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Gerty managed to gather her wits and emotions during Amy’s speech. She smiled at Amy. “It’s not so bad.”
“I think it’s disgusting,” Amy said, her nose in the air. She picked up her tablet and started for the kitchen. “Daddy said to come out when y’all get here. He’s got the Dutch ovens out of the fire already.”
“Right behind you,” Gerty called after her.
“I’m taking the plates,” Walter said from the kitchen. “Can you guys get the sodas?””
“Sure thing.” Once Walter had gone outside too, she looked at Mike, about to explode with laughter.
He raised his eyebrows. “It’s not so bad?” he repeated.
“I don’t think it’s ‘so gross’.” She grinned at him and moved right into his personal space, planting both palms against his chest and looking up at him. “Maybe you should kiss me so I can decide how good it is.”
His hands easily rested on her waist and back, but he blinked at her. “With your parents right outside?” he asked in a mock scandalous tone. “Your daddy already has the Dutch ovens out of the fire. You’re going to get me in trouble.” He stepped back, turned, and followed the kids toward the back door.
She giggled and followed him, because she didn’t want him to have to face her parents alone. She slipped her hand into his on the deck, and they went past the set picnic table to the graveled area where Daddy’s fire pit waited.
“Daddy,” Gerty said, and he looked up from stirring the cheesy potatoes. “Mike and I are here.”
Daddy’s smile filled his whole face. “I see that. We’re almost ready.”
“Oh, the soda,” Mike said. “I’ll go grab it.”
“No time for me to shower?” Gerty asked as he left.
“If you want,” Daddy said, straightening. He looked after Mike for a moment, and then he met Gerty’s eyes.
He started to say something, but Gerty moved faster. “Daddy, please don’t make tonight weird.”
“Why would it be weird?”
Mom arrived with a plate of cubed Velveeta. “Here you go, baby.”
Daddy took the plate. “Gerty thinks I’m going to make things weird tonight.”
Gerty worked not to roll her eyes. “I just know you’re not happy about me moving back onto the farm.”
“I’m fine with it,” Daddy said, but he wasn’t.
Gerty looked to Mom for help, but she didn’t give any. “You’re mad when I stay too long at Mike’s at night,” she said. “I don’t fit here.”
“Don’t say that,” Daddy and Mom said together.
“You are always welcome here,” Mom said.
“You fit with us,” Daddy added as he dropped the cubes into the Dutch oven. He used a tool to get the hot lid from where he’d propped it against the fire pit and put it back on so the cheese would start to melt.
“My room is an office,” Gerty said. “It’s fine. I know you don’t mind me here. I know that. I just…I don’t want to live at home when I’m thirty years old.” Behind her, the kids laughed, and she turned to see Mike entertaining them.
“Good thing you’re only twenty-nine then.” Daddy gave her a dark look and turned around. “We’re ready, kids. Everyone.” Gerty did roll her eyes then, and Daddy caught the tail-end of it. “What?”
“Nothing.” She leaned into the comfort and safety of Mike’s side while Daddy said grace, and when he finished, he took off the lids to the Dutch ovens. “We’ve got barbecue chicken,” he said. “And cheesy potatoes with bacon. You get a plate and dish yourself some food. We eat on the deck.”
Gerty waited for the kids to run off to get their plates, and it seemed like Mom and Daddy would eat last.
“You’ve met my mom,” Gerty finally said into the silence. “Cosette, this is Mike Hammond. I’m sure you know him.”
“Of course I do,” Mom said with a smile. She leaned into Mike and gave him a fast hug. Being affectionate didn’t come naturally to her, and she’d worked hard over the years to show how she felt more. “It’s good to have you with us tonight.”
