Chapter Text
Claire pulled to a stop in the driveway of the Tucker-Pritchett Household.
“All right, run inside and get prettied up, and I’m gonna snoop through your dads stuff.” she said, and Lily smirked as she got out of the car.
Lily unlocked the door and ran to her room as Claire closed the door behind them.
“No rush Lily,” she called out, “we’ve got plenty of time,”
And she went straight to the kitchen, opened a cabinet and started snooping.
“You weren’t kidding about the food situation.” Claire called out, “this is the weirdest set of pseudo snacks I’ve ever seen.”
“Yeah because it turns out when my gay Dads ask their gay friends about food ideas, you get certain results.” Lily called back.
“I’ll say,” Claire muttered,”I didn’t’ know they made Biscotti with …’flax meal’ , don’t even know what that is,”
Lily stepped into the living room, wearing a black dress with a leather jacket over it.
“Looking good Lily!” She said, and though she tried to hide it, she could see Lily flush and preen with pride a little bit.
“Thanks,” she said shyly, a smile sneaking its way onto her face.
Claire glanced at her watch, “all right, let’s get out of here before someone shows up and we get roped into something dumb,”
The car ride there was less uneasy than before, but something about Lily still felt off.
Claire worried at her lip a little bit, sitting in the silence.
“Is there anything else you want to do that your dads won’t want you too.”
Lily hummed, “I’m assuming you mean something you’d approve of,”
Claire nodded, “fair enough, we can’t openly break the law.”
Lily raised an eyebrow, “Openly?
“Hey I’m not completely a wet blanket, I have a bit of a wild side too.”
““…just don’t tell my kids that, I have a reputation to keep.”
“Oh of course,” Lily said with a hint of sass.
“Oh hush,” Claire said with a smile as they pulled into the parking lot.
The inside was dimly lit, the decor dark wood and red leather.
The maitre d looked up at them as they came in and he smiled wide.
“Mrs.Dunphy! Always good to see you! The usual table for you and Mr. Pritchett?”
“The usual table, but Jay isn’t joining us today, just me and my niece.” She said as she wrapped an arm around Lily’s shoulders.
“Well then will you two lovely ladies follow me?”
He led them to a table in the corner of the room. Somewhat secluded, allowing a good view of the whole restaurant.
“Can I get you two something to drink in the meantime?”
“My usual scotch, but just one, I’m driving today,”
“And for the young lady?”
“I’ll also have a scotch,” she said.
Lily raised an eyebrow unamused, “Ignore her.”
Lily smiled back at her, “Fine, I’ll just have a Roy Rodgers,”
“Of course,
“A Roy Rogers,” Claire said with approval, “that’s almost a cocktail, it’s a good sign for your future as as a drinking adult. Where’d you pick up a taste for that?”
“From you actually,” she said and Claire tilted her head, “a couple years ago you tried to convince everyone to let you do a mock bar for the kids at some party, but everyone knew it was just an excuse for you to drink,”
“Hmm, I’d stopped that because it was easier to just drink and not hide it, but I didn’t realize someone actually appreciates my bartending, I might have to bring it back at the next party.”
“Speaking of which, aren’t you more of a wine girlie?” Lily asked.
“Generally yes, but sometimes a drink is about where you are, and this is a scotch place.”
A waiter returned to their table, handing them their drinks, and as they thanked him, he set down a basket of bread..
“Oh thank God,” Lily said as she grabbed a piece of bread.
“Bread’s not allowed on the diet is it?” Claire asked, and Lily shook her head, mouth full of bread and butter.
“Not real bread,” she said as she swallowed. “Just weird healthy bread.”
“Oh I bet that sucks to be stuck with that,”
“It only happens every once in a while, and Sunday family dinner is a merciful exception.”
“Either way,” Claire said as she leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “if you ever need a real break and a real meal, I’m sure your dads won’t question another girls night.”
Lily laughed, “I’ll do that,” she said, though her smile was genuine.