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I elbow him in the side, and he laughs. “Brooks, those women were like twenty years older than you.”
He simply shrugs his shoulders.
Upon entering the dining room, I can hear classical music streaming through the speakers and see the properly set circular tables throughout the grand room, the kind of place settings that have an absurd amount of forks. But all I care about is that I’m finally in the cool air and I’m about to get a cold beer. The waiters always give me funny looks when I order beer, but I really couldn’t care less.
Diane spots us from a table a few yards away. A lady I assume to be in her fifties is seated next to Diane. She’s dressed like she’s going to Ken and Barbie’s cocktail party in some frilly-looking pink dress and pearls.
The woman stands as we walk up toward the table. “Well, if it isn’t the Windell boys! Looking just as handsome as ever.” She smiles at them but her face barely moves, telling me she’s had a lot of work done to keep her face from wrinkling. Her eyes move to me and she looks me up and down with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “And who is this tall drink of water?”
“Lillibeth, good to see you. This is our good friend, Drew.” Ted responds politely, but his voice sounds strained.
She pats Brooks’ bicep before glancing back at me.
“Nice to meet you, Drew,” she says in a salacious tone. “Such a fine-looking group of men.”
Brooks smiles, but it looks tight and unnatural. There’s an awkward pause. I’m sensing no one wants to strike up a conversation with Lillibeth. We all just want a cold drink and some lunch.
“Well … I suppose I’ll let you all get back to your family time.” She removes her hand from Brooks’ arm.
Once she walks out of earshot, Brooks grimaces and wipes at his arm where her hand was. “Gross, my arm is going to smell like her perfume forever.”
David smirks at him. “Serves you right for flirting with every female who can breathe.”
“I’ve never flirted with Mom’s coffee group ladies. Blech.” He shivers dramatically.
“Would you all sit down and stop the teasing? People are staring.” Diane scolds and then schools her features back into a smile. She tucks a strand of her dark hair behind her ear and then smooths the tablecloth in front of her.
David got his dark hair from his mom, although hers is slightly lighter. Diane is a petite woman, but something about her dark hair, in contrast with the rest of the family, makes me take her more seriously. That and she has this menacing glance that makes you think she could actually freeze you with her piercing gaze if she wanted to.
Everyone takes a seat around the table and a waiter walks over. “Good afternoon, what can I get started for you all?”
We go around the circle, giving our lunch and drink orders until the waiter gets to Madden. “Just iced water for me.” The waiter nods before leaving us. “I promised Odette I’d pick up lunch for us on the way home.” He smiles to himself, like he can’t wait to get back home to his wife.
David notices the empty seat between him and myself. “Where’s Sophie today?”
Diane purses her lips, looking irritated by the reminder of Sophie’s absence. “You know how stubborn she is about coming to the country club with me.”
Ted shakes his head in dismay. “The girl is too stubborn for her own good sometimes. Apparently she wants to get her own place now.”
“Really?” David asks. “I suppose that makes sense … She is an adult. I’m sure she wants her own space.”
Diane’s eyes widen in annoyance as she glares daggers at David. “Our house is huge; she has plenty of space.”
Madden interjects. “Of course, Mom. I think he just meant a home to call her own.”
David gives Madden an appreciative glance, like he’s silently thanking him for saving his butt.
Diane’s steely gaze flicks to me. “Doesn’t your adult sister live with you, Drew?”
“She does.” I nod.
“See!” She throws her hands up. “Drew’s sister is perfectly happy not having her own house, so I don’t see why Sophie can’t be.”
“Well, if Emily ever wanted to move out, I wouldn’t be against it. I want her to be happy, wherever that may be.” I say before glancing around the table.
Diane looks like she wants to dive across the table and attack me, but all the guys have a look of admiration in their eyes … Or maybe it's shock that I offered an opinion that differed from Diane’s.
A few days after our game of golf, it’s the Fourth of July. My heart warms when my adorable six-year-old daughter sweeps into the living room, decked out in her patriotic dress and sparkly bows. I wasn’t really sure about this whole fatherhood thing in the beginning, but now I can’t imagine not having Penny around.
