Page 31 of Southern Comfort
“I just got home yesterday! You women are all alike with the exercise and diet bullshit. I already had that lecture today.”
My sister’s face changes. “What all women? Who’s in the kitchen? I hear someone.”
Here we go.
“That’s Kim. Landon’s friend. Kim! Come meet my daughter and her family!”
When I look at Kim she doesn’t know what to do, and asks me with her eyes.
“Come here. I want to introduce you.”
She puts the kitchen towel down and makes her way over, standing behind the couch. My sister and her family have the oddest looks on their faces, like what is happening is the rarest thing they could have imagined. Like they are meeting an alien from another planet. They are not completely wrong.
“Hi!” Kim waves to the interested parties.
They respond at once, in a friendly intrigued way. I know they are surprised anybody is here, let alone a female friend of mine. The kids don’t hide their impression or questions.
“Is that your girlfriend?”
I ignore Kendra’s question and Dad saves the moment.
“Kim is a friend of us both. She is making us a great lunch. Isn’t that nice?”
“Nice to meet you, Kim.”
Stacy has a look I read instantly. She is chomping at the bit to get the real story. It won’t happen today. I don’t even know the whole story myself. These are only the first few chapters.
“You too!” Kim says. “What a beautiful family you have.”
“Thanks. They are pretty cute. Except for this one today. He has a bad cold and earache.”
“Oh! Poor baby.”
“Speaking of, I have to postpone my trip there, Dad. We just have to push it ahead a couple weeks. Is that okay? I wouldn’t do it unless it was important.”
“Of course, honey. I’ve got Landon here.”
Mother freakin fucker. How am I going to do this?
My father starts fidgeting like his grandson.
“Sorry. I’ll call you tomorrow, Stacy. I have to piss and it takes a village.”
The five- and seven-year-olds start laughing. Grandpa said a dirty word again.
“Okay, Dad. We love you. Thanks for being understanding.”
What about Landon? I’m the one under the gun. If I didn’t love my sister and her band of hooligans so much I’d be pissed. Although she is being pulled in different directions too. Guess I’m a dick. The kid needs his mother. When I look back, Kim is sending me compassion with her eyes. She gets it. Thankfully someone does.
The remnants of our meal takes up the kitchen counters and island and Kim and I work to clear the space. She rinses dishes and utensils as I load the dishwLayton. It’s fun. Everything is with her. Dad is snoring with his mouth open on the couch, his belly rising and falling. Buttons of his new Pendleton shirt sent from Lex and Holly strain with each push. Think he went to a 3X over the last year.
“What are you going to do about not having Stacy here? Who is going to take care of your dad? You need to be at the bar, right?”
“I don’t know yet. I might be able to convince Frank to work more hours, but that’s not going to be easy. One thing is certain though. I need someone here with him when I do need to work. At night till after two. Sometimes during the day. That’s the thing. Where will I find the person who can flow with that?”
“It isn’t going to be easy.”
“There’s the dogs. The physical therapist starts tomorrow. The things that need to be done on the property. It’s all starting to sink in just what a huge job this is gonna be.”
