Page 44 of The River in Spring
I untangle myself from his arms and head for the kitchen. “We are. Let me get rid of this.”
“Dove, what did you do? Am I going to be happy?”
“That’s entirely up to you, darling.”
He swings the front door open and watches as the Lyon family park and get out of their cars. I join him and link my arm in his. Every person is carrying a covered dish. Thank God they agreed so easily, otherwise it would be take-out. Did Nobel tell them I suck as a cook? I would if I were him. That way I will never be expected to whip up a gourmet meal. A person can’t be good at everything. I prefer singing and fucking as opposed to any of the other talents.
“The boys came!” he says, eyeing Sam and Teddy.
I know he is glad they are here. At sixteen it wasn’t a given until I enlisted their services. The wide smile on Nobel’s face cannot be faked. I knew it would be this way. They are way too joyful a family to be anything other than happy to be celebrating each other.
Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong.Van leaves his finger on the doorbell despite the fact we are standing at the open door.
“The birthday brigade has arrived!” The voice carries over the music as he walks in.
“What did you bring, brother?” Nobel says, eyeing the foil covered casserole dish. “Don’t think I know your specialty.”
“Yes, you do. I brought Grandma’s cold pasta salad.”
Nobel lifts the corner of the foil. “I have literally never seen this before. But it looks good.”
Van knows he’s busted. “Okay maybe I got the recipe from the back of the mayonnaise jar. It was easy. Give a man a break.”
He gets a slap on the back. “You’re right. I appreciate the effort.”
“Thankfully, I will always be a worse cook than any of you, so you are safe,” I say, exchanging cheek kisses as he heads for the kitchen.
“Welcome!” I say to the approaching guests. Aurora and Gaston come with a tote bag of goodies as well as two shallow glass dishes of family recipes.
“Hello, darling! Happy birthday!
He gets kisses from both parents.
Aargon carries a large indoor plant.
“A plant in my house?’ Nobel says as it passes in front of him.
“Yeah. You need it. Mom said.”
“Okay then. I guess I can keep it alive.”
“Everyone! Put the food on the kitchen island. We’ll serve ourselves from there,” I say, being team leader.
Aargon calls to Van. “Hey why didn’t you bring the stripper?”
The teenagers find this very amusing. Teddy is nodding like he knows what his father is asking about. Come to think of it he probably does. To the person, they are open with each other. Why would it be any different for father and son?
Van sends a sneer in return. “She isn’t a stripper. She just works at a gentlemen’s club,” he says chuckling. “As an interpretive dancer.”
“And so what if she is?” I add, sticking my nose in their business.
Lucky for me, Aurora is of the same mind. “That’s right! Don’t judge so harshly, boys. You don’t know her story or the circumstances of her life.”
Not one of them comes back with a witty retort or different opinion. They do not even mind that their mother still calls them boys. They find her charming. It’s obvious. And she deserves the title. They are each man enough to know Aurora’s opinion is not formed lightly. I think they respect her so much they listen. This is very encouraging. If ever Nobel and I have a child, they will have a smart Grandmother and a great role model. God. Did I just go there?
“But she did have a beautiful body,” she adds much to the men’s delight. They start talking at once. For this they have all kinds of things to say, including Sam and Teddy who never met the woman.
Parish and Scarlett bring up the rear with a rolling cooler and their dog Boo in tow. As soon as they’re out of the car Maudie starts barking excitedly. I have never heard her strong bark. She can’t sustain it, but the will is there. It’s so touching. This is going to be the best party.
