"You covered everything right there. I knew from the get-go she wouldn't think he was good enough."
"Is that likely to make or break your relationship?"
"Definitely not."
"Then carry on. Aunt Rose needs to move into the current century. You'd think she'd get over the hang-ups she's been stuck on since forever."
"She's probably thinking that just when she got over Garth being with Anna-Lise, here I come complicating her life all over again."
We placed our lunch order with the waiter before Casey went back to questioning me.
"What does Uncle Roy have to say about all this?"
I shrugged. "You know Dad. Nothing bothers him. I just wish he'd make his wife behave."
We chuckled over that, then I turned the conversation to Casey's husband. "How's Dave?"
"He's good, as always."
"Still no plans for any babies?"
"We're giving it another year or so. Getting ourselves in a better place financially."
"I agree with that. I'm not sure I'll get to see him before I go, so tell him hello for me."
"Sure." Casey pointed to my phone. "So, what about you? Any plans with this Ghanian god? And when am I going to meet him?"
"Good questions. I have absolutely no firm plans with Kofi. I'm enjoying my time with him and if it leads to somewhere permanent, I think I'll be ready."
She squeezed my hand. "That's awesome. We haven't talked about it in a while, but d'you think you’ve gotten over that whole thing with Christopher?"
The waiter returned with our lunches and I considered Casey's question while spreading the napkin on my lap. Only Casey knew about the awful experience I'd had after going on several dates with him. My mother approved of Christopher, but had no idea what kind of man he was, and to date, I hadn't told her. He'd put me off men for a long time.
My intimate moments with Kofi flooded my mind, and I couldn't help the smile that claimed my lips. "Kofi is so good, not to mention considerate, that I think I'm almost there."
"Does he know?"
I shook my head. "It hasn't come up. I've only sort of told him what to do if I freeze."
"Don't you think you should tell him?"
"I think I'm all right." My mind flashed to that talk he wanted to have with me, but I pushed that aside. "He's that good."
Gently, Casey rubbed the back of my hand. "I'm so happy for you. I just wish Aunt Rose would give you a break though."
"Nothing I've ever done has been good enough, so I don't think anything is going to change now."
Over my plate of brown stewed fish and rice and peas, I filled Casey in on Mom's bad behavior with Kofi.
"Maybe you should remind her that you don't need her approval. It might make her take a step back."
"Yeah, if I ever care enough to tell her that."
Pausing in between bites of her chicken salad, Casey asked, "How do Chase and Garth feel about him?"
"They both like him so far."
"Good, but in any case, if you're happy with him that's really all that matters."
