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"Gomez, he's here!" Morticia called over her shoulder before directing her attention back to her guest, "so glad you chose to visit." She moved aside to admit him into the house.
Just as they shut the door behind them and came to stand on the landing at the bottom of the main stair case, Gomez rushed through the dining room, over the little steps (a snarling growl emitting from the polar bear rug as his feet touched it), to the landing to catch his friend's hand in a firm grip.
"Wonka, wonderful to see you," he shook Willy's hand up and down.
"Likewise," Willy returned the enthusiasm and the two beamed at one another like school boys about to embark on mischief.
From his breast pocket, Gomez produced an already lit cigar and offered it.
Accepting it, Willy took an appreciative puff, "mmm, delightful. Imported?"
"Illegal," Gomez said, proud as he clenched one of his own between his teeth.
It was then Willy tucked his cigar into his coat pocket for later (he'd already sewn in protection symbols in the lining specifically for fire after an incident at the factory) and turned to Morticia. Gently taking her delicate hand in his he said, "Morticia," he kissed the back of his hand, "lovelier than I remember. Paler than a corpse, deadlier than night shade."
Morticia smiled, "I'll bet you say that to all the girls."
Pleasantries out of the way, Willy clapped his hands together, "now," he looked around the space, "where are the rest of the charming ensemble?"
"Well," Morticia thought, "I believe Uncle Fester is in the play room on the rack. Lurch is downstairs, Mama is in the kitchen, and the children are at school."
"School!" Gomez jumped in.
"Darling," Morticia gave a gentle warning having heard the arguments before.
"But Tish, it's inhumane!" Gomez implored. He focused on Willy, "Wonka, you're a smart man, you tell me how this makes sense. We have children and then the government comes and takes them away!"
"Gomez," Morticia gently chastised, "you exaggerate."
"Well," Gomez conceded, "they give them back at the end of the day. But you should hear the nonsense they fill the children's heads with!"
"Before we continue this discussion," Morticia interjected, "perhaps Willy should be shown to his room. I'm sure the journey has been tiring. After you are rested, we can resume the conversation over dinner. Are you hungry Willy?"
"Simply famished," for effect Willy patted his stomach, "especially with the promise of Mama's cooking. Been so long since I've had a homemade meal."
Morticia, pleased, "then you are in for a treat," she extended her arm and pulled on the call rope. A thunderous bell rang through the house. From out of nowhere the gigantic form of Lurch appeared. In his rumbling baritone, he asked,
"You rang?"
"Lurch, my dear fellow," Willy's hands were tiny against the one of Lurch's he caught between them, "it's been too long. Are you still painting?" at the tall man's near bashful nod, "fantastic! Do you both remember the portrait he did of me? I have it hung in my main office where I conduct business meetings. Always get complimented on it, asked about it. We'll have to talk about it later, Lurch, but I believe I have a few clients lined up for you that would love to have their portraits done by you."
Lurch, bashful, grumbled, "thank you."
"That sounds wonderful," Morticia said, with Gomez adding,
"Lurch is very talented. You'll have to see the newest painting he did of the children."
"I'd like that very much."
"Great, now that that is settled, Lurch, please take Willy's bag and show him to the guest room. You'll love what Tish has done with it. Not our usual tastes but she insisted that it would suit you." Gomez smiled at his wife, doting, proud, as he always was of her.
"Morticia, always so considerate, thank you. I look forward to seeing it." Willy tipped his hat to her. "What time is dinner?"
"Five o'clock. That gives you at least two hours to get settled. You could even take a nap. Don't worry, we can send for you when it is time." Morticia assured.
"Perfect. Thank you both for inviting me. It is going to be a great weekend." With that, Willy allowed himself to be shown to his room, following Lurch as the butler carried his suitcase.