Joe
Joe sat across the table from Mac as the aroma of garlic swirled around them. Her mouth watered as she eagerly awaited the cheesy garlic bread and salad that preceded the main course at Mariano’s Italian Eatery.
“Thanks for taking me to my appointment today.” Joe rubbed her belly in a circular motion. “I have to sit so far away from the steering wheel these days that it’s getting harder to drive.”
“You shouldn’t be driving yourself anywhere,” Mac said sternly. “In fact, I have half a mind to take your car keys away. It’s my pleasure to drive you anywhere you need to go. And besides, I enjoyed seeing my grandson on that computer screen today. He looks like a strapping young lad. Just like his father. And from the sounds of it, he’ll be arriving any time now.”
Joe laughed at the old-fashioned phrase. She hadn’t heard the term strapping young lad in, well, ever in real life, actually. Only in old television movies her father-in-law watched, like Lassie, or Old Yeller.
“Thank you.” She placed her hand on his. Since her conversation with Mac about Virginia, Joe better understood the depth of her father-in-law’s sadness. Since she’d met him, she’d sensed it, but always assumed it had only to do with having lost his wife. But it was more than that. Before he’d even met Tim’s mother, Mac had lost the woman he loved.
Joe hoped to change that. By giving her the journals, Joe hoped that Olivia would put the pieces of the puzzle together and discover the truth. But then she announced that she was moving to Paris, alone and brokenhearted and living thousands of miles away from a family who wanted to know her. But Joe knew that Olivia had to make that discovery for herself. She only hoped that someday she would.
After a heaping plate of meat lasagna, two chocolate cannolis and a decaffeinated latte, Joe waddled out of the restaurant on the arm of her father-in-law. As they pulled into the driveway of the house that had spoken to her from the moment she’d entered it, a sudden wave of loneliness washed over her, and she didn’t want to be alone. Since she’d given the journals to her sister-in-law, she’d had no further late-night visits from its former occupant. Or from Tim. And she missed them both more than she could say.
Mac came around to the passenger side and helped her out of the car. As they walked up the brick-lined path to the front door, Joe paused. “Mac, would you stay with me tonight? We could make popcorn and watch an old movie. I’ll make up the guest room for you.”
Mac smiled and led her up the path. He took her key and opened the door and gave her a gentle push inside.
Suddenly, the lights flicked on and a loud chorus of “Surprise!” filled the air. Joe stumbled backward, grabbed onto Mac for support, and scanned the faces of the crowd. Her living room was filled with Mac’s Navy buddies and their wives. Balloons and streamers dangled from the ceiling. A Welcome Baby banner was pinned to the back wall.
She would definitely not be alone tonight.