"Point me where you need me."
"Everything can be taken to the side yard. I'll set it all up, don't worry about that."
To save time, I suggest taking everything out of the car and leaving it in the driveway so he can go get the next load and bring it back. I can carry everything to the backyard while he’s gone, and he can do whatever he needs to do set up for the party.
This plan works well, and by the third and final trip home, everything is where it needs to be and I've avoided any meaningful conversations with him.
"Thanks, Theo. The girls are bringing back lunch. Did you place your order with your mom?"
Amelia is the one who initiated the text asking me about food. This feels like a perfect opportunity to see how he reacts to my budding friendship with his daughter.
"Yeah, Amelia texted me, and I let her know what I wanted to eat."
He doesn't seem phased we are on a texting basis. He looks rather excited that we are getting along. We are behaving like two ignorant adults who don't have the hots for each other.
"I hope Amelia is being nice to you?"
Nicer than he wants to know.
"A lot nicer than when I first moved in."
"I know you don't want to be here," he begins. "And I get it. Who wants to live with his parents at any age, let alone a stepdad? But I know how happy your mom is with you being here. And it's nice being around my daughter. Amelia hated coming home, too. At least you two have that in common."
Even with our best efforts to pretend there isn't some unexplained connection pulling us closer, our opposite personalities evoke a feeling of familiarity. I don't know every part of Amelia inside and out, but I hope to learn it before it's too late and she leaves for good.
Whentheyarrivewitha car full of food, I put my muscles to work once more and unload the groceries. My mom brings lunch out to the table we sat at for the barbeque from hell. Another meal as one big happy family. This should be interesting.
"Did you invite any of your friends tomorrow, Amelia?" her dad asks.
"Benny and his husband."
"When are you meeting to discuss the summer events?" I wasn't aware my mom knew this information.
"This Friday, I believe. The holiday will be over, and he and I can meet and strategize."
"I think it's so great you're pursuing this." Bruce puts a supportive hand over Amelia's.
"This is temporary. If it goes well, I'll set Benny up to have his own events without me. I didn't go to college for this."
"But you might be good at it. You're so creative, just like your mom. I'm sure it'll be a huge success."
"And we'll go to the first event. Theo, you'd come too, right?" my mom assumes.
Huh?"Oh, sure. Yeah."
"I don't think I have anything festive to wear tomorrow," Amelia nibbles on a french fry.
"Me either," I say.
"Oh, Theo, you'll be there? I'm so glad."
"Can't miss this infamous firework show." My enthusiasm is forced but at least I’m trying, right?
"Make sure you stay away and let the neighbors handle it. One year a house almost caught on fire," Bruce tells us. "Last thing we need is you two shooting rockets at each other. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Try not to miss it. It's quite spectacular."
"We'll end the night with a bang, don't worry." I stuff a few fries in my mouth to stop my laughter when I see the whites of Amelia's eyeballs expand in my peripheral vision.
"Okay, well I better get back to…" Amelia looks to see if either parent caught on to my double entendre. They're both oblivious. "Back to my laundry. Thanks for lunch, Molly."
