She laughed and I rolled over, propping myself up on my elbow. “I wasn’t kidding.” I shook my head.
“Well,”—she rolled over and faced me—“I’m thinking that might make Matthew ask a few questions I’m not ready to answer yet, so I suppose you’ll just have to wait until he goes to bed every night.”
I tucked a stubborn piece of hair behind her ear. “You bet your ass we’re gonna do that every night… and every nap time… and when he’s watching TV… and when he’s outside playing…”
“Easy.” She laughed. “I’d like to be able to walk regularly.”
“Are you hungry?” I asked.
“Starving!” she said dramatically.
“Well, seeing as how I’m too fucking exhausted to cook any of the stuff I brought with me, wanna order a pizza?”
“Very fitting. I would love to.” She chuckled to herself. “And… I can think of something to keep us busy for the half hour until the delivery man gets here.”
“ARE YOU EXCITED?” I looked in my rearview mirror at Matthew, who was grinning in the backseat, as usual.
He nodded.
I turned toward Michelle. “How about you?”
“I’m nervous,” she admitted. “I mean… this is the equivalent of meeting your mom. She’s the most important person in your life.”
“Correction.” I lifted her hand, kissing the top of it. “One of the most important people in my life.”
She smiled at me with her whole face, from her mouth to her beautiful eyes.
“You have nothing to worry about. She’s gonna love you.” I hopped out of the car and unbuckled Matthew from the backseat while Michelle reached in and got Maura.
We were halfway up the sidewalk to Gam’s when she came out on her front porch and waved at us. “Hi, everyone!”
“Whoa,” I muttered under my breath before leaning over to Michelle. “Clearly you’re not the only nervous one. She’s never this chipper.”
“Hi!” Matthew waved back, running up ahead of us. “I’m Matthew.”
Gam rested her hands on her knees, bending over just a little bit to be closer to him. “Hi, Matthew. I’m Gam. Nice to meet you. You’re a cutie pie.”
“Thanks.” Matthew nodded. “So are you.” He climbed the rest of the way up the porch and walked into her house like he owned the place.
Gam stood and looked back at him with her mouth hanging open before turning to us. “I love that kid already.” She laughed.
“Hi, Gam. I’m Michelle.” She reached her hand out for Gam to shake, but Gam playfully pushed it away.
“I know who you are. You’re the woman that made my grandson’s brain turn to mush. I shake hands with strangers; I hug family.” She pulled Michelle into a big hug, wrapping her arms around Maura at the same time. “And you, you pretty little thing, you must be Maura.” Gam tickled under her chin with one finger as Maura smiled shyly and tried to hide behind her mom.
“How are you, you old bat?” I said when it was my turn.
“Wow. For once you don’t look like shit. Way to go, kid,” she said warmly as she hugged me back. “Come inside. I made lunch… unless Matthew already ate it all.”
We spent the next hour chitchatting as we sat around her dining room table eating BLT sandwiches and her famous pineapple coleslaw. That was my absolute favorite of hers. I swear I could eat it by the pound.
“That was delicious. I’m stuffed.” Michelle wiped her mouth with her napkin.
“I loved the bacon!” Matthew cheered, throwing his little hands up in the air.
“Me too, buddy.” I reached my fist out for him to bump it.
Michelle stood up and handed Maura to me as she started stacking the plates on her arm. “I’m gonna start cleaning this table off. Would you mind keeping an eye on Maura for me?” she asked.
“No problem.” I nodded, setting Maura down on my knee. Immediately, she squirmed to get down. “Hang on, baby. We’ll go play in a minute.”
“Oh, let her down.” Gam waved. “There’s not much here she can get into. Besides, I like watching her play.”
I set her down on the floor and turned in my chair so I could keep an eye on her.
“Wow, look at you,” Gam said as she pressed her lips together, shaking her head slowly at me.
“What?” I asked defensively.
“The way you are with the kids. It’s natural. I never thought I’d see you with kids.”
“Eh, Michelle is the real superhero, Gam. I just try to help out where I can and make her life a little easier.”