fork.
âNo, definitely not.â Elizabeth realized how that sounded and flushed. âIâm sure the world is a lot different, though, than when you were young. Not that it was that long ago. I meant that things change so fast.â
âWell yes, they do.â
Elizabeth sighed, worn out by her floundering. If there was a career path for people who had a gift for saying the wrong thing sheâd be a billionaire. She finished her pie, listening to the children chatter and laugh, thinking they probably had no idea how special this was. Her childhood meals had been mostly quiet at the dark table in the dark dining roomâlonely widowed grandma, lonely single mother exhausted from a day at work and lonely only child Elizabeth. Why hadnât they turned to each other in all that loneliness? Theyâd been too different. Ultra-conservative, iron-ruling grandma who lived in the past, grown-up ex-hippy mom waiting for rescue from the future and Generation-X daughter, concerned only with her present.
The phone rang. Lolly leaped for it.
âOh, hey, Grandad.â She sounded disappointed.
Elizabeth glanced at Megan, who froze for half a beat, then calmlyâalways calmly!âput a sliver of pie on her own plate, rinsed her hands in the sink and waited for the phone, on which Lolly was speaking monosyllabically. âYes. No. Okay. Yeah, here she is.â
âHi Dad.â Megan walked to the kitchen doorway and stood with her back to the room.
âThatâs Meganâs daddy.â
Elizabeth nodded to Vera. She got that.
âHeâs a widower. Aileen died a couple of years after Megan and Stanley got married.â
âOh, Iâm sorry.â
âShe was a lovely person.â Vera folded her hands with the quiet superiority of someone enjoying spreading tragic news.
âMegan had a terrible time. She and her mama were very close.â
âHer momâAileenâtaught her the lace.â
âYes maâam.â Vera sighed heavily. âMegan has a gift passed down through generations. Itâs a terrible shame she doesnât knit it anymore.â
âShe stopped? Why? Because her mom died?â
Vera looked uncomfortable, then surprised, then nodded gravely. âYes. Thatâs why.â
Elizabethâs instinct kicked in. That wasnât why.
âCan I have sâmore pie, Grandma?â
âItâs not sâmore pie, itâs banana-cream pie.â
Deena stuck her tongue out at her brother.
âI think youâve had plenty, Deena.â
â Again? â Megan took another step out of the kitchen. Elizabeth smiled sympathetically at chubby Deena, wishing she could hear more of Meganâs conversation.
âHey, Elizabeth.â Jeffrey put his fork down. âDo you know what gas makes Neptune look blue?â
âSwamp gas?â suggested Lolly not-helpfully.
â Poo gas?â Deena giggled like mad and earned a scowl from Vera.
Jeffrey ignored his sisters. âDo you know, Elizabeth? Take a guess.â
âAll right, then, Dad.â Megan sounded impatient to be off the phone. âYes, okay. Thanks for letting me know.â
âI canât even guess.â
âMethane!â he announced triumphantly.â
Lolly choked on a swig of milk. âThat is poo gas!â
âHa!â Deena turned on her brother, barely able to speak through her giggles. âI was right.â
âOkay, kids, enough.â Vera watched Megan coming into the room. âEverything okay?â
âYes, fine.â Megan spoke brightly, but put her piece of pie back into the serving dish, which she took to the counter. âDad is moving again. To New Jersey this time. Thatâs all.â
âGood heavens. No moss on that man.â Vera pushed her chair back. âIâm going to get my knitting and sit on the porch.â
âIâll help you with the dishes, Megan.â Elizabeth
Rhys Hughes
Boyd Oxlade
Roxie Noir
Nora Rock
Nikki Kelly
Michael Montoure
Joseph Veramu
Lexie X
Kristin Cast
Joe Hart