Page 61 of Homecoming

Bertha was waiting at the door to greet them with hugs. “I’m so glad everything is okay, sweetheart.”

Kara clung to her grandmother. “Me, too.”

“And they say pregnancy is the most natural thing in the world, right?”

Kara laughed. “Is it, though?”

“Not if you ask me. I had four chaotic pregnancies followed by four easy deliveries.”

“I hope I get the easy delivery.”

“You will. I’m sure of it. Are you hungry?”

“I could eat something.”

“I made a huge pot of chicken noodle soup earlier. How does that sound?”

“Perfect.”

“Dan?”

“Yes, please. Thank you, Bertha.”

“My pleasure.”

Bertha served bowls of soup with crusty bread and sat with them, sipping from a bottle of Miller High Life while they ate.

“I thought you were a Manhattan kind of gal,” Dan said.

“Only on the weekends, never on school nights.”

“Ah, I see. I used to drink Miller High Life in high school.”

“That’s a scandal. You weren’t old enough to drink beer then.”

He grinned. “Don’t tell my mother.”

“What’s it worth to you, pal?”

“A lot. She’d smack me upside the head even now.”

“I think I’ll like this mother of yours.”

“She’s great,” Kara said. “I love his whole family.”

“Nice when that happens.”

“Did you like Grandpa’s family?” Kara asked Bertha. “I don’t remember you saying much about them.”

“They didn’t like me. They thought I was too rough around the edges for their refined son. His mother suggested I give up lobstering after I married so I could be a more traditional wife.”

Kara nearly choked on her soup at the thought of anyone saying such a thing to fiercely independent Bertha. “She did not say that!”

Bertha chuckled. “She sure did, along with pointing out that being a lobster fisherwoman isn’t very ladylike.”

“Wow. Did she know how lucky she was that you didn’t punch her in the face?”

“I don’t think she ever realized that, but my sweetie did. Tony held my hand to keep me from overreacting.”

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