A Texas Family Reunion (13 page)

“Of course. I need to wake up.”

She sat down with a glass of milk for herself after she’d served David.

“You still drink milk?”

She looked up, startled. “Yes, I do. Don’t you?”

“No, I’m an adult.”

“I am, too, but milk is still good for you.”

He shrugged and then winced. The movement aggravated his shoulder.

They didn’t have any more conversation at the table. When breakfast was over, she told him to go take his shower and not to use all the hot water.

She did the dishes and tidied the kitchen before she went to her bedroom. When she heard David’s shower turn off, she went into her bathroom to take her shower. It took her half an hour to finish and blow dry her hair. Then she donned a simple but flattering dress. She usually wore pants for her job, and so the biggest sacrifice for her today was the panty hose she had to wear.

When she came out of her bedroom, she found David
sitting at the kitchen table. He was playing solitaire with the cards they’d used to play gin.

“Are you winning?”

“Sure am. Almost done.”

“We’ve got about half an hour before they come. Want to play some more gin?”

“Okay, if you’re up to it.”

They played cards until they heard a car horn honk. Alex got up to look out the window. “They’re here. Guess the game’s over.”

“And you’re happy because you’re in the lead.” David threw down his hand. “I was going to take the lead with one more card!”

“That’s what you think,” Alex said with a laugh. “Come on, they’re waiting.”

“Okay. I hope Susan doesn’t drive like a madwoman, though.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t,” Alex protested.

At the car, David opened the back door for Alex and got in after her. “Thanks for picking us up.”

“We’re happy to pick you up. You know where we’re going.”

“Good thinking, Susan,” David said. He gave her directions.

Pete chatted with David a couple of times, but Alex didn’t talk much. She didn’t want to distract Susan from her driving.

When they parked in front of the Greenfields’
home, Pete ducked to get a clear view. “I guess they
do
have enough room for us. This place is a mansion.”

“It’s not like that,” David said. “It’s a real home. Come on, I’ll introduce you to Betty and Peter.”

“Who are they?” Susan asked.

“Betty is the housekeeper and Peter is her husband. The two of them take care of the family.”

As David got out of the car, he said, “Betty worries about feeding everyone. She makes too much food every time.”

“A woman after my own heart,” Pete said, getting out of the car.

“We’re right on time,” David said moments later, leading the way to the front door.

It opened and he introduced Peter to everyone. Then Peter led them down the hall to the morning room. There, they found Will and Vivian, Rebecca and Jeff, and Vanessa, waiting for them.

“Where are Jim and Carrie?” David asked.

“They’re on their way,” Vivian said. “When you’re pregnant, all kinds of things can delay you.”

When the doorbell rang, they weren’t surprised to see Jim and Carrie come into the room a minute later. Almost at once, Betty came in and announced that dinner was served.

David fell in beside Jim. “When will we get a chance to talk?”

Alex, walking beside Susan, whispered to her, “We need to talk.”

Jim whispered to David, “Later.”

Susan looked at Alex. “Why?” she asked.

Dinner was quite enjoyable. Alex was beginning to feel at home in the midst of Will’s family, which was amazing to her. As an only child she’d been a loner. But she found this family thing very comfortable. In the past, the only relative she’d been close to was Susan, because they were the same age and in the same class at school.

Susan had complained about her mother and sister constantly. From what Alex heard, if Susan was even halfway honest, she’d suffered a lot. So it was amazing to see such a large family group talking, sharing, laughing and happy. Occasionally, she looked at Pete, Susan and David to see if they were feeling even part of what she was feeling. It was hard to tell, but they seemed content.

When dinner was over, Vivian suggested they go back to the morning room so they could visit. When they got there, Alex noticed that David and Jim were absent. She wondered what they were doing, but it didn’t con
cern her that much. After all, they had a lot of years to make up.

She’d hoped she could talk with Susan sometime this afternoon when Pete wasn’t beside her, but that didn’t look as if it would be possible. So she turned to her neighbor, Vanessa, and began a conversation. The two of them had a lot in common.

“D
O YOU THINK
anyone will notice we’re not there?” David asked. “I don’t want to offend Vivian.”

“I told Will we needed a couple of minutes alone. What do you want to talk about?”

David stuck his hands in his pockets and turned to walk across the room. Finally he faced Jim. “I…I have certain feelings for Alex. I don’t know how to deal with them…or her.”

“You mean sexual feelings?” Jim asked, not smiling.

“Yeah. They’ve kind of taken me by surprise. We’ve never been all that close until the past couple of weeks. Now I’m living with her! She practically tucks me in at night.”

“Have you let her know what you’re feeling?”

“No! Do you think I should?”

“Not until you move out of her place. It would be pretty awkward if she wasn’t interested but she still had to have you as a guest.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Maybe I should go to a hotel or something.”

“That’ll hurt her feelings. Have you looked for a house yet?”

“No.”

“Why don’t you do that and maybe you can find one you can move into at once.”

“That’s a good idea. Okay, I’ll start looking tomorrow. Do you think it will hurt if I let her go look with me?”

“I think that would be a good idea, because if you work things out, she’d have a house she likes.”

“Okay, I can do that.”

“Good. Let me know how it’s going, okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks for helping me out,” David said, sticking out his hand to shake Jim’s.

“Did you forget we’re brothers?” Jim asked with a laugh, then hugged David. “Makes me feel good that you trusted me enough to ask for help.”

“It’s nice to have a big brother again, Jim. Thanks.”

“Let’s go join the family.”

I
N THE CAR GOING HOME
, Pete said several times what an amazing family David had. “You are so lucky, David.”

“Yeah, I am,” David agreed.

“Too bad
our
family isn’t like them,” Susan said.

“But now you know the kind of family you want, Susan. When you marry, you can make your own family as nice as theirs,” Alex said.

“I agree, if I find the right person.” Susan glanced at Pete, sitting beside her, before she looked at the road again.

It reminded Alex of the conversation she needed to have with Susan. She’d ask when to call her before they dropped them off.

When they reached Alex’s condo, she waited until she was ready to slide out of the car before she said, “Are you going to be home later, Susan? I thought I’d give you a call.”

Susan stiffened. Then she turned around and said, “I’ll be at Pete’s. Just call me there in a little while.” She didn’t meet Alex’s eyes. “David has his number.”

“Okay, I will,” Alex agreed, and got out of the car.

“Something wrong?” David asked softly as they watched Susan drive away.

“Do you…I mean, are you aware of how close Pete and Susan are?”

David looked at her in surprise. “What are you saying?”

“I’m not sure. I asked Susan if she’d be home later so I could call her. She said she’d be at Pete’s, and said I should call her there.”

“Maybe she has plans later that she doesn’t want to tell Pete about.”

Alex didn’t believe that. She was thinking that Susan might already be living with Pete. If so, David’s concern and advice wouldn’t be a minute too soon. In fact, it would come close to being too late.

“Maybe,” she said, and walked to her front door.

Once they were inside, she asked, “Will leftover roast beef make a good sandwich for you later?”

“Sure. And I know I don’t need it, but I wouldn’t pass up another piece of that cake, either.”

“Good. I don’t really feel like cooking this evening.”

David frowned. “I could take you out to eat. You don’t have to cook all the time.”

“We’ve got the leftovers for tonight. Maybe we could go out to eat tomorrow night.”

“Sure. That would be great. Do we still have the Sunday paper?”

“Yes, I think so. Why?”

“I’m going to start looking at what’s available in housing.”

“Oh? Are you in a hurry to move?”

“It’s nothing against rooming with you, Alex. But you’ve been more than generous, and I need to get settled somewhere.”

“I see.”

“If you don’t have anything to do, why don’t you help me look?”

“Are you sure you want to involve me in your future? I’ll understand if you want to do this by yourself.” There was a stiffness in her voice she couldn’t hide.

“Sweetheart, what happened to the woman who demanded to help me furnish my house, own part of my dog and help me pick out the house itself?”

Alex could feel her cheeks burning. “I may have overstepped the boundaries. I’m sorry, David.”

“I’m not, and don’t think you’re going to get out of helping me. I need you. You have better taste than me.”

“Maybe,” she said, grinning, “but if I get too pushy, you need to tell me to butt out.”

“Yeah, right,” he said, and bent down to plant a kiss on her cheek. “Now, where’s the paper? We can divide up the listings and read out loud any that sound possible.”

They spent a companionable afternoon. David circled approximately ten houses that he thought might do. “We’ll make some appointments to see one each evening. Or maybe two if you think we can tell that quickly.”

“I think you can eliminate some of them if the family is still in the house. If you’re hoping to rent it until you close, that would be impossible.”

“Good point. Thanks, honey.”

“You’re welcome. Are you ready for supper?”

“Yeah, but let me fix it while you go call Susan. I think she needs to deal with the mom factor real quickly.”

“Oh, you’re right. I’d forgotten.” Alex got up and headed into her bedroom where she’d have a little privacy. When she picked up the receiver, she realized she didn’t have Pete’s number. “David?” she called.

“Yeah, hon?”

“I don’t know Pete’s number.”

He supplied it and returned to the kitchen.

When Pete answered the phone, she said hello and asked to speak to Susan.

“Hi, Alex,” Susan said.

“Hi, Susan. I’ll just get right to the point. David and I were talking about you and Pete. He said your mom would have a problem with Pete’s last name. Susan, we all know she’s a snob. David felt it would be very important for you to talk to Pete honestly about your mom before he meets her.”

Defensively Susan said, “I intend to.”

“Good. I just didn’t want you to forget. It seems sometimes that you and Pete are very happy together. I want it to stay that way.”

“Me, too. Thanks, I guess. It won’t be easy.”

“But I think Pete will understand.”

“I hope so. I’ve got to go. My secret recipe is about to boil over.”

“Okay. Good luck.”

When Alex returned to the kitchen, she found a pot of tea steeping, the table set and a delicious-looking sandwich at her place.

“Oh, that looks good.”

“Thanks. What did Susan say?”

Alex sat down and poured a cup of tea. “She said she knew she needed to talk to Pete, but it wouldn’t be easy.”

“I agree with that. And I hope she takes care of it.”

“It’s up to her now, David.”

“Are you telling me to butt out? She’s my sister!”

“And she’s my cousin. But she’s also an adult and allowed to make her own decisions. Our job is to support her and help her if she asks for it.”

“I think
I’m
the one who should decide if she’s capable of making her own decisions.”

“And you have to deal with your mother, too. You haven’t told her about your family yet.”

“I
know
that!”

Alex took a bite of her sandwich and chewed, not speaking.

David did the same, but Alex thought he wasn’t comfortable with it. Finally he couldn’t hold back. “I’m sorry if I offended you, but I’m older than you. I don’t see how you feel you have the right to tell me what to do.”

“You know, David, according to Susan, you’ve been a
great
big brother. But you’re not
my
big brother. I’m an adult, too.”

Then she stood and carried her plate to the sink. She rinsed it off and put it in the dishwasher. “Feel free to have a piece of cake if you want it. I’m going to read until bedtime.”

She left him sitting at the table, his mouth hanging open.

T
HEIR FIRST ARGUMENT
.

It hadn’t been a knock-down fight. No, Alex had been very dignified, almost precise telling him that both she and Susan were adults. And she’d walked out before he could make it clear that she couldn’t order him around. He was an adult, too, but
he’d
accepted help from his big brother. Nothing wrong with that.

Of course, both Susan and Alex were old enough to make their own decisions. But in a way, Susan wasn’t as old as Alex. Her mother—his mother—had tried to make every decision for her and had made fun of her when she’d tried and failed.

So she couldn’t really make decisions on her own. That was the only reason he was insisting. He felt quite justified… Suddenly, it occurred to him that she might never learn to make decisions if she wasn’t
allowed
to.

He toyed with that idea for a few minutes. Until he finally realized the truth of it and that he’d been wrong. He needed to tell Alex, apologize to her.

He tiptoed to her bedroom. It wasn’t too late, only ten-thirty. He rapped softly and waited. He heard nothing. What if she wasn’t in there? What if she’d left and he hadn’t realized?

Taking a deep breath, he turned the knob and opened the door slightly so he could peek in. Alex was in bed, a book resting on her chest, sound asleep. He’d have to save his apology for in the morning. Crossing the room, he put the book on the lamp table and pulled the covers over her shoulders. Then he tiptoed out of her bedroom and closed the door.

He’d explain over breakfast in the morning.

D
AVID AWOKE
the next morning with a sense of expectation. Then he remembered his intention to apologize
to Alex. He was eager to do so, sure she would accept his apology.

He showered and shaved, then dressed, feeling sure the morning would be so much better because he and Alex wouldn’t argue. When he came out of his room, dressed in one of his suits, with shirt and tie, he hurried to the kitchen.

He found a note:

“Damn!” That wasn’t the way he wanted his day to begin. It was only eight o’clock. What time had she left?

He decided to pick up breakfast on the way to the office. Then he remembered he didn’t have his car, and even if he did, his shoulder might make the driving difficult. So now what was he going to do?

The phone rang. Hoping it was Alex, he picked it up. “Hello?”

“David, it’s Susan. Do you need a ride to work?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“Alex called earlier. Did you get breakfast?”

“No, I was going to pick some up on the way in. Can we do that?”

“Sure, if you’re ready now.”

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Okay, I’m leaving now. Be there in five minutes.”

“I’ll be outside.”

He grabbed the newspaper he’d marked up yesterday. He hoped to make some calls about houses from work today. Then he went out the front door, locking it as he pulled it closed. Since he had no key, he hoped he could get in when he came home tonight.

He didn’t have to wait long for Susan.

She was driving, but Pete was in the front seat beside her.

“You must’ve gotten an early start, Suse, to pick Pete up and then me.”

“I don’t mind. Everyone’s going to be very happy to see both of you. Oh, and we thought we’d stop at International House of Pancakes. I love to eat there.”

“I was afraid I’d spill something on my suit if I ate in the car,” Pete added.

“Good point, Pete. Pancakes are fine with me.”

When he got to the office, he’d send flowers to Alex’s office. With the apology he wanted to deliver.

“D
ID YOU ENJOY DINNER
yesterday?” Carrie asked Alex. They were enjoying a midmorning coffee break.

“Yes, it was wonderful. I find it amazing that so many of you get along. There’s no arguing or pouting or criticism. It’s incredible.”

“Your family isn’t that way?”

“Mine wasn’t too bad when I was growing up. But
once Mom moved in with Aunt June, it became miserable. Aunt June thinks the world revolves around her. No one else is allowed an opinion. I visit Mom occasionally, but mostly I take her out to lunch, just the two of us.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” said Carrie. “But our family stems from Vivian’s goodness. She knew there were six children that had been separated, and she asked her first husband if they couldn’t adopt all of them. But she was very young then and he made all the decisions. He absolutely refused. But as soon as he died, she hired Will to find all of them. She’s welcomed each of them as if they were her own children. And me, too. Will had adopted me, more or less. I knew Vanessa, but we’d lost touch. Once Vivian and Will married, they tried to fold me into the family. I resisted, afraid of imposing. But then I married Jim, and I knew they were my family.”