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“So, Devon…did J tell you I met Emily yesterday?”
“No, he did not.”
“Well, I did. She was coming out of spin class at The Gym when we got there.”
“Told you, Devon, she is hooked! I knew once we got her there she would love it. Besides I teach the class, so you know she loves it.” Gabby gives D a wink and then motions to Liam to carry on.
“Did you embarrass our boy?” he asks, hopefully.
“Nope, I was on my best behavior. Don’t want to make things any harder for him. He can do that all on his own. Besides, I’ve heard about her for so long now that I was surprised to actually be meeting her. She really is a real person. Who knew?”
I flip him off from across the fire and he just shrugs.
“Dang, I’m sure that’s not the way she would have wanted to meet you, Liam. All sweaty, no hair and make-up and a mess after working her butt off. Of course, she doesn’t need hair and make-up. That girl always looks good. It’s just not fair,” Gabby says, speaking the truth.
Kate throws a marshmallow at her, from what’s left of our roasting earlier, and says, “Who’s talking? You are perfect! You could be Kelly Rowland’s twin for God’s sake! I don’t want to hear it, Gabby!”
Before Gabby can reply Liam breaks in with, “She’s not playin’, D, you done good. I can’t believe she liked you way back when you were just a scrawny little kid. You know how lucky you are, right?”
“Yes, I do Liam. Yes, I do.” Devon answers leaning over and kisses Gabby on the cheek.
She mouths ‘I love you’ to him and his face lights up like it always does.
“Anyway, back to lover boy and Emily over here. Gabby, you’re right she didn’t need any make-up, but I could tell she was embarrassed. I haven’t decided if it was meeting me all sweaty or seeing J for the first time in person since she drunk texted him. Of course, I think it’s because she’s in love with this idiot over here. I can’t account for her taste in men but she seemed like a sweet girl in the few minutes I talked to her. What’s your take, D?”
“She’s a sweet girl, Liam, and I think she’s crazy about this idiot over here too.”
“Uh, guys. I’m sitting right here. You can stop talking about me like I’m not here,” I interject to no avail. They just carry on. Even Fiona.
“Oh, I wish I had gone to The Gym. When Liam told me he got to meet Emily, I was so jealous.”
“Honey, I think it’s best that you didn’t. If she’s as frightened as the boy says she is about relationships…you would have scared her to death. You probably would have been taking her measurements so you could start on the wedding dress. The poor girl doesn’t need all that.”
“Amen, Daddy!” Kate chimes in.
Devon leans forward towards Liam and continues to pretend I’m not sitting right here.
“Liam, she’s a sweet girl and I was there all those years ago and got to watch it from the start. I can tell you, this thing between them, it’s the real deal. Now if we can just figure out how J can snap her out of keeping him in the friend-zone, and how he’s gonna deal with her big brother, life will be sweet.”
In unison Kate and Fiona ask, “Big Brother?”
D takes pleasure in filling them in…
“Oh, did he leave that out? Her big brother works with our boy here and is also a cop. He’s not just a co-worker, but he is Mickey Freaking Jacobs. He’s a bad man that you don’t want to mess with. He’s also very protective of Emily and Ireland. This could become a situation if he found out about our star-crossed lovers,” he says leaning back in his chair with a look of satisfaction on his face.
“Wow, this just gets better and better dude,” Liam says with a shake of his head.
“I still can’t believe that her daughter is named Ireland…it’s like it was meant to be or something.” Kate says with a dreamy look on her face.
“Oh good God, she didn’t name her after me! Her Grandmother’s maiden name was Ireland! Enough about my non-existent love life people. Let’s play a game or something. I can’t take much more of this!”
“Spoil sport…as for the game how about Would You Rather?” Liam chimes in and we all groan at his suggestion.
The next morning the five of us get up early so we can get to Pine State Biscuits for breakfast as soon as they open. Then we take a whirlwind trip to the waterfront so that the Fanuas can visit the Saturday Market before they leave. It’s a good thing we ate at Pine State first or we would have never gotten out of the Saturday Market in time with all the food options they have.
We make it back to the house by noon and when we walk in the door I see their packed suitcases waiting to be loaded into their rental car. My chest tightens at the thought of them leaving. I loved having them here and I’m starting to miss home for the first time since moving to Portland.
I help them load the car and Kate, Robert and Liam give me hugs, thanks for having them and see you laters. Liam and I both hate goodbyes so this works for both of us, and besides, we text so often it’s like we talk all the time anyway.
