor's military bearing was unmistakable, while young Bryce practically vibrated with excitement as he peered around his brothers to get a glimpse of the Maxwell home.
"I...of course, please come in," Carol finally managed, stepping aside to allow the three men entry. Her teacher's instinct for hospitality kicked in despite her shock. "We were just having breakfast. Would you care for coffee?"
"That would be lovely, thank you," Theodore replied with practised politeness that somehow managed to convey genuine appreciation.
The Lawson brothers followed Carol into the kitchen, where Leo and the boys sat stunned into silence, four pairs of eyes widening at the sight of Iris's biological brothers. The contrast between the Lawsons' polished appearance and the Maxwells' casual breakfast tableau was striking: Theodore's bespoke suit against Leo's worn flannel shirt, Victor's perfectly pressed slacks beside the twins' rumpled school uniforms.
"Mr Maxwell," Theodore extended his hand to Leo, who rose to shake it with the firm grip of a career firefighter. "Thank you for welcoming us into your home. My father wanted to express our gratitude in person, but he's coordinating security arrangements for Iris at the university this morning."
Leo nodded, his emotions carefully controlled as he studied the men who shared his daughter's blood. "We appreciate the consideration. And the... generous gesture your family sent last night."
Bryce, unable to contain himself any longer, turned his attention to the four Maxwell boys who were staring at him with undisguised curiosity. "You guys must have so many questions! I know I would if I suddenly found out my sister had another whole family."
Buck and Finn exchanged glances, their twin communication silent but effective. As the older pair, they felt a responsibility to protect their younger brothers' feelings while managing their own complex emotions about sharing their beloved sister.
"Do you have a pool?" Jakob blurted out, breaking the tension as only an eleven-year-old could.
Bryce grinned, immediately connecting with the younger boy's straightforward approach. "We do! Indoor and outdoor. Plus a game room with the latest consoles, a basketball court, and a theatre room with the biggest screen you've ever seen."
Carol returned with coffee for the adults, setting the mugs on the table with hands that trembled slightly. She had spent the night alternating between gratitude for the Lawsons' financial generosity and fear that their wealth would create a chasm between Iris and the family who had raised her. Now, faced with these three polished young men, that fear crystallised into something more immediate.
"We understand this situation is unprecedented for everyone," Theodore said, addressing both Carol and Leo with careful diplomacy. "We're not here to take Iris away from any of you. I have to admit I overheard some of your video call yesterday afternoon. I could tell that you all love each other very much; none of us would do that to our sister either. Her boyfriend Tony told us that although he has yet to meet any of you in person, when she speaks about any of you, she lights up, and the three of us have seen it too.”
Victor nodded, his military bearing softening slightly as he addressed the Maxwell boys directly. "Your sister has told us how close you all are. She mentioned you've been saving up to help Finn with his baseball camp this summer."
Finn's eyes widened in surprise. "She told you about that?"
"She's very proud of all of you," Bryce added enthusiastically. "She showed us pictures yesterday, your science fair project, Jakob, and Nikolaus's art that won the school contest."
Nikolaus, typically the quietest of the four, perked up at the mention of his artwork. "She keeps that on her wall at school?"
Leo watched the interaction with a mixture of wariness and growing relief. The Lawson brothers seemed genuinely interested in their sons, not merely going through the motions of politeness. Their knowledge of specific details about the boys' lives suggested Iris had spoken about her family at length during her time at the Lawson estate.
"We thought perhaps before this weekend's visit, we could answer any questions your sons might have," Theodore explained to Leo and Carol. "This situation is... unprecedented for everyone, but especially confusing for children."
Carol appreciated the consideration, her teacher's instincts recognising the value in addressing the boys' concerns directly. "That's very thoughtful. The boys have been worried about whether they'll still see Iris during the holidays."
"Of course they will," Victor said firmly. "Iris made it very clear that your family traditions are important to her. Our parents would never want to interfere with that."
Buck, still studying the Lawson brothers with cautious assessment, finally spoke up. "Does she seem happy? About finding you all?"
The question held layers of complexity that belied the teenager's years. Behind it lay his deeper concern: would Iris prefer her new, wealthy family to the one that had raised her?