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Except we haven’t had company in years, other than Uncle Scott, Aunt Lena, and the cousins. And we don’t break out the formal napkins for them.
I grab the forest-green napkins from the closet, along with Mom’s brass napkin holders. I roll them up, slip them into the holders, and place one on top of each plate.
Then I inhale.
Mom is preparing salmon en croûte, one of her specialties. My mom is a great cook, and her breads are almost as good as Ava Steel’s.
I return to the kitchen, and Mom hands me a platter of assorted cheeses and crackers. “Put this on the coffee table in the front room.”
“The front room?”
We almost never use the formal living room. Always the family room.
“Yes, the front room. This is company, Rory.”
Right. Company.
Her daughters and their boyfriends.
In Callie’s case, her fiancé.
But not just any boyfriend and fiancé.Steels.
One of the Ping-Pong players inside me shoots one out of bounds.
Why am I so freaked out?
I set down the tray just as the door opens. The dogs are outside, so there’s no commotion.
“Hey, we’re here,” Callie calls.
“Hey, guys,” I say.
“So…” Donny smiles a big Steel smile. “You and Brock? Never saw that one coming.”
“Neither did I.” I return his smile. “But I’m not complaining.”
“Neither is he apparently. Never thought I’d see the day, at least not for another ten years or so.”
“Give her a break, Donny,” Callie chides. “This is new for both of them.”
“All right, all right.”
Mom comes bustling in, gives Callie and Donny each a hug. “Go on down to the family room. Frank will fix whatever you want to drink.”
I follow them, taking Mom’s cheese platter with me.
“Rory, I told you the living room.”
“Dad and all the booze are downstairs. He’ll be more comfortable down there, and so will Donny and Brock. I swear.”
She sighs. “All right. If you’re sure.”
“Trust me. I’m sure. Plus it’s bigger, and the furniture is more comfortable.”
She lifts her hands in the air, shakes her head, and sighs.
Good. I won that round.
