I nodded, returning his embrace. "I will," I said, knowing that not every argument would have a happy ending. Yet, I trusted his goodness. I trusted he'd never knowingly hurt me, and I hoped he likewise knew I would never knowingly hurt him. That trust meant we had to give each other every opportunity to prove the other right.
"I don't understand why you didn't take Quinn up on his offer to hire a cleaning service." Greg was holding his youngest daughter, now eleven days old, while helping his son sort through the materials list for middle school and order the items online.
"Because, Mr. Fiona, it's more meaningful if we clean the apartment, because we do so with love. And Quinn and Janie will have to suffer through our love tomorrow." Sandra was at the kitchen sink, washing the refrigerator's crisper drawers. All the perishables were on the counter and Alex had bagged up the spoiled or old food for the trash.
Meanwhile, I was wiping out the inside of the fridge, scowling at a very stubborn, crystalized bit of goo. "What is this? I'm going to need a jackhammer."
It was Tuesday evening and we'd all convened for our usual knit night gathering. But instead of knitting, we were cleaning Fiona and Greg's apartment, making them dinner, and doing their laundry. Quinn and Janie were the only ones absent, but we'd made plans to clean their penthouse tomorrow.
Drew and Ashley had driven up from Tennessee. They were only staying for three days, but it was wonderful to have them even for a short period of time.
"The second bathroom is finished." Kat walked in, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. "I think we only have vacuuming left, but I want to wait until Fiona wakes up."
"Is Dan still re-organizing Grace's toys?" Sandra tossed over her shoulder. "Who knew he'd be so into color-coding Barbie doll shoes and arranging dream house furniture."
Greg made a discontented face, but said nothing. I knew he didn't like the fact that Grace owned Barbie dolls; he felt they perpetuated unrealistic and unhealthy ideas about female beauty.
"He was helping me in the bathroom." Kat reached for the solo cup with her name on it and filled it with the filtered water from the door of the fridge. "But, yes. Now I think he's with Grace in her room, helping organize the toy bins. Elizabeth and Nico are in there, too."
Sandra and I shared a look, but said nothing. She'd also noticed the ring on Kat's finger. We'd all noticed at this point, but neither Dan nor Kat were ready to fully discuss the situation.
"Where is Drew?" Alex finished tying the two trash bags, addressing this question to Greg. "Is he back from the hardware store yet?"
"Yes, now he and Ashley are in Jack's room folding the laundry." Kat refilled her cup.
"Has anyone seen our neighbor?" Greg asked the room. "Or have you seen my phone?"
"Who? The weirdo that tricked Marie into a date?" Sandra wrinkled her nose.
I paused my work, my neck heating and my heart doing the twist and shout. I hadn't yet told anyone about Matt and me. Everything was very new. And everyone was very busy. And it hadn't come up.
"Professor Simmons is a weirdo?" Jack glanced between his dad and Sandra.
"Everyone in this room-you included-is a weirdo." Greg shifted his infant daughter from one shoulder to the other. "He said something about stopping by today when I saw him yesterday morning, but I was too delirious to remember you were all coming over."
"Well then. I'll just go over there and un-invite him." Sandra placed a washed drawer on a towel next to the sink.
Bracing myself, I faced the kitchen. "Don't do that-"
"Be nice." Alex sent his wife a look as he hefted the two trash bags over his shoulder. "He's cool."
Kat made a scoffing sound, crossing her arms. "I'm with Sandra. I still don't like how he treated Marie."
I shut the fridge. "He didn't-"
"What did he do?" Jack's eyes were now rounded with the interest of a nine-year-old finally allowed to take part in adult discussions.
"It's a long story." Greg's voice was grumbly and tired as he scratched his chin. "Why don't you pick a backpack? How about this Madame Curie one?"
I moved to the middle of the kitchen and summoned my courage. Why do I feel so nervous about this?
"I want Minecraft." Jack turned his attention back to the laptop.
"Ada Lovelace, you say?" Greg closed the computer. "Minecraft wouldn't even be possible without the mother of computer science. Take this into the other room and pick out a backpack that will make you proud twenty years from now. Go."