Chapter Text
“You should sell these here at the café, they’re amazing!” Lily holds a hand under her chin to catch the crumbly bits of scone as she bites off a second corner.
“Of course they are, it’s my fucking recipe,” their mother grumbles. Her face softens as she sips her tea. Izzy’s managed to make it the right way for once, not too much milk, no sugar. Her eyes dart around the room - bright, alert and the same hazel-green as Izzy’s and Lil’s, a stark contrast to the deep lines etched into her face. “Coming along.” She nods. It’s not a question as much as the highest praise Izzy is likely to receive from her.
“Yeah, opening in two weeks.” Izzy takes a sip of his own coffee. The new machine is finally working and it’s possibly the best espresso he has ever made. His mother sucks at her dentures.
“Edward any help at all?”
“Mum, behave. You promised.” Lily shoots her an accusatory look. Izzy is hardly surprised. Their mother may be slowing down a bit with age but her mind is still too sharp to forget two decades of marital mess and tearful late-night phone calls. Izzy straightens his shoulders, keeps his expression neutral. No use starting that old discussion during fucking Mother’s Day brunch.
“Ed’s been great. He should be here any minute, actually. We’re finishing up the bathroom tiles today and-” Something buzzes in Izzy’s pocket and he takes out his phone. “Oh.”
“What’s he done now?” His mother’s tone has gone stern and knowing. Izzy’s stomach tenses up.
“Everything ok?” Lily is softer about it, more pity than malice, which may actually be worse.
“It’s nothing. It’s fine. I’ll text Bonnet. He’s, uh… better at these things, anyway.”
“Pff. Bonnet,” his mother scoffs and sinks her false teeth into another scone.
***
In front of their apartment door, Izzy takes a few steadying breaths and looks at his messages again.
Ed: fuck therapy. not going back there. fuck everything.
shit. sorry, Iz. i’m fine pls don’t worry.
just don’t think i’ll be ok seeing your family today.
am at home. take your time.
day’s just crap is all.
Izzy: Stede’s coming over asap. be there soon. love you.
Ed: thx
love you too
Izzy unlocks the door, chest tight with worry. He steps into the hallway, making sure to leave his shoes on. It’s not that he expects there to be broken glass on the floor but it wouldn’t be the first time.
They’ve been here before and he’s just been too wrapped up in the whole shop opening to see it coming. Fucking stupid. But there’s no crunch under his boots as he walks through the kitchen. All the cabinets still have doors, there are no open liquor bottles, no ripped pages of books and photo albums littering the ground. There is nothing.
“Edward?” Izzy calls into the silence.
“In here, love,” Stede answers from the living room. Izzy follows his voice to find both him and Ed curled up on the sofa, a knitted blanket draped across their knees. The tv is paused in the middle of The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Ed turns his head when Izzy approaches, his eyes looking red-rimmed and wet. He’s clutching his new purple mug like a lifeline and the room smells faintly of mint. Herbal tea, Izzy guesses.
“Iz, what time is it in Bristol?” Ed sounds wrecked but surprisingly steady. He must have stopped crying a while ago. Fucking confused by the question, Izzy does the math in his head all the same.
“Around midnight, I guess? What-”
“Good. She’s always been a night owl.” Ed closes his eyes, inhales the steam from his teacup before setting it down and taking out his phone. Stede motions for Izzy so sit on Ed’s other side. Before he’s even settled on the couch, Ed reaches out as if on instinct, clutching Izzy’s hand in his own. He tilts his phone screen for Izzy to see. There’s a short unsent text, a number without a contact name as the recipient. Izzy recognizes the UK area code. He reads the message, slotting in against Ed’s trembling flank as he does.
Hi. It’s been a while. Just wanted to say happy Mother’s Day. Ed.
“This ok?” Ed’s voice shakes just as bad as his finger hovering above the screen.
“Yeah,” Izzy replies, unable to say more for fear of spooking Ed by showing his own rattling nerves. This is big. This is fucking enormous. Luckily, Bonnet jumps in with his trusty chatter.
“It’s perfect, darling. And remember, even if there is no response, at least you will know you tried.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I know.” Izzy can feel Ed tense up against him, still grasping his hand, his fingers tight as a vise. One more breath in, out. Ed hits send, then collapses against his husband’s shoulder, chest heaving in silent sobs.
They hold him like that, Izzy murmuring into his hair - soft whispers of You did good and I’m proud of you and It’s ok - Stede stroking his back in silent reassurance. When Izzy’s shirt is soaked through, Ed lifts his head, sniffs once, and shuffles back against the cushions to start the movie again.
An hour and another pot of Stede’s peppermint tea later, all three migrate to the kitchen. It’s pasta night. They open a cheap red for the sauce, then finish it up over dinner. Even Stede seems to like it, even though he saw it come out of a box.
“What about your mother?” Ed asks, handing Stede a freshly washed plate to dry.
“Lucius sent her a bouquet. Probably.” Stede shrugs, handing the dry plate to Izzy to be put back into the cupboard.
“Fucking heartwarming,” Izzy teases, feels the last bit of tension drain from his body when he hears Ed snicker by the sink. “Thanks, Bonnet,” he adds quietly as he’s handed three forks to put away. “Stay here tonight?”
“Great idea,” Ed chimes in - his hearing way too good, despite the running water. “Better not drive home after all that wine. We might not have silk sheets or a fuckin’ spa for a bathroom but-”
“I’d like that.” Stede beams, fingers kneading the dish towel like he doesn’t know what to do with them until Ed hands him a damp ladle. Izzy takes it from him, exchanges it for a kiss.
“Are you quite sure your bed is really big enough for three?” Stede asks as they pull apart. Ed smirks over at them, takes off his rubber gloves.
“Might be a squeeze, but we’ll make it work.”