Page 71 of Another Fox Bites the Dust

Mom scoops mashed potatoes onto her plate, then passes the dish to Lynn on her right. “His teachers always said he was the brightest student they ever had. Every single one, all through elementary and high school.”

“Voted most likely to succeed in high school,” Dad says. “Valedictorian and had a full scholarship to almost any college in this country. They were begging him to apply for admission.”

“He graduated top of his class at Columbia.” Mom reaches over and touches my hand with hers briefly. “You had such a bright future.”

Mindy finishes chewing the food in her mouth and then speaks. “He still has a bright future. He’s one of the most talented people I’ve worked with.”

Mom’s head bobs up and down. “Oh, yes. I’m sure he is. Our Luke has excelled at anything he puts his mind to. He’s always wanted to be a doctor.”

Vanessa, who’s half turned in her seat, helping Cassie cut up her turkey, interjects. “Sorry, Mindy. They’re still in denial.”

“What do you mean?” Mom asks.

Vanessa hands Cassie a fork and turns around, scooting her chair closer to the table. “They haven’t finished grieving the fact that they won’t have a doctor in the family.”

Dad blinks, a frown pressing the corners of his lips downward. “He’s still a doctor. Just because he’s taking a break doesn’t mean the degree goes away.”

Before anyone can follow up on that statement, Granny Bea interjects, tapping Mom on the shoulder. “Will you pass the gravy, Catherine? Who wants to get their butt kicked at Monopoly after dinner?”

Diana shouts, “Me, me!” Cassie following suit, likely because the four-year-old has no idea what she’s agreeing to.

My eyes lock with Mindy’s across the table, exchanging a sort of silent communication. I wink at her.

Her mouth twitches, then Lynn says something to her and she looks away, the moment broken.

After dinner, everyone ends up in the living room, either watching football or crowding one of the three game tables set up throughout the room.

I sit next to Granny Bea on the couch. “Thanks for the assist in there.”

Her lips pinch. “Your parents need to let go of the past.”

“They mean well.”

“It’s not fair to you. It’s like they can’t accept that it’s your life and not theirs.”

“It will all work out.”

She sighs. “I know it, child. I like your girlfriend.” She tilts her head over to where Mindy is sitting on the floor with Diana playing old maid.

Diana points at a card and says something, and Mindy laughs.

My heart clenches.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I tell Granny Bea.

She pats my hand. “Don’t worry. She will be.”

Before I can correct her assumption, Adam bounds over and drags me off to play Trivial Pursuit with him and Daniel.

Daniel groans and waves a hand at me. “We don’t want him to play. He remembers everything.”

Adam laughs and hands me the die.

A few hours later, Cassie is cranky and whining, so Lynn and Daniel leave to get the kids home to bed. They don’t live far, Lynn’s house is three blocks away and Daniel’s is a block beyond that.

As is our usual custom, we stand around saying goodbye for twenty minutes. When they finally depart, they take a big chunk of the noise with them.

“I’m heading up to bed, too.” Granny Bea heaves herself up from the couch.

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