53

Joel paced through the living room, taking peeks out the front window every time he heard a car drive by. His face was drawn in a sullen expression and I thought he looked more like Frank in that moment than ever before.

“Sit down, honey,” Mom said, looking up from the book she was reading. “You’re making me nervous.”

He did as she asked, dropping onto the couch. “Why isn’t he here yet? He said he’d be here.”

“It’s only seven o’clock,” I said. “Give him just a little more time, okay?”

“But he said he’d be here for dinner.”

“No. He said he’d bring dessert. He probably had to work all day.”

Mom shook her head, rolled her eyes, and went back to reading.

She wanted to seem as if she wasn’t waiting with bated breath. But her freshly set hair and newly lipsticked mouth didn’t escape my notice.

Joel could hardly help himself, he turned from his seat on the couch and looked out the window again, slumping back around and sighing.

“Maybe the roads are bad,” I said. “Give him a little time.”

But part of me held a niggling fear that he’d decided not to come.

Frank’s knock on the door came at half past eight and Joel popped right up from his spot on the couch to answer it. He threw open the door and stepped to one side so Frank could come in.

“The roads were a bit slick,” Frank said, standing in the middle of the doorway. “I’m sorry. I didn’t pick up a dessert after all.”

“That’s all right,” I said, standing. “I’m glad you made it.”

“You know what, though.” Frank put a finger to his temple. “I brought somebody with me who had a little something on hand.”

He stepped to one side, making room for Grandma, a covered pie tin in her hand.

“I thought you’d never get to it, Francis. I nearly froze to death out there,” she said, handing the plate to Joel and then patting him on the cheek. “Look how you’ve grown.”

“I even shaved this morning,” Joel said, feeling his jawline.

“Good for you.” Grandma laughed and turned toward me. “Annie. Pretty as ever.”

“Thanks.” I pushed my hair behind my ear, not knowing what else to say.

Compliments from Grandma typically didn’t come in my direction.

“And, Gloria. So nice to see you again,” Grandma went on. “I hope you don’t mind an old lady showing up unannounced.”

“Of course not,” Mom said, her voice tense. She closed her book and put it on the end table beside her. “You’re always welcome.”

“Especially when you bring dessert,” Joel said.

Mom stood and walked in the direction of the dining room. “Should I get out plates?”

“I’ll help,” I said, following her. Once we got into the kitchen, I whispered, “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t like surprises,” she said, not bothering to talk softly. “He knows that.”

“It wasn’t a surprise meant for you.” I grabbed a stack of napkins. “Did you see how happy Joel is?”

“I hate it when you’re right.” She rolled her eyes. “I mean, I strongly dislike it.”

Grandma served slices of treacle tart and Mom brewed coffee for Frank and me. Joel declined, even though Frank tried to talk him into giving it another try. We got out a deck of cards and played a few rounds of bridge well into the evening. Joel and Grandma played as a team, taking nearly all the tricks there were to be had.

When Grandma started yawning, she asked Frank to take her to the hotel.

“Nonsense,” Mom said, tensing. “You can have my bed. There’s no need for you to go to a hotel.”

“That’s kind of you,” Grandma said. “But Rose put me up for the weekend at the new Lakeview Grand Inn.”

“How nice.” Mom’s shoulders relaxed.

“It’s my Christmas present.” Grandma pushed her chair out from the table and stood. “I think Rose was feeling bad about going away on vacation and leaving me behind.”

“Well, you’ll have to tell me what it’s like,” Mom said, gathering the cards into a pile. “It sure got a nice article in the Chronicle a few months ago.”

“Why don’t you come drop her off with me?” Frank said. “You could look around a little.”

“Aren’t you staying there too?” I asked.

“Rose doesn’t like me that much.” He smirked. “I was just going to get a bed at the motel here in town. Glo, I could bring you back after you see Mother’s room.”

“I wouldn’t want to impose.” Mom touched her strand of look-alike pearls. “It would be out of your way to drive me home.”

“Only a few miles,” Frank said.

“Joel, Annie, did you want to come?” Mom asked.

Joel put a fist to his mouth and faked the most exaggerated yawn I’d ever seen.

“I’m beat,” he said. “Excuse me. But I’d better stay home.”

“Well, that’s too bad.” Mom raised an eyebrow at him.

“And Annie has to work tomorrow, don’t you?”

“Yes. I should probably get to bed.” I gave Mom my sweetest smile. “Maybe I’ll go see it tomorrow.”

“All right.” Mom shook her head.

“I’ll get the truck warmed up,” Frank said, grabbing his coat off the back of Mom’s easy chair.

“And I should powder my nose before going out into the cold,” Grandma said, headed to the bathroom.

Once alone with us, Mom lowered her voice and put her face close to ours.

“Listen, you two,” she said. “I’ve seen Parent Trap. It’s not going to work.”

I thought the goofy grin on Joel’s face would never fade.