Indiana must have takena giant doo-doo in her pants, because when I came out of the music room, my father was baby-free and waitingforme.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” my father asked. The wrinkles in his forehead and the serious tone of his voice instantly put me on edge. Were he and mom getting a divorce? Had he gone bankrupt from a previously undetected gamblingproblem?
“Everythingokay?”
My father nodded, but it was a solemn gesture. Oh, no. What was wrong? Could it be a death in the family?Cancer?
“I think I owe you an apology,” hefinallysaid.
An apology? I almost had a panic attack for anapology?
“What do you have to besorryfor?”
“Your pre-wedding freak out. I can’t help but think it was because of the honeybeestory.”
“It had nothing to do with the damn honeybee. And, it wasn’t a freak out. I just wanted to talk toCasey.”
“I hope you know I was just joking around. Marriage is not like honeybee sex at all. At least not mine. I mean sex with yourmomis…”
“Okay!” I interrupted before my ears heard something that couldn’t be reversed. If I thought I had nightmares now… “Moveon.”
“Right. Anyway, all I’m saying is, your mom and I have a great relationship. In fact, you and Casey remind me of us when we were younger. That passion and chemistry you have for each other… that was what it was like for us, and still is to a lesser extent. I mean, we’re not as young and nubile as we once were, but we can still work up a sweat, if you know whatImean.”
I nodded grimly. Yes, I got the meaning loud and clear. I motioned with my hands for him tospeedup.
“Anyway, we’ve been through so much together over the years, and at times, it would have been easier to just call it quits – but then I’d remember that twenty-year-old girl I met at the beach, all legs and breasts. Oh, man, Jake, your mom was… whoa… sexy asallhell.”
“Dad, I’m serious. I’m going to leave unless you can get to your point without further references to my mother’s body parts. You do have a point,don’tyou?”
“Relax. I do. See, I joke around about your mom being a drill sergeant and all, but the truth is, I want her to take control. The less I have to think about at home, the better. If she’s running the show, where am I? Relaxing. I’m not sure if you realize this, but we McKallister men come from a long and proud line of marital wimps. We do what we’re told and we’re happier for it. When your mom is happy, I’m happy.Getit?”
“Okay, so, then why can’t she be happy when you’rehappy?”
“Oh, no,” he said, appearing completely shocked by my ignorance. “It doesn’t work inreverse.”
I laughed. “You’re so fullofshit.”
“Am I? In three generations, not one McKallister man has divorced. You tell me who’scrazy.”
* * *
Ifoundmy way to the kitchen, where Mom was pulling condiments out of the refrigerator. I’d been hoping to catch her alone so I could get the scoop on Grace’sboyfriend.
“So what’s with this Rory kid?” I asked, plopping myself down into a counterstool.
Like earlier on the front porch, my mother stiffened. Now I was more curious than ever. She walked around the counter and took a seatbesideme.
“You know last year when I asked you to donate to an organization that helps foster kids who’ve aged out of thesystem?”
I wrote a lot of checks. Remembering specifics wasn’t normally a requirement. “Not really, butgoon.”
“Well, it was used to help purchase a 26-unit apartment complex that we then turned into a living facility for young adults who’ve bounced around the system for years until they hit the age of eighteen and were forced out on the street. Most of these kids don’t have any survival skills because they’ve never had anyone to teach them. Anyway, I volunteer there, and it’s where I met Rory. I know he looks a little edgy, but he’s really awonderfulkid.”
Remembering that look in his eyes, I said, “That may be true, but something bad has happenedtohim.”
Mom’s forehead furrowed. She seemed genuinely surprised by my assessment. “Why would yousaythat?”
“I can spot an abused kid amileaway.”
