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Meeting Angela

“Do I look alright?” Angela asked as she looked at her reflection in a picture frame.

“Don’t be nervous, Ian is very down to earth.”

“I know. I know. I don’t really do this. You know?”

“Neither does he, Ange. Look, there’s nothing to be worried about. There’s no pressure. Okay?”

“Where should I be when he arrives?” She looked up and down the hallway nervously.

“Maybe come in the living room and we can watch a show with the kids until he gets here.”

“Kids? Nancy, how does he feel about kids?”

“He loves them. He’s a great babysitter and the kids adore him.”

“Oh, he’s going to be so disappointed.” Angela hugged herself.

“What? Why? Ian really isn’t judgmental at all. I’m sure he’ll like you just the way you are.”

The window in the front door lit up with someone’s headlights.

“Oh, my goodness! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?”

Nancy hurried to the door. “Calm down. It’s just Steve.”

“Is Ian with him?”

“I don’t think so. Come with me and we’ll go sit down. Can I get you something to drink?”

“I could use one but I don’t think I should be drunk when he gets here.”

“Well, I was thinking hot chocolate or apple cider.” Nancy led her friend to the kitchen. “Boy, you’ve got to calm down. He’s not the crown prince or anything. Come have some cookies and relax.”

Angela pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can. Nancy, I don’t think I ought to have come.”

“Nonsense.” Nancy poured her a mug of spiced apple cider. “Just take a deep breath and have some cookies.”

Lynn ran into the kitchen and sucked a deep breath in.

“Honey, what are you doing?”

Lynn exhaled noisily and lashed out at the plate of cookies. “I took a deep breath and now I’m having some cookies. Bradley, they’re chocolate chip!!!”

Nancy stood there with her fists on her hips. “Hey!”

Angela burst out laughing. “I guess if they’re okay with her, I’d better have some.”

“Please do.” Nancy sat down to join her friend at the table. She grabbed a gingerbread man. “Everything is better with a cookie.”

“I can’t really argue with that. What did you put in these? They’re wonderful.”

Steve popped his head into the kitchen. “Hi, Angela. How are you?”

“Nervous, actually.”

“Aw, you don’t need to be nervous. Ian is excited to meet you. He should be here in a little while. I called him before I came in.”

“A little while?” Nancy asked.

“He was in line at the store, picking up stuff for a job he has to do tomorrow.”

“Okay, go get changed. Dinner is almost ready.”

Steve waved and disappeared.

“Job?” Angela asked, punctuating it with a bite of her chocolate chip cookie.

“Ian is a landscaper.” Nancy said.

“At this time of year?”

“He makes up for the seasonal slowdown by setting up holiday lights for people.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, who knew there’d be so much business putting up Christmas lights? It really keeps him hopping.”

“What happens after Christmas?”

“He spends most of January and February taking them back down again. Seems that people who are too busy to put up their own lights are also too lazy to take them down and put them away.”

“Wow, points for creativity.”

“Oh my, yes. Some of the jobs are just putting the lights and decorations up, but some of them are synchronized to music and all of that crazy stuff.”

“That’s wild.”

“That’s Ian.”

“Now I’m really nervous.”

“Angela, why?”

“I don’t do anything interesting or creative like that.”

“That’s not true. Your needlepoint is exquisite. I’ve never seen such designs. I’m sure he’ll be very impressed.”

“Oh, needlepoint.” Angela humphed. “That doesn’t synchronize to music or anything.”

“But he’s a landscaper when the weather is warmer. He knows all about flowers and hedges. I bet he’ll love your garden.”

“Maybe so.”

“Sure, Ange. I think you guys will have a lot in common.”

“Gee, I hope so. He sounds great.”

“He’s so nice. He really is.” Nancy looked over her shoulder as the timer on the oven sounded. “There’s the dinner bell. Let me get this out.”

“Can I help with anything?”

“No, just sit there and enjoy your cookie. I’ll have this out in a flash.”

“Should we wait for Ian?”

“Steve said he was in line. It won’t take him long to get here.” Nancy said as she pulled a pork roast from the oven.

“Gang way!” Steve announced. “I brought the flying monkeys!”

Lynn and Bradley giggled as their dad sat them in their seats.

“Hey, guys.” Angela said. “Are you all ready for dinner?”

“What is it?” Bradley asked.

“Pork roast, carrots and wild rice.”

“Wild.” Bradley tapped his fork on his plate.

“Mm, carrots!” Lynn said.

“My, that roast looks wonderful, Nancy.” Angela said.

“Sure does.” Steve said as he took his seat.

Nancy brought a basket of sliced bread with a ramekin of soft butter and sat down. “Whose turn is it to say grace, Lynn?”

“Hers.” Lynn pointed at Angela.

“Don’t point, Lynn.” Nancy said. “Ange, do you mind?”

“Maybe Lynn has a good one she can recommend.” Angela said nervously.

Lynn jumped up from her seat and pulled Angela down to whisper in her ear.

“Uh-oh. What’s going on here?” Ian said from the doorway. “Sorry I’m late.”

“No, actually you’re just in time.” Steve said. “Here, come and sit down.”

“Great, thanks.” Ian hurried in to sit down across from Angela.

“Ian, this is my friend Angela.” Nancy said. “Ange, my brother-in-law, Ian.”

“Hi, nice to meet you.” Ian waved.

“Hi, Ian. Nancy was telling me all about you.”

“And you’re still here?”

Nancy punched him in the shoulder. “Nothing bad, you goof. Ange was just going to say grace.”

Everyone lowered their heads expectantly.

“God’s neat. Let’s eat.” Angela said, with a wink at Lynn.

Ian smiled at his counterpart. “So, Angela, what do you do?”