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“Soawesome. It’s like I’ve been dealing with boys my whole life and now I’ve met aman. That’s what it felt like. Like anything beyond a kiss would teach me new things.” And that’s exactly what I wanted. To know what would be next. My imagination was running wild.
“Well, I don’t care about men one bit, but I can appreciate the idea that you’re in the big leagues with Tanner now. I’m happy for you. You’ve come a long way since making out with Tommy DuBois in his new truck, I’ll give you that. If I wasn’t gay, I’d go for a guy like Tanner.”
“Amanlike Tanner.” Sue giggled when she said it. “I’m so proud. Our girl’s growing up. We should celebrate. Y’all up for drinks?”
“I wish I could. Nana’s making stuffed crabs for the family tonight, and Tanner is invited. We’ve had a long day.” And I wasn’t sure how this evening would go or how it would end for that matter.
Sue moaned. “I’d give my engagement ring for one of Nana’s stuffed crabs.”
“I know. Now you see why I can’t skip out. I’ve been thinking about them all day.” I had been and I was currently starving.
“Tell Nana hi from me. It’s been a minute or two since I’ve run into her in town.” Jo and her paramedic colleague were often around town and ran into family members of mine.
“I’ll tell her.”
“Me too. It’s been too long,” Sue said. “And keep us posted as you round the bases with Tanner.”
I pulled up at Nana’s house to see that Momma and Daddy had already arrived. I would have to freshen up and change clothes quickly. Momma would want my attention immediately. I wondered how soon things might calm down. So much was happening, and I didn’t see a resolution in the near future. But right now, it was all headed in the right direction. My stomach growled.
I could smell the broiled garlic butter and crabmeat stuffing the second before I opened the front door. My stomach growled.
“There you are. You moved home weeks ago and I’ve hardly seen you.” Momma started the evening complaining instead of acting happy to see me. Wasn’t that just the way?
I could feel the beginnings of exhaustion creeping up on me then. I decided not to respond to her bait. “Hi, everyone. I’m going to run upstairs and change into comfy clothes. I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll be here, honey. Can’t wait to hear what you and Tanner have been up to at work.” Daddy spoke up then. I hadn’t seen him but a couple times since I’d been back and I felt awful about it.
“Be right back, Daddy.”
I quickly brushed my teeth and dressed. And did a quick spray of perfume. By the time I made it back downstairs, Tanner was walking in the door.
“Hi. Glad you made it.” Our greeting was a little awkward. I’d left him not an hour ago at the office. I’d also kissed his face off not an hour ago at the office.
He grinned and moved slightly closer than he normally might have. “You smell good.”
I was glad I’d taken a second for the perfume. “Thanks, so do you.” I didn’t overtly sniff him, but I could tell that he was fresh from the shower.
We walked into the kitchen together. Everyone looked at us. I felt particularly seen at that moment. Like they knew. Jake and Leah had arrived in the few minutes I’d been upstairs changing. Leah stared hard at me. She always knew.
Lisa, thankfully, arrived then. She’d gathered her things from the office after leaving the hospital where she’d been sitting with Marie this evening. She was going to stay here at the house with us—as would Marie once she was released from the hospital.
I made the introductions. “Thank you so much for welcoming me and my grandmother into your home. I so appreciate it.” Lisa was gracious in her thanks to Nana.
“Of course, darling. Marie was a friend to me, and your momma was a friend to Karen.” Nana nodded toward Momma who stepped forward and took Lisa’s hands in hers.
“Welcome, dear. You have your mother’s eyes, no doubt about it. We have some photos here from when she was young, if you’d like to see them,” Momma offered.
Lisa’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “Yes, thank you. I would love to see them.”
Why hadn’t I thought of that? We’d been so distracted with everything, the pictures had slipped my mind. “Yes, I’ll get them after dinner.”
“All right, everyone. Grab a plate and have at ’em.” Nana had set out platters of crabs stuffed with crabmeat brushed with garlic butter and broiled, sprinkled with paprika, and topped with a thin lemon slice. There were scalloped potatoes and a crisp green salad that Momma had brought. And a Jell-O salad. This one had watermelon in it and was made with oranges and yes, plenty of marshmallows. A weird variation on the green one.
“Look, Carly, Momma brought Jell-O salad.” Leah bumped me on my side as she got next to me in line for crabs and potatoes.
“Knock it off, heifer, or I’ll tell her you hate the color purple.” This as a reference to the dresses for the vow renewal. We were calling the dresses what they were.
Leah snorted. “I do hate the color purple when it comes to bridesmaids’ dresses.”
