“You and Kelly doing Ok?” I asked.
He grinned. “Better than Ok. I only wish we’d gotten together sooner. She’s leaving in a week and a half.”
“You stickin’ around after dinner?”
“Nah, I promised her we’d head up the mall and hang out. I gotta get her home before 10:00. She got in trouble last time we stayed out to late.”
“You spending time at her house much?”
“Not really,” he said.
“You should. Charm her mother. Get her on your side. It’ll help.”
“Why?”
“The problems like staying out late usually don’t become such big problems, when her Mom’s got your back. It’s just good sense.”
He nodded, closing the dishwasher. “Thanks. Maybe I’ll drop in when I take her home.”
“Not a bad idea. Don’t make it too late. Get her home 15 minutes early.” Damn, I was beginning to sound like Dad.
We wiped down the counters and joined the crowd outside. It was a nice night out, and there was more seating on the patio, than in the living room.
Penny hopped up when we got there, and I sat where she’d been, letting her climb in my lap afterward. Colin thanked Aunt Marie for dinner, and took Kelly by the hand. She seemed to be reluctant to leave, and made sure to give everyone hugs before she left. She was a nice girl. Colin was lucky.
Penny was the only one doing any lap sitting. The moms looked nice, but nothing too crazy. I was looking forward to getting my girl upstairs for a bit, when she shot me down. “I’m going out early tomorrow to get stuff for school. Gotta leave soon. Tomorrow afternoon’s wide open,” she said to me softly.
I pouted, and she giggled. “I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, Ok?”
“Promise?”
I got a toe-curling, tonsil cleaning. “Sealed with a kiss,” she whispered.
She said her goodbyes as well, and I walked her to the car. “We’ll wash your car tomorrow too. Half-time break,” I teased.
“Looking forward to it.” Another big kiss, and lots of rubbing, left me with a hardon, when she pulled out of the driveway.
Mom met me just inside the doorway. “Jeremy?”
I pulled her in my arms, quieting her with a kiss. “Mom?”
She gave me a sheepish grin. “I… I need to spend tonight with your father.”
Reaching down, I gave her buns a nice little squeeze. “You don’t have to explain it to me or make excuses, Mom. He’s your husband.”
“It’s been too long. I have to do it.”
“It’s Ok. You should. It’s cool.”
“You’re going to sleep with Marie, aren’t you?”
“Yes. She’s not you, but I love her damn near as much. You have a problem with it?”
She sighed. “I… I guess not.”
“Good. Spend the night with him. I’d like you to come back to me tomorrow night.”
She melted into me. “I will. I promise.”
“Don’t promise. See what Dad needs. Take care of him first. We’ve been pretty rough on him.”
Mom snorted. “Rough? I gave him my sister, Jeremy!”
Not worth arguing that it was me who gave her to him. I grabbed Mom by the buns, and lifted her, making her squeal like a kid. “Body hug, Mom. Wrap me up.”
She wrapped her legs around my waist, locking her ankles, and her arms encircled my neck. I gave her a big kiss, and started walking with her. “I’m heavy, Jeremy,” Mom whined.
“No you aren’t. Be good now,” I said, giving her butt cheeks a good squeeze. I carried her out to the porch, where Aunt Marie was seated next to Dad, chatting. I stepped in front of Dad. “I think this is yours. I found it wandering around out front.”
I leaned over and set her in his lap, as Mom let go of me. He laughed. “I was wondering where I’d misplaced her.”
She turned wriggling to get comfy, while he pulled her in close.
I thought about it. If things had still been awkward between us, there could’ve been some bad ways to take the teasing. “Don’t worry,” I told him. “I’ll keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn’t stray.”
He nodded. “At least not beyond the house.”
I sat beside him, and patted my lap. “Aunt Marie?”
She gave me a look like I was being presumptuous, but she made her way over. “Pretty sure of yourself.”
I slipped my hand into her shirt, caressing her side. “You’re the one that told me this was our night.”
She proved to me once again, why she was the best kisser around. “I guess I did. You got a problem with that?”
I was going to make a joke, but couldn’t. “No. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
It was the perfect end to a fabulous day. The four of us, chatting easily, Dad and I holding our girls. The hugs and kisses. Talking about Colin and Kelly, school, plans for after the summer.
“What’s the latest on Aunt Marie and Colin movin’ in?” I asked.
“Seems like the smart thing to do,” Dad said.
“We’re going to get the house staged, and fix up our space here,” Aunt Marie said. “Hope to put the house on the market in the next week or so. The old one is way more than we need.”
Mom laughed. “And with Colin going off to college, you pretty much have to, don’t you? Split the proceeds with Number Two? Wasn’t that the deal?”
Aunt Marie nodded. “He has a name, Alice. Jeff wasn’t a bad guy. The best of the lot.”
“Isn’t it a long commute to your job?” I asked.
“Silly. I don’t need that job. I just kept it to keep me busy. I needed to interact with adults a little. I don’t think I’ll be working anymore. Maybe something fun, some non-profit perhaps. If I do, I’m sure I can find something nearby.”
Dad nodded. “It’s not any drain on this household. We can take care of them easily enough. We have the space.”
“Especially with me moving a few hours away,” I added.
Dad made an announcement. “I’m gonna go into the office for a half-day tomorrow. Get caught up on a few things.”
“You sure, honey?” Mom asked.
“Yeah. I’m feeling a lot better. Most of the bruising is starting to fade. Only my hand is giving me any trouble, so I guess I’ll be doing a lot of two-finger typing.”
I got a little surprise. Aunt Marie was going to be moving into my room, once I left. Like the Master, it had its own bathroom, while the other two guest rooms shared a bathroom. “You don’t mind, do you?” Aunt Marie asked.
“Which room do I get when I come back?”
Aunt Marie kissed me softly. “Ours.”
Alright. That was clear enough. “Nope. I don’t mind at all.”