Till We Meet Again (17 page)

     “It’s better now that you’re here.” Charles kissed the top of my head and held me tighter.

A few minutes after sitting down the boys joined us in the backyard.

Looking at Charles and me, Daniel said, “I’m going to show Thomas and Aiden the beach.”

     “OK” I said. I watched as the guys walked down the patio, across the lawn and into the woods that had a trail leading to the beach. Lawrence said it was just a five minute walk to the sand.

Just as I was thinking I couldn’t wait to get down to the beach myself Diane and Miss Sophie came out with a tray of iced tea and a platter of cookies and fruit. When I tasted the old fashioned sweet tea and shortbread cookies I thought the beach would have to wait.

     “Where did the guys go?” Diane said looking around. “I thought I saw them come out here.”

     “They were,” said Charles. “Daniel took them down to the beach.”

     “Yea,” Lawrence laughed. “Daniel probably discovered some girls over at the house next door. Maybe he wants to spread the wealth. Or there’re too many girls for him to handle alone.”

Charles laughed.

     “OK Lawrence,” Lizzy scolded shaking her head and smiling.

     “That’s what I would do if I was their age,” Lawrence laughed.

     “And single,” Charles reminded him with a smile.

     “Oh yea, I forgot that part,” Lawrence laughed while pulling Lizzy in for a quick kiss.

Lizzy smiled and shook her head.

Charles and I looked at each other and smiled.

Diane seemed to pout as she poured herself a glass of the iced tea.

Later that evening we were all back on the patio. Lizzy said that Sophie seemed a little tired so she sent her to her room for some rest.

     “So we are going to make dinner tonight.” She announced. “And some will be cleaning up afterwards.” With that last part she looked directly at Daniel, Thomas and Aiden.

     “Yes, Ma’am,” they said in unison.

Lawrence and Charles decided to make steaks on the grill. Lizzy went to check on Sophie leaving Diane and I in the kitchen alone together.

I was standing next to Diane at the kitchen island chopping tomatoes from the Duprees’ vegetable garden. She was putting last minute touches on the potato salad. This was the first time we were alone all day. I was determined to make some kind of leeway with her.

Diane was a pediatrician and a co-founder of a clinic in San Diego. They served under privileged families. It was hard to picture that generous person (with her time and money) with this stiff person standing next to me. I understand from Charles that she has a cute little cottage sitting on the beach. Even though it is only about 1,000 square feet, being beach front property in California, it had to cost her a pretty penny. I assume it was purchased with the trust fund from her grandparents and not any money from the clinic.

Trying to start a conversation I said, “I understand you have nice home on the beach as well. It must be very peaceful there.”

     “Yes,” Diane said.

OK that didn’t work. Let’s try something else. Just as I was about to ask her another question Charles walked in all smiles

     “OK ladies the grill is ready. Where’re my steaks!”

He walked up to Diane from behind, gave her a big hug and a kiss on the forehead. “How’s my little munchkin doing?” he said in a voice I never heard him use before.

     “Dad,” Diane whined. “You can’t keep calling me that. I’m a grown woman with my own practice. I’m not a munchkin anymore.”

     “Well,” he said letting go, “you’ll always be MY little munchkin.” He kissed her on the cheek and rubbed his hands together. “So are my steaks ready to go?”

     “Yes, they’ve been marinating.” She uncovered the steaks that were sitting on the counter and handed her dad the platter of steaks with a big smile. She watched him as he went through the sliding glass doors leading to the patio.

Turning towards me she stopped smiling. And went back to mixing the potato salad with a puss on her face.

Having finished chopping everything that needed to be chopped for the garden salad, I added all the ingredients to the big bowl, and started to toss the salad.

     “Diane I think it’s wonderful what you and your partners are doing over at the clinic. Your dad tells me you’re thinking about opening another one,” I said not only to make conversation but because I was truly interested.

     “Yes,” was all she said.

Ok, nothing. Let’s go another route. “You know my son, Thomas, works for a non-profit organization as well. He’s a Financial Counselor. He educates people about their own personal finances so they can have a better life for themselves and their family. He’s helped many families buy their first home. In some cases the first in generations. He says he loves the feeling of helping others.”

Nothing.

I continued, “I guess that’s similar to the feelings you must have when you are able to help a family. Huh?”

She put the paprika down and turned to me. Oh boy, are we going to have a conversation, I said to myself. Maybe this was a turning point.

     “You’re not seriously equating saving a child’s life with buying a house are you?” she said through squinted eyes.

Totally flabbergasted I was at a loss for words. When I finally found my voice I stuttered, “No, no…of course not, Diane. I’m just saying it must feel good to help someone in need.”

     “If you say so,” she said with a sarcastic laugh and shaking her head as she put the potato salad in the refrigerator.

Getting my blood up a bit, I covered the garden salad with saran wrap and looked at Diane through my own squinted eyes.

     “Not everyone can or chooses to be a doctor, Diane.”

     “That’s for sure,” she laughed again.

I wanted to smack that smirk right off her face. Instead I said, “Some people do what they can to help others; to make a difference in someone else’s life.”

     “Yup,” she said going back to the one word syllable again.

Trying to remember that I’m an adult I took a deep breath. “Diane, do you have a problem with me being with your father?”

     “How can I? I don’t know you?” she said looking at me.

     “If you took the time to get to know me I think you just might like me,” I said in return.

     “That remains to be seen.”

Just as I was about to give her a piece of my mind we were interrupted.

     “Diane.”

We turned to see Lizzy and Sophie standing in the kitchen. I had no idea how long they had been standing there. But I’m glad she spoke when she did. I could have said something I would have regretted. Not for Diane’s sake but for Charles’. He obviously loves his daughter very much as well as everyone else in the family but as far as I was concerned she needed to get the pole out of her butt.

     “Your grandfather said the steaks are ready,” Lizzy continued. “And if you two don’t hurry up and bring the salads out there won’t be any steak left for you.”

Deciding to make the best of a bad situation I put a smile on my face and said, “We’re coming!” I grabbed the garden salad to carry it out to the patio.

     “Actually Diane why don’t you and Sophie carry out the salads. Simone I need your help with the wine. Sophie, remember you’re not working tonight. Just sit down and eat with the rest of the family.”

Taking the salad from me Miss Sophie made a funny face that made me smile, “Yes, Miss Lizzy. Come on Diane. Get the potato salad before those men out there eat all the steaks.”

Diane got the potato salad and carried it out to the patio.

Taking a couple of bottles of red wine out of the wine cooler Lizzy looked at me. “I know it isn’t easy but you have to give her some time. She’ll come around.”

I took one of the bottles from Lizzy, “Will she?”

With that I walked out to the patio doubting Diane will ever “come around.” Some people are just “happy” with drama…even if they have to cause it themselves. I wasn’t about to let her misery ruin my happiness. She can enjoy her pity party all by herself…I’m not accepting the invitation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     “Good morning everyone!” Lawrence said as he and Lizzy walked into the brightly colored dining room. 

Charles, all four of our children, and me sat at the dining room table which sat ten comfortably.  Daniel, Diane, Thomas and Aiden all sat on one side. Charles and I sat on the other side with two empty place settings by me.  Lawrence and Lizzy sat at each end.

     “Good morning!” We all said in unison.

     “Did everyone sleep well?” Lizzy asked looking around the table.

     “Yes Ma’am,” we said collectively.

     “Didn’t think you boys were going to make the 8AM breakfast deadline this morning,” said Lawrence with a smile. 

     “Me either,” Daniel laughed looking a bit pained. “We were up until well after midnight.”

     “I’d say closer to 2 a.m.,” Lawrence chuckled.

Lizzy and Lawrence had a strict rule about breakfast at their summer house
.
If you weren’t downstairs by 8AM you were on your own. Which meant you were going to miss out on Miss Sophie’s fruit filled pancakes, fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and much more.

     “Yes, we were up pretty late. Hope we didn’t wake you,” Thomas said.

Charles and I left the guys at about 10:00 last night as they sat at the fire pit in the backyard talking and drinking beers.  Although they only met yesterday afternoon they seemed to have become instant friends. That made Charles and me very happy. Diane however had retired earlier in the night.

     “No problem at all,” smiled Lawrence. “We’re just glad you are enjoying the house and enjoying each other’s company.

     “We really are,” smiled Aiden. “Thank you again for inviting us.”

     “Of course,” said Lizzy. “We’re all practically family now.”

Diane cleared her throat loudly. We all seemed to notice but ignored her outburst.

     “Where is Caroline?” Charles said getting us through the awkward moment.

     “Oh she came in late last night,” said Daniel rather matter of fact as he chewed on a piece of bacon.

     “She did?” asked Lizzy.

     “Yea, she had company with her,” Daniel continued in the same tone. “Some guy.”

Lizzy dropped her fork on her plate. Lawrence’s mouth remained opened, as he was about to fill it with a fork full of scrambled eggs. Diane held her knife and fork still as she was cutting a pancake. I think I held my breath for a moment.

     “What?” exclaimed Charles.

     “She said she was bringing a friend. I just thought it was one of her girlfriends from the city,” said Lizzy.

     “Yea, well” she brought a date.”  Daniel continued eating his breakfast and seemingly oblivious to the shocked people around him. 

     “Who brings a date to a family reunion?” said Diane looking perturbed.

     “Maybe he’s more than just a date,” I said directly to Diane.

Just as the last words left my lips Caroline and a very nice looking man walked in. He was a tall handsome dark skinned man and he was holding Caroline’s hand. But the thing I noticed the most was Caroline’s grin. I never saw her look so happy. She actually was glowing. Whoever this guy was he was definitely not just a date. 

     “Good morning everyone!” said a jovial Caroline. “This is Sam. Sam this is my family.”

     “Good morning family,” Sam said with a smile.

We were all stunned into silence. Caroline and Sam walked over to the warmers on the hutch and filled their plates with a sampling of everything.  Caroline sat down next to me while Sam sat next to her.

As if she brought a date home everyday Caroline kept talking like nothing unusual was going on.

     “I forget how beautiful the mornings are here,” Caroline said, all smiles.

After a moment of awkward silence Charles finally broke it.

     “So what’s on the agenda for today?” Charles asked changing the subject.

     “I thought for those who are interested we’d take the boat out for a while. Maybe do a little fishing. Who’s in?”

Taking them back to their school days Daniel, Thomas and Aiden each raised their hand and said a collective, “I’m in!”

     “Good! The fishing equipment is in the shed. Why don’t you boys get it and put it on the boat. We’ll meet at the boat slip in an hour.”

The guys shook their heads.

     “Sounds good,” Charles said. “I’m in too.” Turning his head towards Sam, “Hey Sam how about you? Want to join us for a day of sailing and fishing?”

     “Ah,” Sam looked at Caroline.

     “Oh, I’m sure Caroline won’t mind being without you for a few hours. Will you Caroline?” he said giving Caroline a teasing look and trying to get under Caroline’s skin as only little brothers can.

With her back to Sam, Caroline glared at Charles.