“Good he has you,” Dad says.
Conversation quickly turns to sports, baseball, mostly, the Seattle Mariners, particularly. I’m lost in the subject and placing steaks on the grill when a delighted squeal erupts from the house.
“Paige is amped about something,” I suggest.
“Daaaaaaaadddd!” She comes bounding out the door, carrying a tray of colorful something. “Look what Lulu made just for me!”
She shows me a rainbow made of cupcakes with her name spelled across the top.
“Just for you? I think the one with the G on it is for me,” I tease.
“No way, you don’t even like purple and it’s my favorite!” She runs away as fast as she came, meeting Lou and Juliet at the door as they come outside.
As expected, Juliet sends me a scathing look when she sees who is keeping me company. Mac chuckles softly beside me.
“You’re in trouble,” he says.
“You are, too,” I say, and his smile vanishes, making both Dad and Jerry guffaw.
“Hi,” Lou says as she comes closer. “I’m Lou.” Jerry and Mac introduce themselves, then say hello to Jules, who welcomes it from Jerry. Not so much Mac.
“Hey,” I say, pulling Lou in for a chaste kiss. “Your dessert was a hit.”
“Apparently.”
“I also heard through the rumor mill you made Sam brownies,” I say with a pretend pout.
“Ah, don’t be jealous, big guy,” she says quietly. “You get my cookie.”
“Oh, my fucking God,” I say, burying my laugh in her hair as Mac cracks up laughing beside me.
“I like this one, Grady. Don’t fuck it up,” he says, patting my back.
Leaning down, I press a kiss to her mouth. This one lingering. She pulls back, eyeing me warily.
“Did you talk to Paige?”
“I did. She’s okay with us kiiiiiiiisssssssiiiiiinnnngg,” I parrot my daughter. “She likes you, Lou.”
“She does?” She looks awed, as if she can’t fathom that my eight-year-old daughter would be enamored with her.
“She does,” I reaffirm. “I do, too. I’d like you even more if you help me run interference between whatever is about to happen over there.” I nod toward Juliet and Mac, who look like they’re in a standoff.
“On it,” Lou says and walks over to interrupt.
Immediately, Juliet’s features relax in a modicum of relief. She’ll be pissed I didn’t give her warning that he’d be here tonight.
I turn my attention back to the steaks, keeping a curious eye on all the guests as they mingle and converse around me. Lou laughs somewhere over my shoulder, and I register how it makes me lighter. Brings me joy, even though I have no idea what’s so funny. It doesn’t matter. She’s come so far these past few weeks,from that sad, scared woman who I first saw drowning in sorrow and a too big sweatshirt.
I peek over and see her standing tall as she speaks with Jerry, while Paige runs circles around the pair. Lou’s shoulders are back, her head high and strong. I know she plays a role for her career, puts on a facade, yet I don’t think that’s what this is. This is genuine happiness.
Paige stops next to her, pulling on her hand. Lou’s attention immediately shifts, and her smile grows as she kneels to get on my daughter’s level. Paige rambles something I can’t quite make out, her fingers combing through Lou’s long dark strands. Lou nods, and Paige runs off in excitement, passing my mother, who’s laughing with her.
“Dad, can you take over for a minute?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” he says. “I was dying, here, watching you turn them over too soon.”
“Gee, thanks, old-timer,” I tease.
