Page 26

26

GEORGIA

W e’re crammed inside my Subaru wagon on our way to Cade’s parents’ house for supper and I’m listening to Mama’s devious plan to get Wendy’s goat. Ava is in on it too. Daddy is sitting in the passenger seat next to me and the girls are in back with August.

“I can’t wait to see Wendy’s face when she opens her hostess gift bag,” Mama says, wiping tears from her eyes from laughing so hard.

“The Gourmet Pork Rind Sampler pack was brilliant!” Ava crows.

“Stereotype much?” I grouse.

“Hey, don’t knock it. It’s got dill, chili cheese, sea salt and pepper… what else Ava?”

“Didn’t it have a pineapple and ancho chili… oh and Korean BBQ. That’s why they’re gourmet. Nothing but the best.” She falls into another fit of giggles.

I haven’t seen much of Cade since the morning after we made love. Only once for a quick hi and bye before he headed to the ballpark. He has called most days though. His schedule is impossible. A game every day since last Monday.

That morning after we made love, we woke up to the birds chirping and Auggie jabberin’. Cade went and got him out of his crib while I made coffee and pancakes for breakfast. It was like something out of a storybook. My heart literally felt like it was being squeezed inside my chest to spend the morning together like we were a real family. But having all this time apart made all the doubts creep back in again. What had I been thinking? Am I fooling myself?

Mama continues chirpin’. “Then, I remembered how they love their wine.” She proceeds to tell us that in addition to the pork rinds, Mama bought a couple of bottles of locally made wine. A blackberry and a bottle of some sweet strawberry something. They’ll hate it. I can’t help it if I think it’s hilarious, but I won’t let on to them. I’m as bad as they are.

“You two are terrible,” I say, glancing over at Daddy. “What do you think?”

“Don’t drag me into it. I told Loretta it was a bad idea but I may as well have been talkin’ to a rock.”

“What’s so bad? That strawberry wine was a blue-ribbon winner two years in a row at the State fair.”

“What did it cost you a bottle?” I ask.

“Twelve and some change. Can’t be that bad.”

Ava snorts. “You two have no sense of humor. It’s gonna be legendary. Can’t wait to see who wins, her hoity-toity self or the hostess with the mostess,” Ava says.

“I’ll bet you five dollars she won’t be able to fake it,” Mama says.

“You’re on,” Ava says. I look in my rearview and see them high-five each other like little kids.

My GPS tells me to turn right and two miles down this beautiful tree-lined road, we arrive. From the drive, you can’t see the house from the road but there are two huge stone pillars on either side and the wrought iron gates are wide open. I pull in and we wind around and up an incline until we see the house… or should I say mansion. It’s huge.

“Looky, it’s a McMansion!” Ava says sarcastically. “Shocking.”

“Lordy,” Mama exclaims. “Who needs that much space? It’s just the two of them living there. How greedy can ya get?”

I sigh. This is going to be pure hell. “Mama, please try and be a decent person. Can you please take the high road for once?”

“For once? I’m not the show off here,” she says outraged.

“Nobody is showing off, Loretta,” Daddy says. “This is their home and they were kind enough to invite us. Be gracious.”

“Kind? More like manipulative.”

“Mama, this isn’t about you, it’s about my baby meetin’ his other grandparents. You can suck it up for one night. Please?”

“I reckon, but we’re allowed to have a little fun while I’m suckin’ it up, right Ava?”

“Right.” They high-five again and I roll my eyes. I did warn Cade.

W e pile out of the car and Daddy reaches in to grab Auggie from his car seat. “Come here Auggie. Come to your papaw,” he says.

Mama says, “Ava don’t forget to grab the boiled peanuts in that Tupperware container. Doyle, why don’t you grab the cornhole boards from the back, I’ll take August.”

“Got ’em,” Ava says.

“Papaw,” Auggie says clinging to his Papaw’s denim shirt.

“Come to Mamaw.” August is transferred to Mama and Daddy grabs the cornhole boards from my trunk that Mama insisted on bringing. More of her mental shenanigans with Wendy.

I tried to explain to August that he was going to meet his other grandparents today. I’m more worried about the rest of us than I am about him. We march up the beautifully landscaped walkway to the gorgeous double French doors.

“I’m thinking our idea of casual may be a little different than theirs,” Ava says.

“Well Lord have mercy, how were we to know they live in a mansion?” Mama says. “I knew I should have worn my dress slacks instead of jeans.”

“You look fine, Loretta,” Daddy says. “Beautiful, as a matter of fact.”

“Doyle, I may have to marry you all over again. We can redo our vows.”

He chuckles. I swear they still act like newlyweds sometimes.

As I’m about to ring the bell the door opens and Cade is standing there. I have never been so happy to see someone in my life. When did he become the ally? As always, my pulse spikes as I feast on his beauty. I may sound like I’m objectifyin’, but my Lord, this man is hot.

“Hey, Geege,” he says warmly, his eyes going over every inch of me. Since this is the first we’ve seen each other since we threw the sheets in the ring, I feel shy. My cheeks heat as he brushes his thumb over my bottom lip, his eyes hungrily scanning my face.

“Hi,” I say breathlessly. “Well, we made it.” I stand on my tiptoes and whisper, “I’m terrified.”

He chuckles. “It will all work out.”

My heart sinks when I see him dressed up in a light blue button-down linen shirt, casually untucked, paired with relaxed cream linen beach pants. He is the picture of effortless chic. I’m way under-dressed. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showin’ off his big ole fancy Rolex watch. It looks good on his tanned muscular forearm. His mom is approaching down the foyer in her Sunday best. Well, shoot .

“I thought you said this was casual,” I hiss. “I was thinkin’ it was a cookout or something.”

“It is. Quit worrying.”

I glare at him and look down at my old clam diggers, tee shirt and flip-flops. Great .

“Hello Loretta, Doyle,” Cade says grabbing my hand and stepping back to wave them inside. “Ava, glad you could make it.”

“Da da,” Auggie shrieks holding out his arms for his daddy. He lets go of my hand and I miss the warmth and reassurance.

“Hey, little buddy. You want to meet your other grandma?” he says.

“August!” Wendy says rushing over with tears in her eyes. “I’m your Grandma Wendy. You look just like your father.” There is a commotion as two kids come dashing down the hallway.

“Beat ya,” the little girl taunts.

“Did not!” shrieks the boy. The little girl sticks her tongue out and the little boy lunges for her just as Wendy grabs his arm.

“Grayson, keep your hands to yourself and Emma, quit teasing your little brother. Looky who’s here! Your cousin August.”

August seems fascinated by his new family. He’s staring wide-eyed at his cousins like they landed here from outer space.

Cade crouches down with August in his arms and the kids descend. “Aww he’s adorable!” Emma says. “Can I hold him?”

“Let’s give him a minute to warm up,” Cade says.

“I want to hold him too!” Grayson demands.

“You’ll both get your chance… after your grandma. So, get in line,” Wendy says.

“No fair! I called it first,” Emma says.

“But I’m the grandmother, so I get first dibs.”

“Can he walk?” Grayson asks.

“Yes,” I answer.

“Can we hold his hands and walk him to the party?”

“Sure, if he’s okay with it.”

“Uncle Cade put him down so we can play with him.”

Quinn appears, an older version of his younger brother Cade. A little huskier, jaw a little squarer, but very handsome indeed.

His welcoming smile encompasses all of us. “Why is everyone standing around in the foyer? Come on in and join the party. Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. Good to see you again. It’s been a minute. Hey, Ava,” Quinn says then turns to me. “Georgia. It really is great to see you.” He awkwardly hugs me and I hug him back. I always did like him and his wife, Kennedy.

“Cornhole, great! Here, let me take those off your hands,” Quinn says to Daddy. He takes the cornhole boards and carries them off.

Mama pipes in, “Wendy, this here is for you. Thank you for the invitation.” She hands the gift bag to Wendy. “We didn’t know it was a fancy to-do or I would have dressed up.”

Wendy takes the offering. “There’s no dress code, Loretta. We want you to feel at home. I’m sure you’ll feel more comfortable in your old blue jeans. And that’s what we want. Thank you for the goodies. Follow me.”

Mama rolls her eyes to the back of her head as we follow Wendy in her slim-fitting tan slacks and white sleeveless blouse tucked, as her leather slip-on Gucci’s click-clack on the beautiful marble tiles. Cade slips his arm around my waist and my heart flutters. We wind up at the back of the house in a gargantuan great room with impossibly high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking their outdoor swimming pool with pool-scaping to die for. The glass walls are currently open, bringing the outdoors inside.

“Did Cade tell you to bring your swimsuits?” Wendy asks.

“No, he failed to mention that,” I say narrowing my eyes at him.

Looking tickled, she says conspiratorially, “I just may have bought one for my grandson. Couldn’t resist. Baby Dior trunks. I’ll take him for a dip with his cousins.”

Mark interrupts and says, “What can I get everyone to drink?”

“Do you have any Pabst Blue Ribbon?” Daddy asks.

Mark clears his throat. “Sorry, would a Heineken do?”

He guffaws. “No thanks. That stuff tastes like skunk piss.”

Cade laughs out loud.

“Mom, did you buy any Corona?” Quinn suggests. “He may like that.”

“I’ll have a bourbon on the rocks,” Mama says. I bite my lip. Mama with a bourbon buzz does not ease my mind the least little bit.

“How about you Georgia?” Mark asks.

“I’ll stick with water for now.”

“I’ll have the same as Mama,” Ava requests.

“You got it. Make yourselves at home,” Cade says before heading outside to mind August while Mark heads to the wet bar to make our drinks. I watch him fill two crystal glasses with fancy ice and pour a brand I recognize from the bar, Woodford Reserve, with a price tag of one-hundred-twenty-nine smackeroos a bottle, over said ice, then add a splash of ginger beer and a lime wedge. Not sure how that will go over but, we’ll see.

Quinn appears with a Corona and a lime wedged in the neck plus a bottled water for me. Daddy looks askew at the lime wedge and I nudge him. “Why thank ya, Quinn,” he says remembering his manners.

I whisper, “Just shove it down the bottle and don’t fuss.”

Cade is sitting by the pool with his niece and nephew and August is in heaven with all the attention from his newfound cousins. I tug self-consciously at my top, wishing like hell Cade had given me some kind of warning.

A man in a chef’s uniform glides in with two large trays of food, places them on the granite island countertop, then disappears again.

“Appetizers have arrived. Help yourselves. Since it’s a fairly mild day, I thought we’d eat on the patio today,” Wendy announces.

I notice there is a long table under a shaded arbor, already set with a white tablecloth and vases of colorful spring flowers strategically placed. “I hope everyone is hungry,” Wendy says gaily. “We have enough food for an entire baseball team.”

Mark says, “She’s not kidding folks.”

Me and my family stand off to the side, huddled together somewhat awkwardly. At this point, only Auggie seems to be enjoying himself from our clan. I see Mama sizing up Wendy with a calculating stare and I’m on notice not to let her alone with Wendy for even one second.

Mama takes a big swig of her bourbon and then smacks her lips. “This isn’t too bad. Y’all reckon that TV is big enough?” she says loudly. It honestly is the biggest TV I’ve ever seen. It’s mounted on a wall of natural stone, right above the fireplace.

Wendy overhears, Mama’s intention all along, and says, “Now Loretta, not everyone has a son who is a major league baseball player! And um… who is… what did his new teammate call him?... I think it was something like ‘an absolute gamer’. When he’s playing across the country, I have to be able to see my son in high definition.” She titters disingenuously. That’s my opinion anyhow, and I’m sticking with it.

“What a fake ass,” Ava grumbles in my ear.

“Hush, she’ll hear ya.”

“Now I hope you don’t need me to hold your hands because I’m going to get to know my grandson. Unfortunately, I have two whole years to make up for.” And with that, Wendy sweeps outside.

“She didn’t even look at her gift,” Mama grouses.

“She’s probably afraid to,” I say. “Can’t say as I blame her.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“The righteous side Mama, always the righteous side.”

She snorts, “Yeah, right.”