Maybe she should just call it a night too. Her poor mom could probably use some help managing Dad tonight. As Jewel considered excusing herself to run to her parents’ rescue, she glanced around the backyard. Small clusters of guests milled about, talking in hushed tones, probably about her crazy family. Miguel was by himself, still minding the grill, a serious expression on his face. She’d already apologized to him, and he’d told her to forget about it. But she still felt her family had spoiled his evening.
“They’ll be okay, Mom,” Cooper whispered in her ear.
Jewel spun around and stared at her daughter in surprise. “You really think so?”
“Yeah. Grandma said not to worry if they left early. Remember?”
Jewel nodded. “But your grandpa was so upset and angry.”
“And he’s probably forgotten the whole thing by now.”
Jewel sighed. “You’re right.”
“I bet he’s in his recliner watchingTrue Gritand eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich.”
“Or sleeping.” Jewel smiled. Cooper had him pegged. And, besides, her parents might like having a quiet house to themselves tonight.
Cooper patted her back in a consolatory way, then rejoined Anna and a couple of other teen girls who’d just shown up. Jewel tried to be discreet as she watched her daughter interact with the small group. Really, it was amazing to be at the same party as her daughter with both of them having a good time. Well, Jewelhadbeen having a good time. Up until Dad’s unfortunate hissy fit.
Jewel got herself a drink and then ventured back to the grill to see if Miguel needed any more help. She wouldn’t keep apologizing to him, but she would do what she could to make him feel better.
“Yum,” she said as she watched him set some juicy-looking burgers on a platter. “Those smell delicious.” A piece of meat tumbled off a burger and she nabbed it, popping it into her mouth, then loudly smacking her lips.
“Bestpoisonburgers I ever tasted,” she proclaimed loudly enough for others to hear. “At least I’ll die happy now.” To her relief, several people started to chuckle. Then a few more jests were made, some perhaps at her dad’s expense, but not untrue. Suddenly people were laughing and the party was back on good footing. She and Miguel continued to cook burgers as guests began to fill their plates. Finally, with the last burger off the grill, she and Miguel got their own food.
“I’m glad you stuck around,” he told her after they found an unoccupied corner of the patio where they could sit and eat. “I was worried you were about to vamoose too.”
“I felt a little guilty. You know, in case Mom needed my help. But then I realized she’d feel bad if she thought she’d ruined my evening too.”
“Your mom is so good at dealing with your dad.” Miguel picked up his burger and took a big bite.
“I guess she’s had more practice with him.” Jewel forked into her potato salad. “Dad puts her through the wringer over something or other almost every single day. I can’t believe how patient she is with him. I should be taking lessons.”
He nodded as he chewed then swallowed. “She’s definitely patient, but it’s more than just that. It’s obvious how much she loves your dad. You know, despite everything. That’s pretty remarkable.”
“Yeah. Sometimes I want to knock Dad’s block off.” She laughed. “To be fair, Mom gets pretty annoyed occasionally. In fact, I was worried she might lay into him after tonight’s little scene.” She took a bite of her burger.
“I hope not. Like you said, he can’t really help it.”
“I know that in my head. And I kept telling myself that tonight. But sometimes I forget. I can get caught up in what I’m doing, and Dad can seem almost normal at times. I want to respect him as my father, but then he’ll do something so out-of-the-blue weird that, well, it’s like he pulls the rug right out from under me.”
“Yeah, I know what that’s like.” He shook his head as he dipped a tortilla chip into guacamole.
“I bet you do.”
“I don’t even mind getting the worst of it,” he admitted. “If that helps him not to go off on someone else.”
“That’s sweet, Miguel, but I really don’t think it works like that,” she said. “Like earlier today. I’ve been trying to get my art studio all arranged in the barn, but Dad keeps sneaking in there and changing it all around.”
“He probably thinks the barn is his space.”
“I guess so. But he doesn’t use it for anything. Just stores a bunch of random, useless junk in there. Stuff he never uses. But he likes to move everything around all the time for no rational reason. Mom calls him the Lone Rearranger.”
Miguel laughed.
“But it was beyond just rearranging today. I mean, some things were moved, but some things were just plain gone. I still can’tfind a tin of paint tubes. And I haven’t found my favorite easel. For all I know, he’s chopped it up into firewood.”
“The poor guy needs something to do.” Miguel wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Think about it, Jewel. He was a farmer for years. A farmer is always doing something. Now he’s at loose ends. That could drive a healthy guy nuts.”
