Page 79 of Keeping the Score

We arrive at Ben’s place with a big pot of Andi’s beer meatballs, along with wine and beer. I convinced Andi to make the meatballs with Pig Porter and they’re fucking delicious. And of course we have Tilly in her car seat. I set her on the floor. She fell asleep on the way over and stays asleep.

“I’ll take that food off your hands,” Smitty says, greeting us at the door.

“Haha. Make sure it gets to the kitchen.” I hand over the pot and Andi sets the bag of beverages on the floor while we take off our jackets.

“You can put your jackets in the spare bedroom,” Mabel calls from the kitchen.

I take Andi’s and drop both on the bed, then join her at the big kitchen counter where Mabel is pouring Andi a glass of rosé wine. Tilly snoozes on the floor at Andi’s feet.

“Thanks,” Andi says.

I grab a beer and crack it open. “Do you think there’s enough food?”

Mabel grins and surveys the many dishes on the counter. “You guys really came through.”

There’s a football game on the big TV in the living room where a bunch of the guys lounge with snacks and drinks.

“Anything I can help with?” Andi asks Mabel.

“I think we’re okay at the moment. I made the turkey yesterday, and Ben carved it.”

“Butchered it, more like,” Ben mutters. “I don’t know how to carve a fucking turkey.”

I laugh. “It can’t be that hard.”

“We watched on YouTube,” Mabel says. “I don’t know if it helped.”

“YouTube’s been very helpful for learning about baby things,” Andi says, smiling. “Since neither Ford nor I had a clue. Although all those videos about burping the baby turn out to be untrue. Apparently studies have shown that babies who aren’t burped don’t cry more or have more spit ups. You have to do your research.”

“What!” Mabel’s mouth drops open. “Everyone does that!”

“I know!” Andi nods.

“And I was so diligent about that,” I say sadly. “I was always so proud when I got a good belch.”

Andi laughs. “You still do it.”

I shrug. “I know it apparently doesn’t help, but it doesn’t hurt either.”

Mabel and Andi get into a conversation about their jobs. Mabel’s a librarian and Andi’s interested in that.

“The other day I was reading to some little kids and I was showing them pictures of animal feet and asking what animal they belong to,” Mabel says. “I showed them a picture of a squirrel foot, all skinny and hairy with long claws, and one kid said, ‘That’s my dad’s feet.’”

“Oh my God!” Andi cracks up, as do the rest of us listening. “Dad needs a pedicure.”

“Right?” Mabel giggles. “Kids are so fun. Do you know what the world’s smallest mammal is?”

I grin at Mabel’s random question.

“No,” Andi says, smiling. “Tell me.”

“The butterfly bat. It weighs less than an ounce!”

“Where do you find these bats?” Andi asks warily.

“Thailand.” Mabel makes a face. “I’d love to see them.”

“I don’t really like bats,” Andi confesses.

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