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“Book smart, you know,” Maureen continues. “Jesse and Rory are a different kind of smart.”
“I got straight As,” Rory says. “In high school and college. So did Jesse. And Maddie, by the way. You have another child.”
Maureen’s cheeks pink. “Oh, of course, I know that. You’re all brilliant. You always have been.”
Ouch. I’ll never accuse my parents of labeling Brad and me again. They totally don’t do what I just witnessed. I don’t think Maureen meant to make Rory feel bad. She just has her own pictures of who her children are. I suppose my parents did the same thing, but to a much lesser extent. My mom would never make a comment like that in front of dinner guests, for example.
Donny and Callie are eerily silent and, surprisingly, so is Frank. Perhaps he’s still feeling strange about the fire talk.
I hold back a sigh. Seems it’s up to me.
“In my family,” I begin, “Brad was always the brain and I was the brawn, despite the fact that I always got straight As in school as well.”
“Isn’t it funny,” Maureen says, “how we get ideas about our children?”
“Not too funny from where I’m sitting,” Rory mutters under her breath.
I place my hand on her thigh and give it a slight squeeze. I can make this better. “Did Rory mention that we’re planning a Christmas concert?”
Maureen’s eyes widen. “No. What are you talking about?”
Rory tenses further, but I continue.
“She’s going to put together a program for the city.”
“And I think it’s a fabulous idea,” Callie says animatedly.
Much more animated than she usually is, and Rory glares at her.
“Oh yeah, me too,” Donny says. “I know my family is looking forward to it.”
“How am I the last to know about this?” Maureen says.
In truth, she’s the first to know other than Donny and Callie. Rory and I haven’t made it public at all.
“You’re not,” I tell her. “It’s only in planning stages so far.”
Rory speaks then. “I’ve talked to Jesse. He’s going to sing with me, I hope.”
That gets Frank’s attention. “You know I love to hear the two of you sing together. When will this be?”
I clear my throat. “Friday, December fifteenth. About a month away.”
“I’m thrilled. Jesse has such a great voice, and though I love his rock and roll, I will enjoy hearing something not quite so head banging.” Frank takes a sip of his wine.
“That reminds me,” Maureen says, picking up her own glass. “We should have a toast.”
“To what?” Rory says.
“To our company, of course. Brock, we’re so happy to have you here. And of course Donny as well.” She raises her glass. “To our guests.”
We all clink glasses and take a drink. I don’t even like wine much, and I know Donny doesn’t either. But we’ll make do. These are our future in-laws.
I drop my jaw, but close my mouth quickly.
Ourin-laws?
No.
