A light buffet of Americana dinner favorites (classic, homecooked) had been laid out, and the formal dining room was set to receive their guest. And his son. The boys could eat with them or go drive Logan bonkers; it didn't matter to Zap. She just needed to catch her father up to speed properly, and however streamlined their relationship was, it was going to be much easier to explain the happenings of the afternoon with the expert on hand.
Once she was sure things were in order with the food and seating, Eva headed for the front doors of the school where she'd instructed the father-son duo to park. When the glow of headlights began to brighten the stained glass in the grand old entrance, she squared up. Not for the guests. But for the three men in her life who were currently descending on her location as she'd asked. Mateo could help entertain Nathaniel's son, Brayden, and Logan would ensure they didn't tie Troy up someplace where they couldn't find him by tomorrow.
Her father was the first to appear, coming from the subbasement elevators off the wine cellar. "By all means, dress for dinner," she jabbed. He was in his plaid shirt, non-flannel (for a breezy summer feel) and jeans. She was still in her day clothes, as well, and they didn't have valets or lady's maids, so she wasn't sure why she was teasing her dad. Nerves? "Neaese." This was said with sincerity and also solidarity. 'Thank you' in Cheyenne was also their code word for 'abort mission'. A safe word used in a plethora of situations.
"Mami!" Skkrrrrt! Mateo had beat Logan down the stairs. Twice. And his sneakers had aided him in a sudden stop of the marble tiled floor. "I think they're here." He pointed to the door where two very white people were standing, glowing through the colored glass.
Pup emerged then and Eva turned on her heel as the projection made for the door. She stood suddenly in its path. "Ahh-ah!" she growled her warning. Pup slid through her shins and calves and slowed to a spinning stop on his little puppy butt, then laid his ears back and reunited with Mateo. "These people are new." To all of it; mutants, telepaths, super schools, Logans. "We're going to be patient and respectful, yes?"
"Mm-hm."
The door chimed and Zap turned again and reached for the handle. She turned back around and quickly motioned for Logan to tame a very unruly tendril of Mateo's hair, then opened the door she was nearest of the pair. "Hello, come in," she said warmly, stepping back a bit to allow them room to enter. "Hi Brayden. I'm so happy you came with your dad. I'm Eva, and this is my son Mateo." She gestured, then looked back to the dark-haired boy with Nathaniel. "Are you hungry?" Meanwhile, she moved to close the door and made brief eye contact with the father, giving him a small smile of greeting. Then she touched his arm to steer him clear of the closing door. "Because we have plenty."
"Nathaniel, this is my father Jonathan Silvercloud," pause for manly exchanges, "and that is Logan, Mateo's father. The boys can spend some time with him while we talk about boring old books, if that's okay."