Oliver
When I arrive back home with bagels, muffins, breakfast casserole and enough other assorted carbs to get us through one long, lazy day, I see that Iris has company.
An older woman in a bulky cardigan and a clerical collar stands there, talking to Iris.
This, I presume, is Aunt Patty.
I climb the stairs with heavy footsteps. Iris stands in the open doorway. Both of them turn to look at me.
“Everything okay, babe?” I ask.
Iris gives me a tentative smile and nods.
Aunt Patty’s face is neutral and pleasant.
“Aunt Patty was just asking for a tour.”
“If it’s not too much trouble,” Aunt Patty adds.
I see Iris’s throat bob. “Auntie, this is my boyfriend, Oliver.”
She looks me up and down, through her bifocals. “Oliver what?”
“Harris.”
“Where’re you from and what do you do?”
“I’m from Charlotte. I work for a moving company, but I’m also a potter. I’m moving to Songbird Ridge as soon as possible.”
“You won’t find many places to rent here, Mr. Harris.”
“It’s okay. He’s going to move in with me,” Iris says, meeting my gaze.
Aunt Patty looks between the two of us. When she fixes her pinched gaze on me, I catch Iris shrugging behind her as if asking if what she suggested is okay with me.
I give her the slightest nod.
It’s all happening so fast. Crazy fast. But I know it’s the right thing to do.
“Living together, hm?”
“I know it’s not your way, Auntie, but I’m a grown woman, and…”
“Can I get that tour now?”
Aunt Patty doesn’t address our proposed living situation again.
As we pass the staircase headed toward the kitchen, Aunt Patty stops and gasps. “Where on earth did this come from?”
We both look, and see Aunt Patty staring at a framed photo with about twenty people in it, all different ages.
Iris smiles. “The attic. I found a box of old photos after MiMi died, and I decided to have some of them preserved and professionally framed for the house.”
Patty peers closely at the photo. “My goodness, this was from that family party all those years ago. Look how little you were.” She clucks her tongue.
“That was your send-off to seminary,” Iris says.
“My, my,” is all Patty says.
