“I still hate honeydew,” Gemma said, “and still maintain that running away from home is an acceptable form of non-violent protest.”
“You're not a mother,” Mom said, “so you have no idea how terrifying it is when you can't find your child.”
“I went two houses down and climbed into the Whittakers' doghouse,” Gemma explained to Jude.
“When you have children, hopefully with Jude here, you’ll find out how scary it is when one of them runs away,” Colette said.
“Are you thinking of having children?” Gracie inquired of Jude with a look of extreme optimism.
“No,” he answered.
“We haven't ruled it out for the future, though,” Gemma added.
Jude swallowed as if a wasp had just flown down his windpipe.
Colette gave Jude her full attention. “We don't know much about you, but Gemma did mention to me a while back that you're a big NASCAR fan. So are Stevie and I.”
“Oh?”
Gemma's eyes widened as if looking at an oncoming train. Chaz was a NASCAR fan. NASCAR was not part of Jude McConnell's persona.
“Who's your favorite driver?” Colette asked him.
A beat of silence. “Ricky Bobby,” he said. “FromThe Ballad of.”
That drew a laugh.
“No, really.” Stevie chuckled. “Who's your favorite driver?”
“The great Dale Earnhardt,” Gemma inserted, naming Chaz's fave. She was not a NASCAR person herself but had picked up enough from Colette, Stevie, and Chaz to talk the talk.
“Gemma,” Colette scolded. “Quit it. You're acting like an old married lady and answering questions for him. We want to hear your boyfriend talk.”
“Gemma's right,” Jude said. “Dale Earnhardt is my favorite.”
“And which of his races sticks out most in your memory?” Stevie asked. “I have a hard time remembering to get eggs and bread at the grocery store, but I remember all his races.”
“I don’t have a good memory, myself,” Jude said humbly, no doubt paving the way should he struggle to pull up NASCAR details. Gemma had noted that his memory was, in fact, exceptional. “I guess the race that sticks out most in my memory is Dale's most recent win.”
“Back in 2000?” Colette asked. Jude would have been under ten years old.
“That’s right,” Jude said without blinking. “Thank goodness for YouTube.”
“Thank goodness,” her brothers echoed in unison, all having grown up in the YouTube era.
“I remember that race well!” Stevie declared happily. “The 500 at Talladega.”
“As soon as our appetizers get here,” Gemma announced, desperate to change the subject of NASCAR, “Jude and I will need to eat and go.”
“How come you’re so stingy about sharing your boyfriend with us?” Nicolas teased.
“Yeah, Gemma.” Hugo followed Nicolas's lead. “It’s weird how you’re insisting on having him to yourself.”
“Sharing is caring,” Mom said feebly, voicing the refrain she'd repeated one million times when raising them.
“It’s great to finally get to talk with all of you,” Jude said. “Gemma's told me how close you are and what a wonderful family she has.”
“Thank you.” Gracie beamed, clearly taking his words as a compliment to herself, seeing as how she was the family's matriarch.
