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He takes a huge forkful of potato salad and nods head, watching while I hand Tanner a can of soda, and sit beside him.
“Is that good?” Tanner asks.
“It’s the best.”
“Nash is something of an expert on potato salad, so if he says it’s good…” He lets his voice fade, helping himself, and then he closes his eyes and lets out a soft, almost sexual sigh. “Man… I thought Laurel’s potato salad was good, but this is something else.”
“Laurel’s?” I say and he nods his head.
“Yeah. She always brings an enormous bowl of it to the Fourth of July picnic, and it goes in no time at all.”
“But this is better,” Nash says, and I feel myself blushing.
“I wouldn’t tell Laurel that, if I were you.”
“I’m not going to,” Tanner says. “Your potato salad is gonna be our secret, babe.”
We all laugh, and then Nash clears his throat. “This is lovely, isn’t it, Dad?”
“It sure is,” Tanner says, smiling at me.
“But just think how much better it would be if we had a dog,” Nash says, with a smile.
“Not this again,” Tanner replies. “I thought you’d gotten over that.” Nash shakes his head and Tanner turns to me. “My ever-loving son has been asking for a puppy for months now, even though he knows his mom would never agree.”
“Why does Mom have to agree?” Nash says. “The dog could live with you, couldn’t it?”
“Oh, I like this plan.” Tanner shakes his head. “You want a dog, but I’m the one who has to look after it.” I can’t help laughing, and Tanner turns to me. “What’s funny?”
“Nothing… except my mom is talking about getting a puppy, too. I’ve told her I think it’s a crazy idea, but she wants one to keep my aunt away from the house.” Tanner frowns and even Nash tips his head to one side, neither of them understanding a word I’m saying… or so it seems.
“Like a guard dog, you mean?” Nash says, and I shake my head.
“No. It’s just that my aunt doesn’t like dogs,” I explain, and they nod, their faces clearing, right before they both laugh. “I’m hoping that Mom’s enforced visit to Aunt Charlotte will help her realize she doesn’t need to do anything so drastic. She just needs to be more assertive… because otherwise, she might get back home, and give in to the temptation of Mrs. Hall’s puppies.”
“And who’s Mrs. Hall?” Tanner asks.
“She’s one of my mom’s neighbors and her Golden Retriever has just had puppies. As far as I know, at least four of them are going spare.”
“Really?” Nash puts down his sandwich, leaping to his feet, and then turns to his father. “Can we, Dad?”
Tanner turns to me, narrowing his eyes. “Anyone would think you did that on purpose.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Who? Me?”
He shakes his head, looking back at Nash. “Did you put her up to this?”
“No.”
Tanner grabs Nash, wrestling him to the floor. “I don’t believe you,” he says.
“Save me, Zara,” Nash cries, and I leap up, clambering onto Tanner’s back. He falls forward, avoiding Nash, and the three of us roll around, giggling.
It’s fun, and it’s funny… and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy in my life.
The time for Nash to leave comes around all too soon, and once he’s changed out of his wet clothes, and got his things together, he comes over to me in the kitchen.
“Thanks for a great weekend,” he says.
