I could hear Earl’s son and daughter-in-law arguing about rental cars all the way up in my room. My clock read 10:30 a.m., a decent hour to get out of bed, especially if you went to sleep a mere eight hours earlier. I walked over to my deck and saw them standing in front of the house. Earl attempted to hug his son but was brushed off. He turned to his daughter-in-law and received air kisses on either side of his face. All the while, the couple never stopped bickering. I heard Earl say, “Let’s go inside,” and they did, leaving him to pick up their luggage and haul it up the front steps.
Dad hurried down the stairway to give him a hand. He grabbed two of the suitcases sitting on the brick walkway. He never had a chance to introduce himself to the couple. They walked right by him.
I threw on a pair of shorts and a faded Giants tee shirt. Then I pulled the sheets off the bed and replaced them and the towels in the bathroom. I grabbed some clothes, stuffed them in my backpack and headed for the staircase. All four people mingled below me at the bottom of the stairs. Earl was concerned. Dad was annoyed. The other two continued their bickering.
“Good morning,” I remarked as I walked down the steps, smiled and stopped. The couple gawked at me with their mouths open.
“Dad, who is that? Is she your…?”
“No, no,” said Earl.
“She belongs to me,” said Dad.
“What?” said the son. He glanced from me to my father, then back to Earl.
“I’m Trisha,” I said, standing on the bottom step. I held out my hand. They both gaped at it.
“That’s my daughter,” said Dad.
“Who are you?” they said almost in unison, seeing Dad for the first time.
“My friend from years back. He’s staying with me for a while, and so is Trisha.”
The couple exchanged glances.
“Robert, Trisha, I’d like you to meet my family. This is my son Gabriel, Gabe for short, and his wife, Elaine. They’re Tyler’s parents.”
At the mention of their son, Elaine gasped and started to sob. Gabe put his arm around her and guided her into the living room.
“Well,” I said. “I’m going over to Lena’s.”
“Earl, go with them,” encouraged Dad, nodding his head in the direction of the living room. “I’ll take their bags upstairs.”
Earl turned and walked reluctantly into the living room.
“I can’t get out of here fast enough,” I said.
“Lucky you,” said Dad.