Aileen
“Let’s start eating!” Sarah said, picking up the knife and fork. Dave and Mom started eating as well.
For the rest of the evening, Grandpa ate with a grim expression on his face. He didn’t talk with anyone, but Sarah made some small chats and we were having fun altogether.
I really enjoyed their company cause it felt like we were one big family. During childhood there was only mom and dad, then dad left, and we were alone. And then she found Dave and now we are one big family with two other members.
I never knew what it felt like to have a grandpa cause, Mom’s parents got divorced when she was little so she grew up between foster homes from another.
Dad never spoke about his side of the family, but he wasn’t close with his family either.
So, this is my first time having a grandpa who unexpectedly hates me too much and a grandma who’s too sweet but younger than my mom.
I know it’s a weird family dynamic but who cares? As long as we get along that’s all that it matters.
And there’s nothing wrong with having more people who love and care about you.
“By the way, Dave, do you know whom I ran into the other day in LA?” Sarah comments, turning to Dave while chewing on the fried shrimp.
“Who?”
“Hm…have a guess. It’s from our freshmen year at college. The one you got along with during your basketball practice. But he moved away 1 year later because of his father’s transfer.”
“He? You mean…..” Dave thought over it for a minute before answering.
“Uh….”
“Come on, how could you forget him? You were so close!” she insisted, tugging at his arm.
“He seems to have a dull memory,” Mom laughs.
“Come on, are you getting old or what?” Sarah added playfully, pulling on his cheeks.
“Don’t pull so hard, it hurts,” Dave grunted. “Is it Jose from Tennessee?”
“Yeah! You got it correct! Here’s your reward,” she forced some cheese with garlic into his mouth.
Dave choked on it for a second but somehow gulped it down with water.
“Where did you meet Jose though? How’s he been? We never saw him after graduating college.” He asked casually as if he hadn’t choked a second ago.
“Uh….. in the airport. He was going to Miami from LA. And guess what? He’s married with two kids. His wife is an Asian woman with a model-like figure and hardly looks her age.”
“What? That Jose is now a father. Can’t believe it,” he said, sipping on the wine.
“Yeah, I found it unbelievable as well. But, somehow, I learned to accept that people do change over time. We are not the carefree students we used to be before. It’s normal to have a wife and kids at this age.”
Dave sighed, putting aside his glass of wine. “That’s true. We are the exception it seems.”
Sarah narrowed her eyes at him the very minute. “Exception? Yeah for me. But, you already have a wife with a young daughter. What else do you need? You can plan a second baby, but that’s totally up to you, right?”
“You’ve already achieved what any man ever wanted to achieve. Don’t brag about it.”
Why’s she bringing up the topic of a baby in front of Mom and Dave? What if Mom gets a misunderstanding from all this? I hope not.
“Shut up, I’m not bragging,” he yelled. “And if you are so hooked on having kids, why not ask my Dad here? Maybe he can help you out? I bet he can hardly go down the stairs without feeling breathless.”
All of a sudden, Grandpa stopped eating and looked at Dave with a stoic expression hearing his statement.
Mom and Sarah were both shocked, and I could feel the embarrassment on my face.
Why on earth did he have to make a stupid comment like that? He wants his dad to have kids with Sarah at this age. That’s literally an insult and now he’s insulting him by calling him old as well? He really doesn’t know when to stop, does he?
“What did you say?” Grandpa inquired, putting aside his cutleries. “Did you just call me old and breathless? I’m not that old, you know. I can still make women lose their breath even without breaking a sweat.”
Hey, come on. Where is this conversation heading? Do they even remember that I’m sitting in front of them?
They are completely ignoring my presence and letting their mouths run off.
“Oh, really now?” Dave sarcastically comments. “I don’t think Sarah is getting any action though. I can tell just by looking at her. She’s sitting here trying to hold her laugh. Cause she can’t laugh in front of you or else it’ll be an insult.”
Sarah’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth the very minute.
“W-what are you saying, Dave? I’m not laughing. Don’t just make up things.”
Grandpa looked at Dave with an angry expression. I bet his pride is hurt by his comment.
“I want to eat in peace. Don’t talk while eating. It’s disturbing me.” he stated, continuing to eat as if nothing happened here.
He must be quite angry but is trying to keep his cool so Dave’s words won’t affect him.
He doesn’t want to lash out, not in front of me at least.
Dave had a smile of victory plastered on his face. I bet it feels great to win a fight against your ruthless dad.
The dinner came to a close with the dessert that I called for. The fruit parfait was something I hadn’t tried before.
While I ate, everyone finished eating. Grandpa got up to make a call and Dave went to the washroom. Mom went to see the rooftop view.
Sarah and I were the only ones sitting at the table. And she was fixing up her make-up.’
“Are you sitting here for me?” I asked while I was halfway up and ne eating the parfait.
She stopped what she was doing to look at me.
“Why do you think that?”
“Uh…I don’t know, Just thought about it. Cause you could fix your make-up somewhere else but chose to sit here. So, I thought.”
Why am I fumbling? We talked before, didn’t we?
“I’m not sitting here for any particular reason. I just don’t want to face that old geezer at the moment. So, taking my break here. He must be in a bad mood anyway.”
“Uh…. I see…”
Dave, you really need to stop running your mouth everywhere. See you caused problems for her now.
“That parfait looks good. How’s it?” she asked, looking a bit interested.
“Um…. it’s good. Have a taste,” I offered her some with the same spoon I was eating from without thinking.
She was a bit hesitant to see how forward I was. If I was that pushy against a stranger she would be acting this way as well.
I’m an idiot.
“It’s okay, you can take a different spoon”
She ate from my hands with the same spoon I ate.
Then licked her lips. “Hm…it’s really good. I like the caramel flavor with truffles chocolate syrup and cream. Why have I never had it before?”
“It’s my first time eating it as well. It’s good,” I replied.
“I will make sure to order some when I come to eat here again next week.” She said, going back to continue fixing her make-up.
“Do you usually attend parties like this most of the time?” I asked, feeling curious to know about her lifestyle.
“Me? Uh, yeah. 5th or 6th times a month. Sometimes it goes up to way more than that. I travel a lot because of him. That’s why we don’t see each other so often.”
“I see…. do you like traveling?”
“Yeah, a lot. Dave likes it as well. He used to hike a lot in his college days.”
College days? Do they know each other for a long time? It’s the only question that I’ve been meaning to ask her.
For how long do they know each other for?
“Did you used to hike together with him?” I asked, carefully.
Suddenly, she stopped putting on the concealer and looked me dead in the eye.
“Why are you asking me that question? Do I look like I love to hike? I never go out without heels. Hikiishis just not for me.”
“Uh…. That’s true. It’s not for everyone,” I stuttered.
She’s practically answering all my questions without a thought. I’m really good at communication.
“So”
“Sorry to keep you ladies waiting,” Dave said, sitting down between me and Sarah.
“It took you a long time to get back. Did you eat something weird or what?” Sarah asked, putting aside her make-up set.
“Me? Nah, I just bumped into your husband a few minutes ago. And he gave me some lectures on my behavior during the dinner. That’s why it took so long to come back.”
“Haha, good for you trying to pull his leg,” Sarah chuckled, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. “You know he doesn’t like to be teased.”
“Oh, I don’t care about what he likes or not. It’s the least bit of my concern. Anyway, I’m dead tired. I just want to get home and sleep like a log.”
“Me too, but I have to get up early for a manicure appointment. And then meet some recruiters for my new small business.”
“Small business? Which brand?” he inquired.
He was so immersed in talking with her that he also forgot that I was also sitting there.
They really get along so well. She must be right around his age. That’s why the chemistry is so great.
Wait, why am I bothering so much over it? They are just friends I guess.
What’s the point of suspecting them? I must be out of my mind.
In the first place, she doesn’t look like someone who would cross anyone’s boundaries.
I don’t need to worry.