“Lizzy, sweetheart, come, come. You’ll get sick standing that close to the door,” she chides.
Finally noticing me, Tom turns and gives me a challenging eye. I tilt my chin in warning, and he laughs.
I bring Betty in for a hug. She pulls me close, but when my hands wrap around her, she pushes me back.
“Dear girl, go run your hands under some water, they’re far too cold! Where are your mittens? The ones I got you?” She’s the perfect picture of a scolding grandmother with her hands on her hips, bent down looking at me with her bronzed cheeks stained a rosy color.
“I ran in them yesterday. I need to wash them.” It comes out far too meek, never wanting to disappoint Betty.
“Well, let me know if you need me to get you another pair.” Despite having a job that pays me enough to buy my own outerwear, I don’t turn Betty down. I hate the thought of her spending money on me, but she loves to shop, so I know it brings her great joy.
Betty strolls into the kitchen, telling us about the lasagna in the oven. Meat and veggie, my favorite. We follow her, and the conversation quickly turns into a debate of who will win the chess match when Betty stops us.
“Oh, there won’t be time for any chess tonight.” She fiddles with her tan fingers as she says it. Betty’s not one to be nervous or fidgety, so I look around. Only then do I notice the table. Or rather, the fourth setting at the table.
“Betty, are we expecting company?” When she avoids eye contact, my hackles are raised. I eye the woman feigning innocence.
“Why, actually, we are, now that I think of it,” she hums out as she adjusts the flower centerpiece.
“Honey, who’s coming?” Tom questions, clearly not happy with the sudden change.
She mutters something under her breath, then straightens her back. “Norris, my gal down at the center. She’s the one who always wins bingo. Well, I was talking to her about you, about how great of a girl you are. I mentioned the poor luck you’ve been having with those dating websites. Well, she confessed her grandson was struggling as well. When I mentioned Saturday dinner… it just sort of happened.”
“What happened?” I narrow my eyes at the con artist.
She raises her hands defensively then eyes her husband. “Garrison sounds like a lovely boy, and he’s joining us for dinner.”
I huff a breath, betrayed by the news. She didn’t even warn me. Now, I’m being set up with a random man.
Tom’s eyes widen at his wife, then when he glances at me, he blanches. “I didn’t know. I swear. I would’ve told you.”
“Which is exactly why I didn’t tell you!” Betty snaps.
I just stand there, unable to speak. On the one hand, I did tell Tom that if Betty had any bingo friends to set me up… However, that was a joke.
“Okay. What do we know about this man? I need to strategize.” Tom nods in agreement, but again, Betty averts her gaze.
“Betty, honey, please tell me you know something,anything, about the man you invited into our home?” Tom pleads.
“I know he’s Norris’s grandson. She’s quite a lady. Bakes a delicious pumpkin pie for the holidays.”
Tom sputters. “Now, darling, is this a sure thing? I mean, is a young man really intruding,” Betty narrows her eyes. “Erm, I mean coming to our family dinner?”
Betty’s chin quivers. “I just… I just wanted to help our dear Lizzy find someone. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
She sniffles, and my chest tightens. Tom crosses the room to his wife and pulls her into his arms.
“What you did was very sweet, honey. We’re both very grateful.” Tom sends me a warning look over his wife’s shoulder. “Maybe next time, we don’t make it a surprise?”
“Thank you, Betty. You really didn’t have to do this.”No really.“You’re always taking care of me. Thank you.”
After a few more sniffles, Betty smiles and pulls back. “I think this will go really well!”
…
Garrison has been here all of ten minutes, and it isnotgoing very well.
Betty insisted I open the door when he knocked, and he tried to greet me, a total stranger, with a hug. When I declined said hug, he sneered at me and called me ‘stuck up.’
