Chapter 67 Chapter 67
"They'll appreciate your thoughtfulness," she assured him. "And they'll appreciate you being yourself even more. What they need is someone to look up to and fun to be around.”
“I…I can do that,” He said, “it's just that they're Iris’s brothers, too, possibly more so since she grew up with them and they were there when we couldn’t be.”
Dianne's heart swelled with understanding as she looked at her youngest son. She recognised the mixture of excitement and insecurity in his eyes, the worry that these brothers who had grown up with Iris might somehow be more important, more legitimate in her life.
"Bryce," she said gently, "family isn't a competition. The Maxwell boys aren't replacing you any more than you're replacing them. This is about expansion, not substitution."
The wisdom of her words settled over Bryce, easing some of the tension he'd been carrying since learning about the Maxwell family's visit. "You're right," he acknowledged. "I just want to make a good impression."
"Just be yourself," Dianne advised, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead in a maternal gesture. "That's more than enough."
In the theatre downtown, the credits of Rear Window began to roll as the lights gradually brightened. Tony glanced at Iris, who was still captivated by the final scenes, her designer's eye analysing every detail of the set.
"The use of visual storytelling through the apartment windows was revolutionary for its time," she observed, her analytical mind fully engaged despite the tumult of her personal circumstances. "Each neighbour's space reveals character through design elements rather than exposition."
Tony smiled, watching her face animate with professional passion. This was the Iris he had first been drawn to, the focused, insightful designer who saw the world through a unique creative lens. For a brief, precious interval, the weight of her newfound identity had lifted, allowing her natural enthusiasm to shine through.
"We should probably head to the estate soon," he said reluctantly as the theatre began to empty. "Theodore mentioned the Maxwell family would be arriving around six."
Reality settled back around Iris's shoulders, but not as heavily as before. The movie had provided a welcome respite, a reminder that parts of her life could remain unchanged despite the seismic shifts in her identity.
"Thank you for this," she said, her voice soft with genuine gratitude. "It was exactly what I needed."
As they exited the theatre, the security detail seamlessly reintegrated into their space, maintaining a protective perimeter as they moved toward Tony's car. Unlike the previous evening, no photographers were waiting; Theodore's team had successfully misdirected media attention, allowing them this small pocket of privacy.
Across town, the Maxwell family was preparing to depart for the Lawson estate. The boys had returned from school to find their overnight bags packed and their father loading the SUV, the reality of their impending visit finally sinking in.
"Dad, are we really staying at a mansion tonight?" Jakob asked, his eleven-year-old imagination running wild with possibilities. "Do you think they have a swimming pool?"
Leo ruffled his youngest son's hair, grateful for the uncomplicated excitement of children. "They mentioned both indoor and outdoor pools, so yes, I think swimming might be possible."
Buck and Finn exchanged glances, their twin communication conveying mutual apprehension beneath their casual exteriors. Unlike their younger brothers, the twins were old enough to feel the full weight of the socioeconomic gulf between their family and the Lawsons. The prospect of spending the weekend in a mansion with Iris's biological family stirred complicated emotions, curiosity mingled with insecurity.
"Do you think they'll expect us to act differently?" Finn asked his father quietly while Jakob continued to chatter about the possibility of horses and swimming pools.
Leo recognised the deeper concern in his son's question. "They want to meet the people who've been Iris's brothers all these years," he replied honestly. "The real you, not some polite, uncomfortable version trying to fit in."
Carol emerged from the house with her teacher's tote bag, which Leo recognised as containing her emergency supplies, books for nervous children, small games to break tension, and other tools she'd developed over years of managing classroom anxiety.
"Everyone ready?" she asked, her voice carrying the calm authority that had guided their family through countless transitions. "We should leave now if we want to arrive on time."
At the Lawson estate, Richard stood in his study watching the security monitors as the final preparations fell into place. The east wing guest suites were prepared, additional security personnel were discreetly positioned throughout the grounds, and Bryce had finally stopped rearranging the game room to his satisfaction.
"The car with Ms Maxwell and Mr Kennedy has just passed through the main gates," the security chief reported through the intercom. "ETA three minutes to the main entrance."
Richard straightened his jacket, a gesture that betrayed his nervous anticipation despite his outward composure. "Thank you. Please inform Mrs Lawson and Theodore."
In her studio, Dianne was hurriedly cleaning clay from her hands when Theodore appeared in the doorway. "Iris has arrived with Tony Kennedy," he informed her. "Father is meeting them in the main hall."
Dianne's heart quickened at the news. Despite having spent hours with Iris just yesterday, each new interaction with her daughter felt precious and slightly surreal, as if she might disappear again at any moment.
"I'll be right there," she promised, hastily wiping the last traces of clay from her fingers. "Are the Maxwell family en route as well?"
"The security team reports they're about twenty minutes out," Theodore confirmed. "Everything is proceeding according to schedule."
As Tony's car approached the imposing Lawson estate, Iris felt the familiar flutter of anxiety in her chest. Yesterday's visit had been overwhelming enough, but today would bring both of her families together under one roof, a prospect that filled her with equal parts hope and trepidation.
"Nervous?" Tony asked, his hand finding hers across the centre console.