Page 111 of Flirtasaurus
I stay quiet and let her continue. I want to learn as much as I can from her before Ralph returns. Is that bad? Sneaky? I don’t know. But I’m hooked.
“When our dad left, Ralph became my mom’s de facto life partner in a lot of ways. I remember her calling him the little man of the house. I think he hated it, but I also think he got used to it. Took pride in it even. Our mom…” Lou seems to be searching for the words. “…wasn’t always in the best state of mind. She depended on him for a lot. Too much if you ask me. He babysat me, made my lunches, and took me to music and dance classes. Took me to my father-daughter dances when my dad inevitably disappointed me and didn’t show up each year. He even chose a local college and then deferred grad school until I was eighteen so he could be around for me.”
“Wow,” I exhale.
“Yeah. He’s the absolute best.” She pauses and takes a deep breath. “About a year or so ago, he came out to visit me in California and met the guy I was dating, who let’s just say, wasn’t so good to me. I couldn’t see it then, though. Or… I guess I saw it but didn’t want to admit it? Ralph lost it and punched him.”
“You’re kidding me. Ralph?”
“Beat him up pretty badly, actually.”
“Oh my God.”
I look up and see Ralph paying the cashier.
“Yeah. He protects the people he loves. Big time. I just worry sometimes that no one has ever looked out for him. No one protectshim. Including me. The worst part of that whole mess was that I… I took my boyfriend’s side and I said some pretty awful things to Ralph. Told him to stay out of my life and get a life of his own. He left the next morning and hasn’t spoken to me since. Until this morning. So thank you.” Lou’s eyes fill with happy tears. “So much.”
“Oh, I really don’t think it’s me you need to thank. Ralph is—”
“Ralph is what?”
Ralph is standing beside us with three bottles of ice cold water. He distributes them among us as Lou sneakily wipes away a rogue tear.
“Awesome,” I say. “Ralph is awesome.”
He leans down and gives me a kiss.
“Hey, check out my ammonite!” I show him my latest uncovered treasure. “Won’t this look great in my grandma’s hutch?”
“Hell yeah, it will. Hey, Lou. I hate to say this, but we need to start heading back. We have an important meeting this afternoon back at the museum.”
“No problem,” Lou says as she stands and brushes the dust off her pants. “I am just so… God! Relieved? Happy? Thrilled? All of the above and just really… grateful to see my brother again.”
“Me too, girl. Me too,” he says as he hugs her tight.
“Maybe we can catch a drink soon while I’m still here?” she asks hopefully as she pulls back. “I’d love to hop the megabus into Philly, see your place, check out the museum…”
“Absolutely,” he says. “But no sister of mine is taking the megabus. I’ll come pick you up. Megabus is a tin tube of despair with—”
“Alright, alright, don’t get him started.” I laugh. “It was awesome getting to know you, Lou. See you again soon, I hope?”
“Definitely,” she says. “I can’t wait.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
On Mondays, the museum is closed to patrons but open to staff for meetings, training, and exhibit building. Today, we have a museum-wide gathering of the staff to discuss all the particulars for the upcoming gala.
“I can’t believe the gala is in less than two weeks!” I say to Ralph as we walk down the street hand in hand.
“Excited?”
“I’m pumped, yeah! Oh, and get this… I, uh, I called my mom when I was getting cleaned up back at my apartment. She accepted my apology. Look at your face!”
“Am I making a face?” he asks with faux innocence.
“Yes, you are. That’s right, wise guy, I apologized.”
“That’s awesome.”
