“Shouldn’t you be spending time with the men?” Rory turned to see his mother.
“Catherine asked me to bake something for the party,” Rory said.
“Well, why don’t you let the women take care of the cooking?”
“I enjoy baking,” he said. “Besides, Penelope’s helping me. She’s such a big help.”
He didn’t understand his mother’s insistence on what men and women should and shouldn’t do. She criticized his hobbies. She insisted he needed to do something more masculine. She suggested woodworking, fishing, or repairing cars. None of those appealed to him. His father loved to repair cars and fish, but never forced it on him or his brother. Duncan took on woodworking and made some beautiful furniture. He’d built a TV stand and nightstand for Rory.
“If you insist.” She pursed her lips. “I’ll be outside.”
“Why does Grammy not like you baking?” Penelope asked. Children didn’t miss a beat.
“I don’t know,” Rory lied.
“I like when you bake,” Penelope said. “It tastes good.”
“Thank you.”
Rory picked her up to taste the peach mixture.
“Yum.” She smiled.
Rory loved his niece. He’d been told he’d make a wonderful father, but his heart sank at the idea. He hadn’t found a woman he connected with. He didn’t even know if he liked women romantically. Maybe one day he could adopt.
Party guests began to arrive at a quarter till two. Rory had put the cobbler to cool to be ready to eat after gifts.
“That smells amazing,” Duncan said, coming into the kitchen.
“Thank you,” Rory said. “I altered the recipe in the cookbook. I hope it tastes as great as it smells.”
“I’m sure it’ll taste wonderful,” Duncan reassured him.
Once with the bounce house, puzzles, cornhole, and the variety of games set up in the yard. The adults sat around talking. He didn’t know most of the people there who were mainly the parents of Penelope’s friends.
“Uncle Roro,” Penelope said. “Come play.”
Before he could answer, he found himself dragged to the yard to play cornhole with Penelope and a few of her friends. He didn’t try too hard and allowed the kids to win. The kids enjoyed his company. He chased them around the yard, making them laugh and scream.
“Okay, everyone, time to sing happy birthday and open gifts,” Catherine said.
Penelope unwrapped gifts from her friends. She got picture books, puzzles, dolls, and a set of building blocks.
She thanked each person after she opened the gift. Her parents raised her to be polite when you receive a gift, even if you didn’t like it.
Penelope opened her gift from Rory. She squealed with delight and ran to him.
“Thank you, Uncle Roro, I love this color,” she said.
Rory wrapped his arms around her. “I thought you’d like it.”
“Did you make it yourself?”
“I did. I wanted to make sure it was perfect for you.”
“Thank you,” she said, putting the sweater on before going back to her gift pile.
She opened the gifts from her parents and grandparents. She received some toys, a few books, and a new dress from her parents. Her grandparents got her a few collectibles. Rory didn’t think a five-year-old needed porcelain dolls, but his mother had insisted. He wasn’t going to argue with her.
