“She and your Aunt Glenda are picking up your uncle and his family from the airport. She is so excited to surprise your dad with their arrival that she wouldn’t allow anyone else to do it for her,” Payton said.
Their dad’s last living brother, Jansen, lived in Wisconsin, and even though the flight time was negligible, neither brother was keen on flying and Benny guessed that it had been at least four years since they’d last seen each other. It had probably been even longer since she’d seen her uncle Jansen’s sons, and she was looking forward to catching up with them.
“Well, if you ladies aren’t doing anything…” Daisy said in a voice that warned Benny they were all about to be hooked into some chore or another. “Although the caterers will be here in a couple of hours with the main entrées, I still have a couple hundred fresh homemade tortillas that need to be rolled out and cooked for the carnitas. Anyone willing to help?”
“We’re willing,” Kate said, while Payton looked a little less certain.
“Excellent. And to help get us moving along, I thought margaritas might be in order. Benny makes a mean margarita.”
At that, the three women turned their attention to her. From the concern shadowing the eyes of both her sisters-in-laws, she had a strong suspicion that Daisy had shared a little of Benny’s grief from this past week. And it was only a matter of time before they pressed her for details, details that were going to be painful and humiliating.
She was definitely going to need a drink.
…
The sun was so merciless as it passed overhead at the zoo Sunday afternoon that even the snow cone he was finishing off for Ella couldn’t cool him down. It was no small relief when they hit the sea lion exhibit and were able to walk into the cool, air-conditioned building.
Henry hadn’t been to the zoo since his third-grade field trip and would have preferred to have never returned again had his sister not called him this morning and invited him along with her and Ella for an excursion. Morgan had claimed that Ella had asked for him to come, and although the prospect of massive crowds and hundred-plus-degree temperatures normally would earn an immediate no, he’d agreed. It beat sitting home and thinking about she who should not be named.
He and Morgan took a step back from the glass where Ella was pressed, waiting for the sea lion to return on its loop around the large tank, careful to keep her in their sights.
“You look tired. Another late night?” his sister asked him, not taking her eyes off Ella.
“Just the usual,” he said, equally casual.
“Oh? With anyone I should know?”
Up to now, he hadn’t had a real moment alone with his sister, and he’d been grateful, knowing that from the worried looks she gave him now that she would have a lot of questions. But ever aware of Ella’s fondness for listening to every discussion and chiming in with her own questions and comments, she’d waited.
“Not that kind of night, sis. Just me and a few coworkers.”
“I see.” She was quiet again, and he knew the topic wasn’t yet over. He waited. “You know, now that I’ve decided to take that book deal, I’ve been looking for a more permanent place for me and Ella. And the funniest thing happened yesterday. My Realtor called me about a few new listings, including some that popped up around your place. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, one of them was right next door to yours. Where Benny lives.”
That was funny. Or perverse.
Best to act nonchalant. “Yeah. She’s selling. But it’s a one-bedroom. I hardly think it’s something you would be interested in.”
“No, and as much as I want to be somewhere closer to you now, I think the same building might be a bit much.” She licked her strawberry ice cream cone and mulled something over. “But I am sorry to hear that Benny’s moving out. I like her. Hate to see her go. How did that come about? I thought she bought that place just a few months ago.”
This needling was torture when they both knew she was going to eventually get to it at some point. “Come on, Morgan. Ask me what you really want to know. You want to know if it had anything to do with the two of us.”
“Okay. So the thought had crossed my mind, and taking into consideration your willingness to submit to scorching temperatur
es and masses of screeching kids for this little foray, not to mention the way the bags under your eyes are large enough for Ella to seek shade under, you can’t blame me. I worry about you. So what gives?”
He chomped on a chunk of now melted ice and tossed the rest of the snow cone into a nearby garbage can. “The usual. She’s looking for the declaration of love, the big commitment, happy-ever-after, the whole shebang. Stuff that I can’t offer.”
“Huh.” She licked her cone again, barely stopping a drip from reaching her hand.
He knew his sister. No way was she done. And the longer she stayed silent, the more jittery he was getting. Fine, he’d bite.
“You don’t have anything to add? No helpful tips or an offer to analyze my dark demons and figure out why I’m such a tragic figure?”
She scrunched her nose. “Sheesh. You sound like my high school English teacher wanting to delve into that horribly depressing book…what was it? Oh. Ethan Frome. I can’t remember. Did he die at the end? Or was he the one physically maimed forever?”
“I must have missed that one.” He waved to Ella, who’d turned around with unadulterated delight after the sea lion passed right in front of her, looking almost like he’d smiled.
“Sorry, I’ve got nothing for you. Who am I to talk about happily-ever-after? But I’ve got Ella, and I think that’s all I need.”