He laughed.“Gold stars, huh?What do I have to do to earn the gold stars?”
Clearing my throat, I took the stickers, pulled off two and stuck them into two blank spaces.“What do you think you have to do to get a gold star?”
“Ah, I’m following.What do I get when the chart is completely full?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” I said, biting my lip.
“Hmm, I think you have an idea, but you don’t want to say.”He paused.“Something sexual, perhaps?”
“Perhaps.”
He paused again.“A new frontier?”
“Where no man has gone before.”
“Is that right?”
“That’s right.”
“Well,” he tossed the chart and stickers aside, “I better get to work ...”
ChapterForty-Four
The Ranch
“Show me the ring,” my mother squealed through the screen.
I held up my hand.“Lenni helped pick it out.”
“Gah, it’s so beautiful.They did good,” she stated.“Didn’t they?”
“Beautiful,” Dad agreed.“Good man.He even called and asked for my blessing.”
“Where are you right now?”Mom asked.
“I’m at Salem and Hadley’s,” I stated.“We just had chocolate chip pancakes and hot chocolate with a bit of chili powder.How are you guys?How areMorfar and Bestefar?”
“Your grandparents are full of piss and vinegar,” Dad said.“And akvavit.”
“He’s not wrong,” Mom said with a laugh.“But we’re having a wonderful time.Everyone misses you and they hope you and the family will come for Christmas next year.”
“I’d love that,” I said, taking a deep breath, “but it might be kind of hard to travel to Norway with a baby only a few months old.”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears.“You’re having a baby?”
When my father didn’t say anything, I looked at him.“Dad?”
“I’m going to be a grandfather,” Dad murmured, his own eyes looking suspiciously bright.
My throat tightened.
“Have you set a wedding date?”Mom asked.
“You’re still wanting to visit in the summer, right?”I asked.
“Yes,” Dad said.“Definitely.”
I smiled.“We decided whatever day we get married is the day Lenni changes her name to Keel.It’s going to be a big celebration.You can stay with us in the spare bedroom.”
