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“Babe, remember they aren’t hicks. I mean, technically.” She sputtered, laughing. “Andy and Sandra are Manhattanites from way back. I don’t even think Will is from New York, and he’s a doc. Pam is a Brooklynite.”
“That Max is a looker. Do I have to worry about him hitting on you?” Tony asked.
“Did you ever have to worry about that?” Kassandra asked. “I’m sure he was wearing makeup. Did you notice his eyes? A little too doe-eyed, if you ask me.”
“I’m not open-minded enough for that. He gives me the creeps,” Tony said. “What about my brother? He’s pretty hot.”
She grabbed his free hand and kissed it. “I only have eyes for you. After ten years, you’re my soulmate.”
“That’s nice. I don’t know what that is exactly, but it sounds steadfast,” Tony concurred.
“We’re connected spiritually,” Kassandra said. “At least that’s what I think it means.”
“A lot of people have Christmas stuff up already, and it’s not even Thanksgiving.”
“Then I won’t feel like a jerk if I get ours up too soon,” Kassandra said, rubbing her hands together.
***
The men congregated at the curb, watching Tony and Kassandra drive off.
“There’s no family resemblance,” Will said, laughing.
“Imagine me without hair,” Andy said.
“Or Tony with hair,” Dan said. “His wife is gorgeous.”
“They aren’t married. At least not yet. They’ve been together for over ten years. She’s a heart surgeon who worked with my dad. That’s how they met.”
“They remind me of me and Laura,” Will said. “Beauty and the Beast.”
“That’s an old conversation. She hates it,” Andy explained. “She’s super protective of my brother.”
“Yeah, Laura hates it too, but it is what it is. People see a beautiful woman, they expect the guy to measure up.”
“Pam and I are odd bedfellows, too,” Dan said, “if you are measuring relationships by looks. I look like a prizefighter, and she’s an elegant queen.”
The men chortled, agreeing.
“I think you guys make a handsome couple,” Max said. “You might look like her bodyguard sometimes, but when you’re dressed up, you two look like famous actors.”
“That’s true,” Andy said. “Anyway, now that we’ve covered the appearance of all the residents, what are we going to do about Lisa and Ryan? Sandra’s determined to do something to keep them together.”
“All we can do is support them,” Will said. “Laura is over there now. She knows the kids are divided between you two and wants to help where she can.”
“Pam’s terribly upset,” Dan admitted. “The last thing Lisa wants is her mother hovering over her.”
Dan didn’t know this, but Pam felt like she had contributed to Lisa’s woes. She should have run from Ryan. But it was too late. The harm had been done. From her house, she watched Dan with the men, laughing, talking, sharing.
Since he’d moved in with her, they’d developed a pleasant rhythm to their life. The rest of the house kept going as before, the same housekeeping and laundry, just with Dan’s stuff added. She didn’t need his money, but they’d gotten a joint account where he put his paycheck every week, and to make him feel needed, she occasionally used the debit card from the account to buy groceries.
Then movement down the street caught her eye, and she saw Ryan join the group. It was the old Ryan who had come to her door the day before, with a haircut and no beard, so handsome that she’d caught her breath. It was like seeing her son Brent again or Jack when he was young.
Ryan left the house—Lisa’s house—and saw the men at the curb.
“This is a comforting sight.”
“We didn’t know you were home,” Will said.
