Kate is awkwardly working her way into the conversation. She’s just shifted the topic from composting to bicycle riding, and Alex Sr. looks like he’s running to catch up. Kate seems really…nice. I don’t want to say dumb, but…she’s dumb.
Even though Alex doesn’t sit around philosophizing esoteric mumbo jumbo, I know he is intellectually present and capable of thinking deeply and of adding important or relevant statements to a conversation. I know the type of person Kate seems to be used to irritate him, but he’s been more than tolerant of her this whole day. Maybe he’s in love. No, he’s not in love. Maybe he thinks he is.
I look from Kate to Alex. He’s now sitting perfectly still and staring at me. He arches his eyebrows and mouths the words, “I’m thankful for you too.”
My expression must be one of curiosity. I smile with a closed mouth. He’s blinking like he’s waiting for me to say something. “I know,” I mouth back.
He laughs quietly and shakes his head.
Dinner is wrapping up when Amanda clears her throat and says without hesitation, “Listen, you guys, me and Josh are getting married.”
“Josh and I,” Brenda corrects her instantly.
“Well, it’s about time,” Alex Sr. says loudly.
Amanda and Josh are like Alex and me in that they’re not into flare. Frankly, I thought they would never get married. They don’t want kids, so what’s the point? Anyway, as of late, aren’t Alex and I a very clear warning about marriage?
“That’s great! Congratulations,” I say as I side hug Amanda.
“Congrats, you guys,” Alex says. “So, when is this happening?”
“And where is your engagement ring?” Brenda adds.
“Mom,” Amanda whines. “We’re not doing that.”
“Why not?” Brenda says like she’s just sucked on a lemon.
“We got tattoos,” Josh says in his dopey way. It was clearly a secret. Amanda jerks her head back and glares at him.
“Spill the details, Amanda!” Brenda barks. Everyone else around the table is silent.
“We’re getting married on New Year’s Eve in Vail. We want you all to be there. It’s gonna be small, only our families and a few friends. Just get your flights and we’ll cover everything else.” I wonder if Amanda realizes that she’s just invited Alex’s fling…and the kid.
“Vail?” Brenda says. Her face is still puckered.
“It’ll be beautiful. We wanted a winter wedding,” Amanda whines.
“I think it’s great, you guys,” Alex says, trying to pull his mom off the ledge.
“Well, show us the tattoos,” Brenda says.
“We’re not showing you. We just got each other’s names.”
“Where?” Brenda is pressing and Amanda looks perturbed.
Amanda bursts out, “Near ourgenitals,Mother! We are not showing you.”
“Oh, for the love of Jesus,” Alex Sr. says.
Brenda picks up her glass of wine and downs it in one gulp.
“Speaking of Jesus,” I say in a low voice, “I’m about to reverse Jesus you, Brenda, and turn that wine into water.”
I was whispering, but Brenda directs her response to the whole table. “Am I being unreasonable for asking?” No one responds. Brenda resigns. “I’m happy for you guys. I knew eventually you would come around…but I just hoped…Never mind. It’ll be great!”
Finally it feels like the table has settled.
“Dani, Amanda, will you girls get the pies and bring them out here?”
