"No emotional girth?" My mother asks as she rounds the corner into the kitchen.
"Something like that." Delilah answers her.
Granny comes back into the house with Rhys on her heels, saying something about her seventh cousin, Lazlo The Gent.
Rhys’s eyes are wide open as he listens to Granny tell him about her pirate ancestors.
Before I can escape the kitchen to rescue him, my mom wraps Delilah and I under her arms and squeezes. "One who wants a relationship and one who seems to be allergic, I'm a lucky mother."
"And I’m a lucky mother fucker!" My dad booms and I catch Rhys's eye from across the room as Del shoves my dad in the shoulder.
"Gross."
"My family is pretty open." I widen my eyes because, clearly.
"I can tell." Rhys says as he takes a mug from me.
"So I was just getting an update on Rhys's parents. And how his dear old mother is doing." Granny says to all of us.
"I'm not sure she'd appreciate you calling her old." My mother says as she takes a seat. "Nicola is only a few years older than I am."
"Oh you young folk are all too sensitive about your age. I'm eighty-three and am as proud as a peacock to be so aged."
"Like a fine Scotch, Granny." Dad says.
"Exactly." Granny points a finger at him. She shifts and pats Rhys's knee. "Now, be a dear and give me all the gossip that hasn't made its way down the road."
He laughs. "Not much to share. Things are pretty quiet."
"Aye, I suppose so." Granny says with a sad sort of nod. "Well then, what brings you home?"
Rhys shifts uncomfortably in his chair. I step in. "I think Rhys is back home to bury the lemons life handed him."
"Ach, bollox. When life gives you lemons? That old box of horse hockey?" I knew the phrase would tee her off and the reactions around the room are priceless. My mother is rolling her eyes, my father is biting back his smile, Delilah is watching the exchange with blatant excitement, and Rhys looks like a deer in the headlights. "Life is the whole damn fruit salad and you need a little sour with the sweet!"
Granny finishes her mantra with a boney finger on Rhys's thigh.
His eyes go wide. "I must say I haven't heard it put that way before."
"I should get it trademarked." Granny mutters.
"We'll look into it." Delilah says.
"But you've distracted me, Duncaroo." Her scolding holds no heat. "Rhys Reid, are you here to nurse a broken heart?"
Rhys chokes on his tea.
"Granny." Delilah scolds.
"Ach, like it's a secret. I saw the magazine you brought with you."
Delilah's cheeks flush and mine heat too.
"Well then you seem to know it all don't you." Rhys says as he wipes a palm down his thigh.
"I highly doubt that but I'm an old woman with many connections if you need ‘em."
Rhys's brow furrows.
