Page 23 of The Curve
“I have to pee. Wait a minute.”
“Why? You gonna pee here in the bushes? At least let me look for a few leaves so you can pat yourself dry.”
“No!” I start laughing. The nervous kind that bubbles up unannounced.
“You’re so tense I can see your shoulders touching your ears,” he teases.
He rings the doorbell and an involuntary squeal leaves my mouth. “Oh God,” I say under my breath.
A barking dog sounds and footsteps can be heard approaching. It swings open and we’re greeted by the friendly faces of a great looking couple. She has thick dark hair with a beautiful grey streak running from her forehead to the tip of the cheek curl. He has silver white hair and a nose exactly like Atticus. Now I see where the boys got their looks.
“Welcome to our home, Charlotte. I’m Lucinda, Atticus’s mother.”
“Hello, Mrs. Swift. Thank you for having Mallory and I.”
She drops the hand of her husband and opens her arms for a hug. “Oh honey, call me Lucinda, please.”
I happily give her a hug and I feel myself relax with her hospitality. It may be okay after all.
“My turn! I’m Boone, the father of this piss ant standing next to you.”
“Hello, Boone.” We share a big hug and I feel his kiss on my cheek. “Your property and home are so beautiful. I’m not sure where to look first.”
“Atticus will have to give you the two-dollar tour. This is our little slice of heaven, God’s few acres.”
“Hey! What about me? Don’t I get a hello?” Atticus teases.
Lucinda lifts her hands in the air. “Darling boy. I’m so sorry you’ve been neglected. Come here and give your mama some sugar.”
Lucinda and Boone greet their son with as much warmth as they did me. As if they haven’t seen him in a long time. I sense no embarrassment from Atticus. There’s a big smile on my face because this scene is sweet, genuine, and out of the realm of my experience.
“Well, come inside. The family’s already half way through Grandma Birdie’s appetizers. Paige and Mallory are exploring the back six. Your daughter’s such a nice girl, by the way.”
“Thank you. She’s a little shy sometimes.”
“Well, not today. She fit right in.”
Atticus puts a hand on my back and we walk into the most beautiful home I’ve ever been in. Oh, the dark wooden floors against the ivory walls and the wide crown molding and spectacular lighting fixtures all make for my ideal dream home. One I’ll never have, but still fantasize about. It’s lottery-winnings dreams.
As we walk into the great room a gasp leaves my lips. The windows! The view! It’s that impressive.
“Everyone, this is Charlotte, say hello.”
A chorus of voices greet me in a cacophony of sounds. The dachshund Brick’s holding is put down and he runs to my feet, sniffing and making odd little noises.
“That’s the Colonel. He’s harmless,” Atticus says.
“Can I pet him?”
“He’d love it. He might lick you to death though,” says the grey-haired older woman.
The dog sniffs and approves. I can tell he likes me.
“That’s a first!” Boone says. “The Colonel usually takes his time deciding if he likes someone.”
“Charlotte, let me make this easier,” says Brick, taking the dark-haired pretty woman next to him by her shoulders. “This is Bristol, our sister.”
“Happy to meet you, I hear we share absolutely no affinity for baseball,” she says laughing.
