got your nerve, Sass. Just keep prodding him; he can take care of himself.”
I wasn't anxious to get into a battle of repartee with Cecilia Goertz; she obviously had a nimble wit. Her eyes stayed locked on me as I fidgeted on my feet. One polished nail rested against her chin, tapping, and I imagined it running along an envelope's seal, securing a message of hate inside.
“Where's Aubrey, Sass? I want him to meet Jordan and Candace,” Uncle Mutt said.
“I don't know. Gettin' in touch with his inner child or some such garbage.” Sass sauntered to where Deborah Goertz stood by the drink cart and poured the last of the margaritas into a glass. She sipped and hummed appreciatively. She glanced over at Gretchen. “Where's your pick-me-up, darling? Thought you'd be parched after your long trip.”
Gretchen beamed with pride. “I'm sober now, Sass. I haven't had a drink in nearly a year.”
Sass ran a tongue along her lips. I watched her watch Gretchen. Apparently no congratulatory message was forthcoming from her sister-in-law.
“We're all very proud of Gretchen,” I ventured. Gretchen started in surprise but said nothing.
“I'm sure you must be.” Sass went over and kissed Gretchen lightly on the cheek. “I hope it won't bother you if the rest of us drink. I'm stone dry, darling.”
“Of course not,” Gretchen assured her, but I saw her gaze light on the glimmering bottles on the drink cart for the briefest of moments.
Sass smiled thinly, then wiped her fingers along Gretchen's cheek where she had kissed her. “Sorry. I shouldn't sip at that delicious margarita, then kiss you. I wouldn't want a trace of alcohol touching you, darling.”
Gretchen didn't flinch. She turned away after a moment and asked Bob Don for a Dr Pepper. He hurried to pour her soda. Uncle Mutt broke the embarrassed silence.
“All right, everyone get your drinks and let's unwind before dinner. I got an announcement to make.” Uncle Mutt's glare went to every face in the room.
“Announcement?” Aunt Lolly murmured to Sweetie. “How exciting.”
She didn't know the half of it.
“Where are the kids?” I asked Aunt Lolly after fifteen minutes of idle conversation with my new family. Silencecrashed down like a curtain falling unexpectedly on actors in mid-scene.
Aunt Lolly paled and a hand fluttered near her throat, smoothing out her skin. “Kids? What kids?”
“Well, at every family reunion I've been at, there's always lots of kids underfoot….” I became aware of the uncomfortable quiet holding sway in the room. Uncle Jake coughed. The fleeting sense of acceptance and comfort I'd started to feel from the Goertzes wisped away like smoke.
“Did I say something wrong?” I finally managed.
Aunt Lolly offered a fatuous smile. “Oh, no, honey, not at all. You see, Deborah's not been able to keep a man, and the twins are both divorced. And Aubrey, well—” She didn't elaborate. “Tom has a couple of kids”—she fixed a baleful eye on him—”but he doesn't have much contact with them, do you, Tommy? Not a good idea, is it?” She took a long, slow sip of her red wine.
Tom Bedrich didn't appear rattled by his aunt's jeer. “No, Aunt Lolly, I don't. I'm not sure how that's any of your concern, though.”
Abashment colored my face. “Listen, Tom, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have raised the subject.”
“Would you bring young'uns around
this
crowd?” Uncle Jake asked, drawing his blanket tighter around his legs. “I sure as hell wouldn't. Foulmouthed and ornery they are— and I don't mean kids.”
“Anyone got a mirror for old Jake?” Philip murmured from the safety of his chair.
“Well, maybe you and Candace will marry and have kids,” Aunt Lolly offered. She blew a puckered kiss at Can-dace, who stood talking with Deborah. “And then you can bring them to the island for a visit. Wouldn't that be grand?”
Deborah excused herself, and I saw a hot light of anger pulse in her dark eyes. Aunt Lolly rocked back on
I wasn't anxious to get into a battle of repartee with Cecilia Goertz; she obviously had a nimble wit. Her eyes stayed locked on me as I fidgeted on my feet. One polished nail rested against her chin, tapping, and I imagined it running along an envelope's seal, securing a message of hate inside.
“Where's Aubrey, Sass? I want him to meet Jordan and Candace,” Uncle Mutt said.
“I don't know. Gettin' in touch with his inner child or some such garbage.” Sass sauntered to where Deborah Goertz stood by the drink cart and poured the last of the margaritas into a glass. She sipped and hummed appreciatively. She glanced over at Gretchen. “Where's your pick-me-up, darling? Thought you'd be parched after your long trip.”
Gretchen beamed with pride. “I'm sober now, Sass. I haven't had a drink in nearly a year.”
Sass ran a tongue along her lips. I watched her watch Gretchen. Apparently no congratulatory message was forthcoming from her sister-in-law.
“We're all very proud of Gretchen,” I ventured. Gretchen started in surprise but said nothing.
“I'm sure you must be.” Sass went over and kissed Gretchen lightly on the cheek. “I hope it won't bother you if the rest of us drink. I'm stone dry, darling.”
“Of course not,” Gretchen assured her, but I saw her gaze light on the glimmering bottles on the drink cart for the briefest of moments.
Sass smiled thinly, then wiped her fingers along Gretchen's cheek where she had kissed her. “Sorry. I shouldn't sip at that delicious margarita, then kiss you. I wouldn't want a trace of alcohol touching you, darling.”
Gretchen didn't flinch. She turned away after a moment and asked Bob Don for a Dr Pepper. He hurried to pour her soda. Uncle Mutt broke the embarrassed silence.
“All right, everyone get your drinks and let's unwind before dinner. I got an announcement to make.” Uncle Mutt's glare went to every face in the room.
“Announcement?” Aunt Lolly murmured to Sweetie. “How exciting.”
She didn't know the half of it.
“Where are the kids?” I asked Aunt Lolly after fifteen minutes of idle conversation with my new family. Silencecrashed down like a curtain falling unexpectedly on actors in mid-scene.
Aunt Lolly paled and a hand fluttered near her throat, smoothing out her skin. “Kids? What kids?”
“Well, at every family reunion I've been at, there's always lots of kids underfoot….” I became aware of the uncomfortable quiet holding sway in the room. Uncle Jake coughed. The fleeting sense of acceptance and comfort I'd started to feel from the Goertzes wisped away like smoke.
“Did I say something wrong?” I finally managed.
Aunt Lolly offered a fatuous smile. “Oh, no, honey, not at all. You see, Deborah's not been able to keep a man, and the twins are both divorced. And Aubrey, well—” She didn't elaborate. “Tom has a couple of kids”—she fixed a baleful eye on him—”but he doesn't have much contact with them, do you, Tommy? Not a good idea, is it?” She took a long, slow sip of her red wine.
Tom Bedrich didn't appear rattled by his aunt's jeer. “No, Aunt Lolly, I don't. I'm not sure how that's any of your concern, though.”
Abashment colored my face. “Listen, Tom, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have raised the subject.”
“Would you bring young'uns around
this
crowd?” Uncle Jake asked, drawing his blanket tighter around his legs. “I sure as hell wouldn't. Foulmouthed and ornery they are— and I don't mean kids.”
“Anyone got a mirror for old Jake?” Philip murmured from the safety of his chair.
“Well, maybe you and Candace will marry and have kids,” Aunt Lolly offered. She blew a puckered kiss at Can-dace, who stood talking with Deborah. “And then you can bring them to the island for a visit. Wouldn't that be grand?”
Deborah excused herself, and I saw a hot light of anger pulse in her dark eyes. Aunt Lolly rocked back on
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