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“Dating?” his father asked. “As in more than one?”
“Yes,” he said. “We’ve had three dates. Last Saturday, during the week and then this Saturday again.” He had to work most of Friday night or it would have been four, but Faith was getting used to his schedule and didn’t seem to mind it.
“That’s great news,” his grandfather said. “I guess your grandmother and Jolene were right.”
He snorted. “It was three dates. Anyone can usually suck that up if it’s not offensive.”
Faith would have his head if she knew he just said that, but he was having too much fun with this. He was pretty sure she was going to be doing the same to her family.
“That doesn’t sound promising,” his father said. “That’s too bad. Me, I always could tell right away. Within three dates if it wasn’t going to work out, I’d let it go.”
He wanted to laugh at that comment. His father was the one person in this room that couldn’t let anything go.
“I’m not you,” he said right away.
There were a lot more looks in the room and his grandmother said, “You said you’re going to go on another date?”
“To put this topic to bed, yes. I’ll make plans with her this week at some point, I’m sure. She’s a nice girl and we have things in common. Not much more left to say.”
“What about her dog?” his grandfather asked.
“Fred? He’s a good dog. No issues there. I’m assuming Jolene mentioned Faith had a dog?”
“She did,” his grandmother said. “She said Fred scares people off or the dog doesn’t like too many people.”
“Not an issue with me,” he said.
He picked his beer up to drink some more and hide his grin.
“That’s all good news,” his grandmother said.
“And I’d ask that none of you tell the Fierces of this. If Faith wants her aunt to know, she can give her own opinion. The last thing she needs to think is that I tell my grandparents everything and they go running back to her aunt. There has to be some trust here.”
There was a panicked look on his grandmother’s face that almost had him not able to hold the laugh back.
“We won’t say a word,” his grandfather said. “Right, Marci?”
“No,” his grandmother said. “We won’t.”
“Dad?” he asked. He didn’t trust that his father might not do it to save his grandparents.
“Nope,” his father said. “I don’t ever see Jolene.”
“Good,” he said.
“How is Curt doing?” his father asked. “Have you heard anything else?”
“Grandma called me earlier in the week. They are scheduling the surgery within the next two weeks. Or trying to. Grandpa isn’t thrilled, but he agreed to it. I’ve been trying to talk to his doctor’s office and get an idea of the care he’ll need and where to find home health aides.”
“Do you need some help?” his grandmother asked. “I can look into things for you.”
“Thanks, Grandma,” he said. As much as his mother was never a real mother to him, and a shitty wife to his father, his grandparents had always been very caring people. “I’ve got it covered right now. I’ll take the day off for the surgery, go there, then come back that night. He’ll be in the hospital for a solid week so I’ll come home and then return when they are going to release him. I’ll make sure everything is set up and stay for a day or so.”
“It’s a nice thing you are doing,” his father said. “I can take a day off too. Maybe a Friday and stay for the weekend if they need it. Is your mother doing anything?”
He knew this would come up. “No clue,” he said. “I haven’t talked to her. If she’s going to be at the house I won’t be there. But the last I knew she wasn’t stepping up. No shock to anyone here I’m sure.”
There were more looks around the room and this time, he turned his back to avoid it and hoped they didn’t see how pissed he was.
