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Good Night, Sweetheart, Good Night
Toby tromped down the stairs. “You’re all set up. Well, the suitcase is on the bed where you can get to it easily. I didn’t want to dig around in your stuff.”
“Good night, dear.” His mom kissed him on the cheek and headed upstairs.
“Everything okay?”
“Yep.” She was looking at her ring. “Do you want to put something on to sleep in? I’m going to put my pajamas on, but you can change first if you want to.”
“No, I’ll just kick my shoes off and sleep like this. You can change if you want. I’ll find something for us to watch.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.” She dashed away up the stairs.
As Toby fluffed his pillow and spread out some blankets, his dad trudged down the stairs.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Look, I was busting your chops about grandkids, but-”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. We’re not there yet. Okay?”
“Trust me, it doesn’t take long to get there. Take your time and use some protection.”
“Oh!” Toby clamped his hands over his ears. “Dad! I got the birds and bees back in sixth grade, okay? Jeez.”
“I’m just saying.”
“La, la, la, la…”
“Be serious, Toby.” He pulled Toby’s hands down.
“Dad, I’m dead serious. I know things seem like they’re going really fast, but we’re going to do this right. No grandkids until after the wedding, I promise.”
“I said it before and I’ll say it again. Meredith is definitely a keeper. I saw that when you first brought her over. I’m glad you proposed and I’m glad she accepted. One thing leads to another. We just want you to keep your minds working faster than your hormones.”
Toby threw his hands up. “Okay, Dad, message received. Good night. Thanks for the great talk. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night, boy.” His dad headed for the stairs. “Congratulations. She’s a great girl.”
“She definitely is, Dad.”
“Good night, Stan.” Meredith slipped past him. “Thank you.”
“Good night, kid. Sleep tight.”
She strolled over to the nest of blankets Toby had constructed. “This looks cozy.”
“Yeah, want some popcorn or something?”
“No, I’m good. What did you find to watch?” She twirled toward the TV.
“Oh, I was flipping through the menu and I found a Christmas channel.”
“Really?”
“Is that okay?”
“Sounds great.” She plopped down on the sofa and tucked herself in. “Let’s see what’s playing.”
“Looks like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.” Toby said as he settled down beside her.
She hugged his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. “Sure is.”
“Do your parents have a guest room?”
“No, they kept the sofa bed for when I visit.” She snuggled up closer.
“That could be awkward.”
“No more so than the chat your mom and I had.”
“Probably the same chat that Dad just had with me.”
“They mean well.”
“Of course, but it’s still awkward.”
“Nothing’s perfect, Toby.”
He wrapped an arm around her. “You are.”
“That’s so not true. I’m just…”
“Perfect for me.” He gave her a squeeze. “Do you think your parents will have ‘the talk’ with us, too?”
“You can bet on it.”
“That’s alright. It just means they care.”
She squeezed his arm and nestled up. “How many do you want?”
“How many what?”
“Kids.”
“I don’t know. You have to make them. How many do you want?”
“Four’s a good number, but we’ll see how the first one goes.”
“Seems fair. Why four?”
“One for each of the grandparents to spoil.”
“Mm, sounds like a plan. Guess we’ll have to start mansion shopping.”
She giggled. “Stately Belzer Mansion. That sounds like fun.”
“I’m glad you think so. You’re going to have to dust it.”
“Oh, is that right? Good thing I’ll have a squad of munchkins to help, wiseguy.”
“Maybe I’ll build some robots to help you keep the place clean.”
“You know how to do that?”
“Not yet, but necessity is the mother of invention.”
“Hmm, Stately Belzer Mansion with its robotic house staff.”
“And the pitter-patter of little feet.”
“Don’t say that too loud. Your parents will come down and lecture us again.” She laughed.
“Let’s not forget the garage.”
“The garage?”
“They come in handy. Don’t want to have to get out of the car in bad weather if you don’t have to.”
“You’ll have to teach me how to drive.”
“Oh, that’s right. You’re an uptown girl.”
“Dad taught me, way back when.”
“That’s good. You can drive us around tomorrow while we’re mansion shopping.”
“Maybe we can hire Miłość to drive me and the kids around.”
“So, the garage needs to fit a stretch limousine.”
“If it’s a mansion, I’m guessing the garage would fit a limousine and a yacht.”
“A yacht? I think we’d better stop at the Quikimart and buy some lottery tickets while we’re out mansion shopping.”
“I think you’re right. Belzer Mansion won’t be too stately without a fortune to back it up.”
“I wouldn’t say no to a cozy little cottage.”
“Neither would I, Toby. As long as you’re there, it will be paradise.”
“Still got that garter on?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” She pulled the blanket up over her shoulders.
“Maybe I’ll just tickle you until you confess.”
“Don’t you dare, Toby. I hate being tickled.”
“Ooh, an interesting new facet. Duly noted. How would recommend that I proceed.”
She thrust a fist from under the blanket and circled it under his nose. “With a lot of caution, wiseguy.”
“Uh-huh. She’s a tease who doesn’t like to be tickled. Let’s see what other secrets we can unlock before bedtime.”
“Hmm, what do you want to know?”
“Favorite color?”
She looked into his eyes. “Hazel.”
“Doo-wop or Country?”
“I don’t really like either, but if I had to pick, it would be Doo-wop.”
“That’s good. When this movie is over, the Sha-Na-Na Christmas Special is next.”
“My dad would love this channel.” She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes.
The special was nearly over when Stan crept downstairs to turn the TV off. He smiled at the young couple snuggled up on the couch as he listened to the closing number. “Good night, sweetheart, good night…”