married off.
“Sure is – he’s seventeen,” Tess confirmed. “Only a year older than yours. They grow up fast, don’t they?”
Memaw agreed. “They do, much too fast. And how are you, Tess? Anything new?”
I could tell this was a loaded question, though I had no clue why. I glanced up from the corner of my eye that wasn’t pressed against a computer or a bosom. Nothing like getting to know people intimately in ways you’d never dreamed of. Tess’ face fell for the slightest moment, but she quickly pulled it back into her ever-present grin. “No, not at all. Sometimes no news is good news, right?”
“Indeed it is, my dear,” Memaw said, though sounding disappointed at the same time. They were having a double conversation while I was having the keys of my MacBook permanently engrained into the side of my face.
Pulling away from the screen finally, Tess nodded once more. “It was nice catching up with you, Sarah, Emily. We’ll have to do it more often.” I caught a glimpse of Tess’ necklace as she pulled away from me. Comparing the pendant she wore against the one I had underneath my layers right now, it was the exact same. My heart beat faster, realizing Memaw had connections she had never told me about.
I came up for air, rubbing the side of my face that was red from being against the warm computer. My mind was racing a thousand miles an hour. “I’m going to go find Jamie. Can you keep Mom under control while I’m gone?” I asked Memaw, smiling while thinking of Memaw putting one of those kiddy leashes on Mom. She was capable of it, no doubt.
Memaw smiled. “That can be arranged. Please be careful over there. Stick with Jesse and the boys. Don’t wander off by yourself, even if Jamie wants to. Even though I wouldn’t mind Jamie getting lost, don’t let her out of your sight, either.”
I laughed. “Can do, Memaw. I love you. Mom, I love you too.”
Mom’s hand appeared in the screen. “Bye, hon! Don’t forget the pictures! I’ll tell Chris you said hello!”
The last sight was Memaw laughing, trying to pull Mom back into the frame of the camera before the screen went black, ending our conversation. It made me feel good to know they were enjoying one another.
Closing the lid of my computer, I looked back at Tess, confused. I had a feeling Tess was more connected to our family than anyone was letting on.
Tess smoothed her apron and looked around. I could tell she was flustered. She forced a smile as she glanced between Liam and me. “I guess getting the fire started for the evening would be good. Do you want one in your room as well, Ashlyn?”
I blushed, realizing I was about to be alone with her son. Minutes ago she and Memaw had verbally hinted at their desire to get us together. She was already making her move to get the ball rolling. “Uh, sure, Mrs. Walsh. Thanks.”
“Its Tess, dear. Tess.” Smiling, she winked at Liam and then walked out of the kitchen, leaving us alone.
Neither of us spoke for a moment. We were intentionally looking everywhere but at one another. Finally, we caught each other’s eyes and smiled awkwardly.
“So. You’re Ashlyn.” If I weren’t so nervous, this introduction would have been funny. He was about as conversational as I was.
God, this was awkward. “That would be correct. And you’re Liam.” Again, I simply stated the fact. No question, no encouragement to continue the conversation.
The silence that ensued was pronounced and long. Tess was making things clang in the living room. I wondered if she was doing it on purpose, proving that she wasn’t listening in on our conversation.
“You’re related to Jesse.”
“Yeah, kind of. We’re distant cousins through Dad’s side.”
“Your dad died last week.”
That stung. There was no emotion in the conversation, just
“Sure is – he’s seventeen,” Tess confirmed. “Only a year older than yours. They grow up fast, don’t they?”
Memaw agreed. “They do, much too fast. And how are you, Tess? Anything new?”
I could tell this was a loaded question, though I had no clue why. I glanced up from the corner of my eye that wasn’t pressed against a computer or a bosom. Nothing like getting to know people intimately in ways you’d never dreamed of. Tess’ face fell for the slightest moment, but she quickly pulled it back into her ever-present grin. “No, not at all. Sometimes no news is good news, right?”
“Indeed it is, my dear,” Memaw said, though sounding disappointed at the same time. They were having a double conversation while I was having the keys of my MacBook permanently engrained into the side of my face.
Pulling away from the screen finally, Tess nodded once more. “It was nice catching up with you, Sarah, Emily. We’ll have to do it more often.” I caught a glimpse of Tess’ necklace as she pulled away from me. Comparing the pendant she wore against the one I had underneath my layers right now, it was the exact same. My heart beat faster, realizing Memaw had connections she had never told me about.
I came up for air, rubbing the side of my face that was red from being against the warm computer. My mind was racing a thousand miles an hour. “I’m going to go find Jamie. Can you keep Mom under control while I’m gone?” I asked Memaw, smiling while thinking of Memaw putting one of those kiddy leashes on Mom. She was capable of it, no doubt.
Memaw smiled. “That can be arranged. Please be careful over there. Stick with Jesse and the boys. Don’t wander off by yourself, even if Jamie wants to. Even though I wouldn’t mind Jamie getting lost, don’t let her out of your sight, either.”
I laughed. “Can do, Memaw. I love you. Mom, I love you too.”
Mom’s hand appeared in the screen. “Bye, hon! Don’t forget the pictures! I’ll tell Chris you said hello!”
The last sight was Memaw laughing, trying to pull Mom back into the frame of the camera before the screen went black, ending our conversation. It made me feel good to know they were enjoying one another.
Closing the lid of my computer, I looked back at Tess, confused. I had a feeling Tess was more connected to our family than anyone was letting on.
Tess smoothed her apron and looked around. I could tell she was flustered. She forced a smile as she glanced between Liam and me. “I guess getting the fire started for the evening would be good. Do you want one in your room as well, Ashlyn?”
I blushed, realizing I was about to be alone with her son. Minutes ago she and Memaw had verbally hinted at their desire to get us together. She was already making her move to get the ball rolling. “Uh, sure, Mrs. Walsh. Thanks.”
“Its Tess, dear. Tess.” Smiling, she winked at Liam and then walked out of the kitchen, leaving us alone.
Neither of us spoke for a moment. We were intentionally looking everywhere but at one another. Finally, we caught each other’s eyes and smiled awkwardly.
“So. You’re Ashlyn.” If I weren’t so nervous, this introduction would have been funny. He was about as conversational as I was.
God, this was awkward. “That would be correct. And you’re Liam.” Again, I simply stated the fact. No question, no encouragement to continue the conversation.
The silence that ensued was pronounced and long. Tess was making things clang in the living room. I wondered if she was doing it on purpose, proving that she wasn’t listening in on our conversation.
“You’re related to Jesse.”
“Yeah, kind of. We’re distant cousins through Dad’s side.”
“Your dad died last week.”
That stung. There was no emotion in the conversation, just
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