by PE Kavanagh
“He’s at my house, right now,” her mother said with pride.
“WHAT!” rang the chorus from all three women.
Claire addressed her sister directly. “You mean we just drove all the way here and you neglected to tell me you came with a guy?”
“We were talking about other things,” Lola said with a hint of a bite.
“Let Lola answer the question, please,” directed her Aunt Nora, the most logical and serious of the bunch.
“There’s not that much to say.”
The group erupted in denials once again, which Aunt Nora had to silence with one of her famous looks.
“Goodness, ladies. What is the big deal?” Lola exclaimed.
The voice of reason pierced the craziness. “The big deal, my dearest niece, is that it’s been two years since you exited that shitty young man from your life and we all want for you to find someone worthy of your magnificence. Now, tell us everything.”
Lola, resigned, began. “His name is Aidan Connelly-”
“And he's gorgeous,” said her mother, cutting her off. “Much too good looking…”
Lola didn’t want to address her mother’s comment, so she continued. “He is in finance. Or he used to be in finance. He’s been taking a few years off, spent some time in Asia, studying…”
Aunt Nora wanted to know, “Is he smart, Lo?”
“Yes, very smart. Book smart and people smart.” They all nodded, approvingly. Their family had equal admiration for academic excellence and worldly know-how.
“What else?” Aunt Lizzy could hardly keep herself from bouncing in her seat.
“He’s kind and thoughtful… he’s a great cook…”
“How does he treat you?” Monique wanted to know.
“He’s a good guy, Mom. He’s respectful and generous and attentive…”
“He sounds too perfect,” snapped Claire. “How did you guys meet?”
Lola was aware how much of the story she was leaving out, but she didn’t care. Describing him was fun. “There’s a coffee shop on my way to work, that I go to most mornings. We kept seeing each other there and he asked me out.”
“You look happy, Lo,” Aunt Lizzy said while they continued examining her.
“I am. I mean, it’s new. And sometimes things happen when you get to know someone that can be challenging. But we seem to be navigating that pretty well.”
“What about his family?”
“His parents live in Florida. He had an older brother, who died in the towers on 9/11.”
“Oh my God!” Lizzy gasped. “How horrible!”
“Yeah, it really affected him, as you would expect.”
Nora asked, “So, how come you didn’t tell anyone he was coming?”
“It was kind of last minute. He flew out to LA… to surprise me… and I invited him.” She didn’t like lying to her family. But she enjoyed this version of the story much better than reality.
The bell on her mother’s phone grabbed everyone’s attention. They watched as she dug around her purse to find it and then gasp at what she saw.
“What is it, Mom? What’s going on?”
“Ummm… Marco just texted me. You should take a look at this, Lola.”
MARCO: Thought I would surprise you and Lola and come home early. Surprise was on me, apparently. Our future son-in-law and I have gone to the mall. Love, M.
“The rest of us would like to be included here,” said Nora.
Lola read the text to them, which resulted in squeals and bellows for several minutes.
“Wow, I’d like to spy on that outing,” said Monique.
“Me too!” added Lizzy.
“Come on. Marco is always ridiculously polite,” said Lola.
“As opposed to us,” said her mother with a raised eyebrow.
Lola shrugged and smiled, but didn’t answer.
Her mother continued. “Maybe I can get some time alone with him if you go to the airport with Marco tonight. I promise I’ll be ridiculously polite too.”
“Impossible,” Nora said flatly.
“That’s not fair!”
“Nik, sweetie, let me remind you of that New Year’s Eve. With Scott.”
They all shook their heads in remembrance. Lola’s mother and boyfriend had ended up in a screaming fight in the kitchen.
“That boy was a monster! I mean, really. I held my tongue for the whole week but I couldn’t take it.”
“We agreed with you, Mom,” Claire said. “But no one else ended up shrieking.”
“That’s ancient history, anyway, now that Lola’s found herself a wonderful man.” Lola always appreciated her Aunt Lizzy’s eternal optimism, even if she didn’t believe it. “Loooo,” she sang instead of spoke.
“Yes, Aunt Lizzy.” Something was coming.
“It would be okay if we came over tonight, right? To meet him? I mean, you don’t want us meeting for the first time over Thanksgiving dinner, right? That would be so awkward.” Everything she said ended in a higher pitch at the end, in Lizzy’s version of convincing conversation.
Lola had imagined each of these scenarios in the many hours of the drive from LA. She was ready. “Sure. In fact, I was thinking we could have game night or something.”
“Game night?” Her sister was skeptical.
“Yes, Claire,” she said, sharply, “so that there is some other activity taking place other than the interrogation.”
“Oh, this is perfect! Thanks for being such a good sport, Lo. I’m so happy for you.” Her mother leaned over and kissed her on the temple. She knew her mother was honestly happy. She reminded herself to try to remember more often how wonderful her family was.
As soon as Lola had gotten most of the way through her meal, Claire claimed an urgent investor issue had come up and needed to get back.
Sitting in the car next to her mother, after dropping Claire off, Lola felt content, even as her mother squeezed her hand. “Should we swing by the supermarket for supplies? I’ve gotten all your favorites, but I’m not sure he’ll like the food I have.”
“Mom, everyone loves your food.” Lola had never stopped being proud of her mother’s culinary achievements.
“But what does he like?”
“Me.” Lola grinned.
The women shared a laugh. “I’m sure he does. What’s not to like, my darling daughter?”
“Hopefully I’ll keep that a secret for a very long time.”
“But what does he like to eat?” Realizing what she had said, Monique added, “And please don’t give the same answer. I’m not quite ready to hear those things. Even from my grown daughter.”
“Mom!!” Lola was partially horrified and partially tickled. “You are terrible…”
“Well, hopefully Aidan and Marco aren’t having the same conversation.”
“Oh my God! I would have to fly home immediately!”
“Okay, well, I’m sure it’s not happening.” Monique winked at her giggling daughter. “Back to food. What can we get for him? And what would you like to have tonight, for game night?”
“Ooh, maybe Marco can make old-fashioneds, and we can do those cocktail appetizers. You know, the pigs-in-blankets, and crab balls.”
“Really? That’s so… basic.”
“Basic is good, Mom. We’re going to have an ultra gourmet meal in two days. Let’s keep it simple. You don’t have to impress him. He is easily…” she couldn’t quite find the word.
“Easy to please?”
“Yes. I mean, he’s got really high standards for himself. But he sees the beauty in simple things.”
Her mother paused at the top of the driveway to look at Lola. “I love the way you talk about him, Lo. It feels different to me. Different than the other ones.”
“It is different, Mom. It feels different to me.”
“You love him.” More a statement than a question.
“Yes, I do. Very much.”
“And he loves you.”
“Yes.”
&
nbsp; “Let’s get out of the car so I can squeeze you.”
“If you insist.”
Her mother ran over to the passenger side and held her tightly. “My sweet girl. I love you so much, and I’m so glad you’re here. My baby…”
“Love you too Mom. I’m glad to be here.”
“Perfect. Now let’s go in.”
“Why don’t you text Marco to pick up stuff for the drinks? I’m not sure what we have, but we probably don’t have enough.”
“Sure.”
He responded immediately.
MARCO: I had fun with your guy today. Can’t wait to hear your side of the story ;). Love you.
Lola and her mother were in the kitchen going over the menu for Thanksgiving when the men returned, overloaded with shopping bags. Both women froze, staring at the door with furrowed brows.
“The men have returned from the hunt!” Marco proclaimed.
“That may have been a little more like gathering than hunting, Marco,” teased Aidan.
“Yes, I think you are right.”
Marco dropped the bags and strode to Lola, whom he wrapped into his long arms and sprayed with kisses. “How is my girl? Actually, maybe I already know.”
“Don’t start, Marco,” she warned, jokingly.
He leaned back, holding her at arm’s length. “Who, me?”
As soon as Marco stepped away to give his wife a grand kiss hello, Aidan moved in to do the same to Lola. It surprised her how happy she was to see him.
“My darling…” Monique was using her slow and sexy voice, “what is going on with all those bags? What were you doing?”
“I’m so glad you asked. When I came home to find this man studying his phone for directions to the mall, I offered to take him there. Well, as you know the sales are already beginning. And I realized, all my grandkids will be here, and maybe I needed a few things, and maybe you needed a few things…”
“In Marco’s defense, some of it is mine. Not much of it, but some.”
“Aidan, way to throw a brother under the bus.”
Monique shook her head. “My love, if you were trying to hide the fact that you are a relentless shopper, it would have been revealed soon enough anyway.”
Lola turned to Aidan. “It’s true. Marco is the designated shopper in the family.”
Monique turned her attention away from her husband, who was nuzzling her neck. “So, Aidan, did you find what you needed?”
“Yes, I did. And then some.”
Lola grinned. “I want to see!”
“Why don’t you guys go into the living room and show Lola what you got, while I get organized for tonight?”
Marco ran his hands across his wife's hair. “But some of it is for you.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“Oh, mi amor.” He dipped his head back into her neck.
Lola turned to Aidan with her best I-told-you-so look. He chuckled.
Monique spoke. “Amor, we have company.”
“Aidan is not company. When one man has shopped with another man, the bond transcends company.”
“Marco, you are absolutely killing me.” Lola shook her head.
“Actually, I agree with him completely,” was Aidan’s surprise response.
“Okay, you two. I need a drink if this is where this evening is beginning.”
“Your wish is my command, my sweet Lolita. How about I make a batch of drinks, we will review our purchases, then indenture ourselves to the grand and mighty chef for her service.”
“I’ll be in the living room. Rolling my eyes.”
“I’ll be in the living room with Lola. Loving her.”
This sent a little tremor of delight through the room, in none as much as Lola.
* * *
“Tell me about your day,” she asked as they sat on the couch.
“We had a great time. I really like him… your stepdad. I see why you love him so much. He just took it in stride that there was a strange man in his house. I got really nervous at first. I mean, it’s my girlfriend’s Dad… who she’s close to… Anyway, he was awesome. Friendly, charming, funny, generous. That man knows how to shop. Impressive.”
“He’s amazing. I knew you two would get along. Just didn’t think it would happen quite like that.”
“How was lunch?”
“The usual suspects. My sister was snarky, aunt Lizzy was excited, aunt Nora kept everyone in line. My mother was… sweet. She was really great, actually. I thought maybe I would get a ration of shit about surprising everyone this way, but she was cool. We had a nice afternoon.”
“I’m happy, Lola. I was thinking about you. And missing you.”
“I didn’t have time to miss you.” Lola anticipated the shocked look she received from him. “You were the sole topic of conversation. It’s big news you know. Lola’s getting laid.”
“Ouch!”
She realized that she actually wasn’t. Or wouldn’t. “Sorry, honey. Didn’t mean to rub that in.”
“I’ll survive,” he said feigning pain.
“Maybe this will help.” She leaned over and pressed her lips onto his. He immediately responded, putting his hand behind her head to bring her in even closer.
“Oh, la, la!!” Marco stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room.
Aidan sat up straight. “Excuse me, sir.”
Lola wrinkled her nose, not recognizing the deference.
He continued. “Should we go in to help now, Marco?” Lola turned to Aidan with eyebrows raised, amused. Who are you?
“You relax, Aidan. Ready for a drink?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“Well-behaved Aidan is kind of freaking me out,” she whispered.
He smirked. “Would you prefer the opposite?”
“Maybe not. Depends on the context, though.”
“You, Ms. Jennings, are killing me.”
Marco handed them each an etched glass with caramel colored liquid and a cherry sitting at the bottom.
Everything about that drink was perfect to Lola. “Looks great, Marco.”
“Bella!” He called out to his wife. “We are toasting now.”
“Do you like Old-Fashioneds, Aidan?”
“You know, it’s not something that I typically drink. It’s usually martinis for me. But I’m happy to give it a try. Looks delicious.”
“It’s our thing, Lola and I. Isn’t it, baby?” A sweet smile accompanied Marco's loving gaze.
“Yes. I’ve never been able to make one as good as yours, though.”
“The secret is patience, love. Patience.”
“Yes, well, that’s never in great supply.”
Monique entered the room. “What shall we toast?”
Marco knew exactly what to say. “To love!”
Lola gave him a sly look.
“To love and family,” her mother added.
Claire and Lewis were the last to arrive to game night, neither looking in a particularly good mood. The rest of the crowd had been sufficiently lubricated by Marco’s signature cocktail by then.
Lola, honestly happy that her sister had come, greeted her warmly. “Hey, I’m so glad you guys came!”
“Of course we came, Lola. We live five minutes away.”
Everyone noticed the cold response, nobody reacted. Lola contemplated keeping her distance from her sister.
“Lola, so glad to see you. Welcome home!” Lewis’ greeting was much warmer. He and Claire had been together for years, after meeting in college, and were pursuing a modern relationship - no marriage, no kids. They were both attached to their careers. Lola wondered how they were doing, but that night was not going to be the time to find out.
“Hi Aidan. I’m Claire, Lola’s younger sister. This is Lewis.”
“Great to meet you, Claire. Lewis.”
They stood without speaking until Marco broke the silence. “I’m serving Old Fashioneds tonight. Or I can get you something else.”
“That soun
ds great for me, Marco,” Lewis said.
“White wine for me, please,” said Claire. “I’ve got an early morning.”
Lola followed Marco into the kitchen, intending to help him bring out the drinks. She reached into the fridge, found a glass and poured her sister some wine.
“What’s going on with Claire?”
Marco shook his head. “She’s under a lot of pressure with work. And struggling with Lewis. You two should talk.”
It didn’t feel like that would be happening peacefully. She should have tried harder to return Claire’s calls.
Lola paused at the entrance to the grand living room to appreciate Aidan, surrounded by nearly all of her family. He was talking and laughing, having fun. It had been a good decision to bring him there.
Her Aunt Lizzy asked, “Who’s going to pick the game?”
“Why don’t the love birds pick?” No one could deny the edge to Claire’s voice.
Even Aidan was getting ruffled. “The love birds would LOVE to pick. What are the choices?”
“Come with me, Aidan. I’ll show you,” offered Monique.
* * *
The tension broke for the duration of the game. Lola relaxed into Aidan's arms, the exertion and excitement of the day settling into a comfortable relaxation. She wondered if she could get away with heading upstairs to bed.
Monique perked up and turned to Marco. “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be picking up Pablo?”
“I sent them a car. They’ll be here soon.”
“Excellent. I’m glad you’re not leaving.” She gave her husband a generous kiss.
He audibly growled, “Mi savrosa…”
Lola's attention snapped from the loving couple to Lewis as he stood up.
“You’re the one who said you needed to leave early!” He had raised his voice.
“You’re free to go.” Claire gulped the last of her wine and did not look up at her partner.
“Thanks everyone,” Lewis said with forced cheer. “This was fun. Lola - so great to see you, and nice to meet you, Aidan. See you all on Thursday.”
Everyone went rigid at Lewis’ abrupt departure. “Fill me up, Marco,” said Claire with her empty glass at the end of her outstretched hand.
“I’ll get it for you,” offered Lola, who needed a glass of water.
