by Ariel Tachna
“Here, Gerald, take Abby into the living room and set her next to the couch,” Bill said, holding out the baby seat.
Gerald amiably hefted the seat and moved to touch Brett lightly on the back so that he’d walk in front of him. “That way,” Gerald nudged.
“Actually, no, I need his help since he’s good with a cookie sheet,” Frank said from where he was pulling a big, deep tray of bubbling lasagna out of the bottom oven.
Brett grabbed the second cookie sheet, dumped the bread into the bread basket, and followed Gerald and Frank into the dining room.
The girls were running circles around the large table as Edna and Marjorie gabbed over them; Bill was setting out silverware, easily dodging the kids. Gerald veered off to the right through to the living room beyond the dining room and set the baby seat in the floor out of the way before returning to the dining room.
“All right, girls. Time to eat,” Marjorie said, and the two little ones took one more lap before climbing into what were obviously their chairs, both with strapped-on booster seats. Marjorie sat next to one of them. There were three seats to each side of the huge, groaning table, Bill at the foot on the other side of the kids, and Frank stood at the head.
“Sit, sit, Brett,” he urged as Edna sat next to him, leaving two side seats between her and Bill.
“So nice to have a full table,” Edna said with a smile.
“You think you made enough food, Mom?” Marjorie asked, surveying the feast.
“Well, the whole family visiting, you know,” Gerald’s mother said blithely.
Gerald chuckled and sat down next to his mom, pushing the seat back for Brett and looking up at him, eyes warm and affectionate.
Brett smiled and took the empty seat, a flush of warmth filling him at the thought that he might be one of the family too. He missed having his parents close enough to see regularly. From the looks of it, though, he’d gained a second set of parents, something he hadn’t been sure he’d ever find. Until Gerald. Beneath the cover of the table, he found Gerald’s knee and squeezed gently.
His lover’s hand almost immediately covered his and squeezed in return.
“Hannah, not until we say grace,” Marjorie scolded as the older of the two girls leaned to snitch a piece of garlic bread.
“All right then,” Frank said, holding his hands out to each side, and the family began clasping hands.
Lifting Gerald’s hand in his and joining hands with Bill, Brett bowed his head as the family blessed the food in unison. He committed the words to memory, hoping he’d have plenty of other occasions to say them along with Gerald’s relatives.
“Now eat up!” Edna declared, and they started passing empty plates to her to get large, sauce-dripping slabs of meaty lasagna with plenty of cheese.
Gerald picked up the salad bowl in front of him and got some on his plate before passing it to Brett. Then he leaned to look around the table, and he snagged two bottles of salad dressing, setting them within easy reach. Brett looked at them and chose the vinaigrette.
“Hey, don’t use all the vinaigrette,” Bill warned. “Gerald will arm-wrestle you for it.”
There was some laughing around the table as Gerald made a funny face at him and opened the bottle of ranch.
“You don’t like vinaigrette?” Brett asked Gerald curiously as he poured a little on his salad.
“Uncle Gerald hates it,” Hannah interrupted before Gerald could reply. “He teases Mom and Dad and Grandpa all the time because they eat so much of it.”
Gerald’s face screwed up. “I don’t like anything vinegary.”
“He won’t even eat my homemade slaw,” Edna said knowingly.
“I’ll eat his share too,” Brett offered, holding his plate out for a serving of the lasagna Frank was dishing up. “I love slaw.”
“Wonderful, because I don’t like slaw either,” Bill murmured.
Gerald chuckled. “Mom loves her slaw. Not many other people do, but Mom does.”
Edna bapped Gerald in the arm, only drawing a snicker from her son.
“Well, I’m looking forward to trying it,” Brett insisted. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had fresh slaw. Probably not since I moved away from home.”
“I thought the farm was your home?” Marjorie asked.
“Farm! Horses!” Emily said, bouncing in her chair until Bill got her calmed down by handing her a carrot from the raw veggie tray.
“It is,” Brett replied with a grin for Emily, “but I only moved back about a year ago. My parents ran the stable until they were ready to retire, and that’s when I came home.”
“Can we see the horses?” Hannah asked eagerly. Marjorie shrugged apologetically to Brett.
“Of course,” Brett said with a smile. “You’re welcome to come out anytime. I’ve even got a pony the perfect size for you and Emily if you’d like to ride sometime.”
Gerald snorted. Brett was talking about Tiny, probably.
“That would be a lovely weekend trip. Maybe we’ll all come along,” Edna said.
“Haven’t seen a horse up close before, I don’t think,” Frank said as he spooned up some green beans.
“Sure you did, when we went to the rodeo last year,” Bill said.
“I don’t have any broncs.” Brett laughed. “But you’re more than welcome to come out for the weekend. I’ve got plenty of space at the farmhouse for you to all stay.”
“Speaking of space, Dad, can I borrow your truck?” Gerald asked. “I want to move some things out of the house before the realtor starts showing it.”
“Realtor?” Frank asked.
Gerald just nodded since his mouth was full of lasagna.
“But you love your house!” Marjorie exclaimed. “Why are you putting it on the market?”
Gerald’s brow furrowed as he chewed and looked at his sister.
“Yes, Gerald, it’s a beautiful house,” Edna added. “You spent so long looking for just the right one.”
“Where are you taking the furniture?” Bill asked.
“To Brett’s,” Gerald said matter-of-factly after swallowing.
“But why?” Marjorie asked.
“We’re getting married,” Gerald said before taking another bite of lasagna and beginning to poke at his salad.
It wasn’t exactly the way Brett would have chosen to tell Gerald’s family, but then, this was Gerald’s family, so he figured his lover knew best how to handle things.
“Oh, well then,” Edna said with a bright smile and a shrug. “That makes sense.”
“Married?” Marjorie repeated, staring at her brother.
Gerald raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes, married.”
“But that’s wonderful! You’re getting married! Finally!” Marjorie exclaimed, practically bouncing in her chair.
“Great news, Gerald,” Bill said.
“Well, Brett,” Frank said. “You must be a special guy. We didn’t think we’d ever find someone to put up with Gerald.”
“He is special,” Gerald defended.
“Oh, that’s just so sweet,” Marjorie said with a happy sigh.
“I’m thrilled Gerry will have me,” Brett finally managed to get out. It was really difficult to hold back a laugh over the different responses. And now he could see where Gerald got his easygoing nature; he was just like Edna.
“Gerry?” Marjorie echoed.
“You call him Gerry?” Edna asked, and then she laughed.
“You know he would never answer to that growing up?” Frank said as he leaned forward toward Brett, waving his fork.
“No, I didn’t know that,” Brett said, brow furrowing as he glanced to Gerald.
“Because somebody,” Gerald said with a significant glare in his sister’s direction, “always called me a pipsqueak mouse.”
Brett grinned as Marjorie defended herself and the two siblings began squabbling.
“Now, kids, stop arguing and start eating,” Frank scolded.
Gerald sighed and looked toward B
rett, a smile hovering on his lips.
“I can’t believe you just announce you’re getting married over lasagna,” Marjorie pouted.
“When else would he announce it?” Edna asked. “When he’s walking out the door?”
And just like that, the conversation moved on, marriage announcement accepted, and Emily started talking about her new puppy while Marjorie bemoaned cleaning the carpets all the time.
“Why sell the house, Gerald?” Bill asked. “You could spend time there when you want a break from the farm.”
“It’s got a lot of equity in it,” Gerald explained. “With the markets, it would be better spent in investments right now.” He picked up the basket of bread. “Garlic bread?”
“Investments are good in auto stocks right now,” Bill said knowledgeably, taking a piece without breaking the conversation. “The stock is so damn cheap, and you know it’ll have to go up at least some.”
“Bill works at Merrill Lynch,” Marjorie explained as she added green beans to a protesting Hannah’s plate.
“I’m going to diversify,” Gerald assured him. “Brett has some great plans for the farm, so we’ll invest some funds there too.”
“Business investments, good plan,” Bill said, nodding to Brett.
Brett just chuckled. Didn’t seem like much fazed this family. He liked it. When Bill asked more about the business, Brett was happy to chat about it.
The friendly dinner went on through dessert until Gerald begged for mercy and led Brett into the living room where the baby was miraculously still sleeping. “I think I’m going to explode. I’ve not lived in this house for twenty years, and Mom still treats me like I never take care of myself.”
Brett chuckled. “I think it’s part of being a mother. My mom’s the same way.”
“Where are your parents now?” Edna asked, joining them in the living room. “You mentioned they’d retired from the farm, but not what they’re doing now.”
“They’ve moved to Florida,” Brett replied. “Dad said he’d had enough of Connecticut winters to last a lifetime. And Mom says his arthritis is much better now that they’re down there. The sun bakes it out of him.”
“Now there’s an idea, Edna,” Frank said.
“We’re not moving to Florida,” Edna said forbiddingly. “Not as long as I have grandchildren around to spoil. And now I have a chance at more!”
Brett’s brow flew up as Frank rolled his eyes and settled in the recliner, leaning back in it comfortably.
“Get comfy, Dad,” Gerald joked, meaning both the chair and Connecticut.
Edna wrinkled her nose. “We’ve lived here more than fifty years. Another twenty, give or take, won’t hurt those bones.”
“Maybe you can vacation in Florida,” Gerald suggested.
“I’m sure my parents can tell you all the good places to stay,” Brett offered. “My mother’s a bargain shopper extraordinaire.”
“There you go, Edna,” Frank said dryly. “Another bargain shopper.”
“That sounds lovely, Brett. Thank you,” Edna said.
Then the baby started crying.
“Wow, Mom, we’ve got to go. Horses to take care of, you know?” Gerald said swiftly. Edna actually snickered and stood up to walk them out.
Brett followed Gerald to the door, pausing to shake hands again with his lover’s parents. “Thanks for having me, and let us know when you want to come out to the farm. You’re welcome anytime.”
Frank nodded. “And you’re welcome here anytime, Brett. Gerald, you just call when you’re ready for that truck, and Bill and I will come over to help.”
“Thanks, Dad. Great food, Mom,” Gerald said.
“Wait!” Marjorie called, hurrying in from the kitchen with two paper bags. “Food for the road!”
Gerald glanced at Brett and rolled his eyes. “Thanks, Marjorie,” he said as he accepted the bags and a kiss.
“And I don’t suppose I’ll hear the end of the horses until we bring the girls out, so I’ll call. Is that okay?” Marjorie asked Brett.
“It’s fine,” Brett assured her with a smile. “You really are welcome anytime.”
“Great to meet you,” Marjorie assured him. “We’ll talk about the wedding soon! Lots of plans to make.” And she bustled off in Abby’s direction.
“C’mon, Brett,” Gerald murmured, edging out the door.
“You two come back Sunday for lunch, all right?” Edna called after them.
Gerald waved at her awkwardly and continued to the car. “No way am I taking diaper duty,” he murmured.
Brett laughed as he followed his lover out to the car. “Ah, the joys of having siblings. Makes me glad my sister isn’t local anymore. I see her a couple of times a year, just long enough to get my fill. And then she’s back to Virginia.”
“Oh, I love Marjorie and Bill and the girls. It’s just I don’t love diapers, and apparently Uncle Gerald needs to have those skills, you know?” He carefully put a bag each in the back floorboards.
Brett laughed again. “Not really, but I can imagine,” he sympathized. “I like your family. Your mom’s great.”
“A lot of people say I take after her,” Gerald said as he started the car.
Brett chuckled. “I can think of worse people for you to take after.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Gerald agreed. “We’ve always gotten along really well. Most all my family does.”
Somehow, Brett was not surprised. “Take us home, baby.”
SETTING down his toothbrush, Brett headed back into the bedroom, grinning when he saw Gerald curled up on the bed, reading a magazine. “You’re just asking for it, aren’t you?”
Gerald glanced up through his glasses with a glint in his eyes. “Who? Me?” he said.
“Don’t give me that innocent look. You know exactly what your glasses do to me,” Brett said, crossing the room to the bed.
Gerald smiled and let the magazine drop to the covers. “Oh yes, I most certainly do,” he drawled.
Brett crawled up the bed over Gerald’s reclining form until he could kiss the smile off his lover’s lips. “Just make sure you keep on doing it.”
“I plan to.”
ARIEL TACHNA lives in southwestern Ohio with her husband, her daughter and son, and their cat. A native of the region, she has nonetheless lived all over the world, having fallen in love with both France, where she found her career and her husband, and India, where she dreams of retiring some day. She started writing when she was twelve and hasn’t looked back since. A connoisseur of wine and horses, she’s as comfortable on a farm as she is in the big cities of the world.
Visit Ariel’s website at http://www.arieltachna.com/
MADELEINE URBAN is a down-home Kentucky girl who’s been writing since she could hold a crayon. Although she has written and published on her own, she truly excels when writing with co-authors. She lives with her husband, who is very supportive of her work, and two canine kids who only allow her to hug them when she has food. She wants to live at Disney World, the home of fairy dust, because she believes that with hard work, a little luck, and beloved family and friends, dreams really can come true.
Visit Madeleine’s website at http://www.madeleineurban.com/