“What am I? Chopped liver?” Momma says.
The kids smile and hop over to their Grandma.
“I made ginger cookies and lemonade,” she tells them. “Would you like some?”
Marilyn shakes her head, smiling. “Sure, Mom, it’s just before lunch, but they’ll have lemonade and cookies,” she says sarcastically.
I laugh. “Me too,” I quip. “I want to ruin my appetite too.”
“Me three,” Corrie chimes in.
“Hey, you kids remember my friend, Corrie?”
They both nod. Jake shoots her a shy wave, and Maddie offers a “How are you, Corrie?” For a ten year old, she can be so mature sometimes. She takes that after her mom, who’s always been the responsible one.
“Why, I’m great, Maddie,” Corrie replies. “Thank you for asking.”
We all settle at the table as Momma sets the tray of cookies and the pitcher of lemonade down. She pours us all a glass. I help myself to a single cookie.
“How have you been, Maeve?” Marilyn asks in that big sister way she has. She looks so put together – slim skinny jeans and a pretty coral cardigan, her hair worn loose and wild, but beautiful all the same. This turn of events doesn’t surprise me in the least – she’s always had her shit together, and me, not so much. It’s not a surprise that she’s the one sitting at the table looking fabulous, two perfect kids in tow, and a loyal husband working hard at his company. Meanwhile, I’m still wearing my Hello Kitty pajamas, mildly hungover, recently dumped, jobless and childless.
Not that I’m comparing us or anything.
“I’m okay,” I tell her. My gaze travels to Corrie. I still have my friends and my health, I think. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sorry that uncle Peter didn’t come to your wedding,” Maddie offers with the saddest pout I’ve ever seen– she is so darn sweet.
I smile. “Yes, it’s kind of important for the groom to come to the wedding,” I quip.
“Are you still girlfriend and boyfriend?” she asks, curious.
Excellent question.
“Sweetie,” Marilyn cuts in. “Auntie Maeve doesn’t want to talk about all that right now.”
“It’s okay—”
“Auntie Maeve is making uncle Peter sweat right now,” Corrie chimes in.
Maddie cocks a brow, confused. Then she shrugs. “I have a boyfriend,” she says matter-of-factly. “His name is Ben. He has blond hair and really nice eyes, and super big teeth.
“Sounds cute,” I say with a smile. At least one of us is lucky in love.
“He is,” she says, “but he’s not the one I really like.”
“Oh…” I ask, intrigued by the idea of a schoolyard love triangle. This is what my life as come to – my ten year old niece’s love life is more exciting than mine. “What’s the other boy like?”
“Well…” she starts and a blush colors her cheeks. “He has dark hair, and really nice eyes too. He’s always super nice to me.”
“That’s good… you want boys to be super nice to you.”
She pouts. “But he’s an older boy. He’s in grade six.”
“Oooh,” Corrie coos. “Awholeyear older… how forbidden. What a scandal.”
Marilyn and I both crack up.
“It’s nice to see you’re your old self,” Marilyn says.
