Mandy aimed another spoon of mush toward her son while directing her husband.
“There’s no need to baste. That’s what the oven bag does,” she explained to her apron-and hot-mitt-outfitted spouse.
Then Mandy swiveled back toward Matty, whose rigidity surpassed comical. Stiff legged, he used the leverage of the tray to press one cheek against the cushioned back, avoiding the contents of the spoon.
“Now that it’s calm, tell me again about this uncle of yours?”
“This is calm?” Orchid registered the explosion of cranberry red on the stove’s backsplash, and crowded dishes on top of the microwave and toaster oven.
“‘Bout as good as it gets in a household with a one-year-old!”
Orchid pulled out her phone. “Okay, so you know my dad’s brother messaged me months ago, all ‘sorry I’ve been lax’ and ‘oh by the way, you have a new baby cousin, aren’t you happy for me?’ Well, today, he sends me this.
Dear Orchid,
Justwanted to let you know we’re thinking of you on Thanksgiving. Hope we can see you soon.
Love, Uncle Zach, Aunt Esty and Baby Quentin
What do you think he wants?”
“I don’t know. What do you know about him?”
Orchid shrugged. “My dad always seemed fond of his little brother. We didn’t see each other much, because he went to school in LA. Uncle Zach seems really excited about being a new father. But don’t forget, after my parents died, I didn’t hear from my uncle for sixteen years.”
“Well, you know I think that totally stinks. You don’t owe him anything. But maybe he’s okay. He sounds like he’s trying to be nice. What does it hurt to call him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t trust any guys,” Mandy reminded her.
“I trust Matty.”
“Babies don’t count. Name another.”
“Well, I trusted Phoenix. And look where it got me.”
“Aww, honey. Don’t.”
Orchidsat on Mandy’scouch. The space between the cushions revealed crumbs where her weight compressed the sofa. Her dad would want her to give him a chance. Zach was his only brother, after all, and had suffered his own grief at the loss of family at a young age.
“Uncle Zach?”
“Orchid! Hang on a sec. Let me get to a quiet spot.”
“Okay.”
His voice sounded the same, its warm timbre suffusing her with a feeling of familiarity.
“Sorry about that. It’s a zoo here.”
“If this isn’t a good time—”
“Oh no, that’s not what I meant. Don’t go. How was your Thanksgiving?”
“Uh, good I guess. How was yours?”
“Esty made the best tofu turkey this side of LA. Listen, I’m really glad you called. I feel terrible that we haven’t talked in so long. It’s totally my fault. What a terrible uncle. Your dad would kill me, he really would.”
