We arrange old letters, pieces of colorful, hand-painted pottery, high-school yearbooks from various decades, and great-grandfather Nuncio’s baseball card collection. I’m fascinated by this, carefully flipping through the old cards.
My family has nothing like this. Her family is so proud of their heritage and of course they’re a huge family so they have lots of people to carry on traditions. My grandparents are gone, my dad is gone. My mom was working, raising three teenagers including one hockey player and one rower and one troublemaker and didn’t have time to think about things like this. There’s a comforting sense of shared history and connection.
And of course it’s Ayla that made this happen.
It’s a nice way to honor older family members and for younger generations to learn about their heritage.
I look around the pavilion: a big, two-storied wood structure with a high ceiling and lots of windows. A pool table sits at one end. Lodge employees are currently moving tables and chairs around.
Norm walks in, stomping his feet to remove snow. He waves at Ayla.Dickweasel.
“Oh, there’s Norm.” She glances at me with a wrinkled nose. “Come on.”
I follow behind her, shoulders square, jaw up.
“Hi, Norm,” Ayla says. “How are you?”
“Great.” He gives her a horndog leer.
I narrow my eyes.
“This is my husband,” she says, turning to me. “Carson Alfredson. Carson, this is Norm, who’s been helping me with all the arrangements.”
I shoot a hand out and he takes it to shake. I give him my firmest grip and I think he winces a little.
“Carson Alfredson,” he says. “You play for the Storm.”
“Yeah.” I pull my lips back from my teeth in a smile. “That’s me.”
“Cool, cool. Good to meet you.”
“Thanks for all the help you’ve given my wife.” I emphasize the last two words as I slide my arm around her waist and pull her closer.
I think Ayla mutters the wordsoh my Godunder her breath.
“Of course, of course. We can sit over here.” He gestures to a corner table where he set his laptop.
“I’ll meet up with you later,” I say to Ayla.
“Sure.” She looks up at me and I take the opportunity to cup her face and plant a lingering kiss on her mouth.
Oh hell. This was a mistake. Her mouth is soft and warm and I don’t want to stop. When I draw back, her eyes are hazy.
This time, my smile is genuine. “Have fun.”
I stand with my arms crossed, watching them as they take a seat at the table. Norm gives me a wary glance.
That kiss… Jesus. My heart is jumping around erratically in my chest.
Now what do I do?
I wander back outside. I’ll explore the amenities here. It really is a great day. I trudge through snow to the hill where folks toboggan, then find the ice rink. A guy is clearing the snow off it. There’s another building with equipment rentals: skis, both downhill and cross country, snowboards, and snowshoes. God, I’d love to snowboard.
I go check out the pool and hot tub. The pool is as blue as the sky and empty. The concrete pool deck has been cleared of snow with a few chairs arranged around it, steam gently rising from the water. I definitely want to check that out later.
I’m starving so I go for lunch, then return to the cottage. Housekeeping has been in to make the bed and replace the towels. I’m restless. I like to be doing stuff. How long is Ayla going to be?
Norman Fuckwad better not be trying anything.
