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Grandkids

“Toby! Dinner!” His mom called up from the living room.

The two of them had been so engrossed in gathering Toby’s best pieces for their visit to the Hannon household that they’d lost all concept of time.

“Ready?” Toby asked, snapping the lid on the tote.

“First a question.”

“Anything.”

“Butter or sour cream?”

“What? On the potatoes?”

“No, as an exfoliant.” She smacked her forehead. “Of course, on the potatoes.”

“I can go either way. I’m feeling like today is a butter day, maybe some black pepper and bacon bits. How about you?” He headed for the stairs, holding her hand.

“Butter is alright, but I trend toward sour cream and chives.”

His dad was at the bottom of the stairs. “See? She’s civilized. Have you proposed yet?”

“Dad, please…”

“Not yet, Stan.” She said over his shoulder. “He’s going to check with me later.”

“Alright, well come sit down while it’s hot. Irene’s bringing the sour cream. Have a seat.”

Everyone took their places and held hands as Stan led them in a quick prayer. “Amen.”

“So, Meredith, did you grow up in the city?” Irene asked.

“No, we had a little place in the ‘burbs. Dad was a mechanic and Mom worked part time at the library.”

“They must be very proud of you.” Stan said as he cut a piece of meatloaf.

“I think so.” She said, slicing open a baked potato. “Feels like they’re waiting for me to take the next step.”

“Oh? Are you bucking for editor-in-chief?”

“No, they know I work freelance. They’re holding their breath for grandkids.” She darted a glance at Toby.

Stan smiled and raised a glass. “Aren’t we all?”

Toby shook his head and rubbed his burning cheeks. “I swear, you say this stuff just to make me blush.”

“I’m not getting any younger, kid.”

“Oh, Stan. You’re awful.” Irene chided. “I wonder if I’ve read anything you worked on, Meredith.”

“You can call me Meri.”

“Meri Belzer.” Stan mused over a brussels sprout. “That’s got a nice ring to it. Let the merry bells keep ringing. Happy holidays, to you.”

Meredith whistled the tune as she watched Toby turn a deeper shade of red. “I’ve been working on a stack of how-to books over the last few months. Which books do you typically read?”

“I like mysteries, but I’ve been reading Agnes Angelton lately.”

“Oh, if you like her, you’d love Darcy Whittingham. I did some work for her last year.”

Toby waited for Meredith to buckle up. “Sorry about Dad.”

“What? He’s funny.”

“He certainly thinks so.”

“He’s no worse than mine.” She hugged her coat and rubbed her sleeves. “Drops hints like they’re depth charges.”

“Just the same, I appreciate you being a good sport about it.” Toby pulled away from the curb.

“Being a good sport? What’s the matter? Don’t you want to marry me and make a crop of kids?”

“Meri, I don’t think it’s a good idea to joke about stuff like that.”

“Who’s joking?”

“What?”

“Toby, I have never felt the way I feel right now. Never.”

“How do you feel?” He turned the corner and headed for the bypass.

“Comfortable.”

“Really? You look like you’re freezing.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you could crank the heat a bit, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I feel…”

He waited for her to finish her thought as he merged into traffic. “You feel?”

“I feel comfortable, Toby. Deep down inside. I haven’t felt that way for such a long time.”

“That’s good.” He nodded. “Comfortable. That’s a good thing.”

“You don’t get it, do you?”

He struggled for words, but could only manage a confused shrug.

“Ah! Men!” She shook her fists at the sky.

“Are you not comfortable anymore?”

She punched him in the arm. “Of course I am. That’s the point.”

“Did I get in the wrong car? Have we met? I’m really lost.”

She steepled her hands over her nose, trying to stifle a laugh. It started with a little snort.

Toby kept a nervous eye on her as he drove, and she seemed to lapse into hysterics. “Mind sharing the joke?”

“I wish you could understand.” She was laughing so hard it made her cry.

“We’ve got a couple minutes before we get there. Can you explain?”

“I don’t know if I can really explain it without spoiling everything.”

“Okay, we’ve leapt from confusingly mysterious to downright weird. You’ve got to give me something to work with.”

She took a deep breath, struggling to regain composure. “Look, there’s something you don’t know about me.”

“There’s a lot of stuff I don’t know about you. I can’t wait to learn.”

She wept piteously.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I take it back.”

“That’s- not- why- I’m- crying…” She pulled the collar of her coat up over her face.

“We’re almost there, Meri. You’ve got to throw me a bone.”

“Toby, you are so beautiful inside and out.”

“Um, thanks?” He took the exit Frank had told him to use. “That’s what made you comfortable?”

“Yes, of course.”

“And that’s good?”

“You’re so goofy and cute.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I didn’t believe…”

“That someone like me existed?”

“Exactly.”

“Right back at you. I definitely didn’t believe someone like you existed. I still can’t believe I’m not dreaming. Yeeowch!”

“Are you dreaming, Toby?”

“If I am, I think I just rolled over onto a mouse trap. Don’t pinch me so hard. I’m driving.”

She began laughing uproariously again. “Please, stop. I can’t breathe.”

“Okay, deep breaths. We’ll be there in a few. Try to pull it together or people are going to think we stopped off to make grandkids or something.”

She slowed her breathing and thought about work for a moment. “I’m…”

“Comfortable?”

“I’m breathing.”

“Always a good start. They’re not too far away. I’m just going to pull over here and we can get it together. Alright?”

“I’ll be okay. Just keep going.”

“I think it’s important that we talk about what just happened.”

‘Oh, no. I’ve ruined it. He thinks I’m crazy.’ She breathed deeply to try to forestall the tears. “Toby, I don’t think we can do this right now. Can we wait until we’re done at Frank’s?”

“If that’s how you feel.” He massaged his eyes. “I just need a minute.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about. It’s just a thing.” He crossed his arms on the steering wheel and rested his head on his sleeves.