any of these trips with you?"
Walter smiles at Tyler. "We took him to England. Scotland. Where else?"
"Italy."
"That's right. He was fifteen. He didn't want to go. He had a girlfriend and was worried she'd find someone else while he was gone."
"Did she?" I ask Tyler.
"No." He smiles. "But I found someone in Italy."
"You cheated on your girlfriend?"
"It wasn't cheating. I bought her gelato and we walked around the park. That was the extent of our romance."
"Why didn't you tell me you were an international traveler?"
"It just never came up."
"Is everyone ready for dessert?" Grams asks.
"None for me," I say.
"Oh, that's right," she says, getting up. "I forgot about your date."
Tyler looks at me. "What date?"
"I'm going out tonight."
"With a guy?"
I laugh. "Yes. It's a date, and in case I didn't mention it, I date guys."
"I asked you earlier if you had a date tonight and you said you didn't."
"Because I didn't then. I do now."
Tyler sets his fork down and sits up straighter. "Who is this guy?"
"His name is Keith. I met him when I went to drop off the cookies. He's one of the firefighters."
"And he just saw you and asked you out?"
"He’s seen me there all week but this was the first day we talked."
"And you like this guy?"
"I'm not sure yet. Guess I'll know after our date tonight."
"Tyler, are you having dessert?" Grams asks.
"No," he snaps, like he's annoyed she asked. He didn't even look at her, his eyes still on me. "Why would you go out with a guy you met for like two seconds?"
"It was longer than two seconds. And why wouldn't I go out with him? He's nice. He's good looking. And he's helping the community."
"That's your criteria? Looks and someone who volunteers?"
"No, but those are both things he's got going for him. Why do you care?"
"I don't." He tosses his napkin on the table and stands up. "I have to go."
"Tyler, sit down," Walter says in a stern tone. "Dinner isn't over yet. It would be rude to leave now."
"Faith's leaving. If it's not rude for Faith, it's not rude for me."
"She has plans. You don't. Now sit down."
"Sorry, Pops, but I have things to do. Besides, I'm sure you'd like some time alone with Cora."
Walter shakes his head and mumbles something under his breath.
"Have fun on your date," Tyler says, glaring at me.
"At least go in there and thank Cora for dinner," Walter says.
"Fine." Tyler storms into the kitchen.
"I'm sorry about him," Walter says. "He's been under a lot of stress and he doesn't always handle it well."
"What's he stressed about?"
"There's no need to get into it. Just know he doesn't mean to be that way. He's actually a very kind and considerate young man. He always has been."
I check the clock and see it's almost eight. "I should get going."
"Have a good night."
I run upstairs to grab my purse. When I get outside I see Tyler walking back to his house.
"Hey!" I yell.
He ignores me.
"Tyler, wait!" I try to catch up to him but can't in these shoes. "Tyler, just stop."
He turns around. "What?"
"Why are you so angry?"
"I'm not."
"You are, so don't even try to say you're not. Are you mad because I'm going on a date?"
"Why would I be mad about that?"
"I don't know. That's what I'm trying to figure out."
"There's nothing to figure out. Just go."
"You don't want me dating? That's why you're mad?"
He doesn't answer.
"Why do you care? I thought—"
"He's here." Tyler points to my driveway. I look over and see a shiny black SUV. "Didn't know volunteer firefighters got paid that much. That thing's gotta be at least fifty thousand."
"I'm sure he has another job. The firefighting thing is on the side."
"You don't even know what he does for a living?"
"Not yet, but I'll ask."
"So you're basically going out with a complete stranger. Getting in his car. Going who knows where."
I roll my eyes. "Would you like to go along and chaperone?"
"Sounds like I need to. But I don't have time. I need to get to work."
"That's why you left dinner? To go work on the car? What's the rush? You have all week to work on it. And the week after that. And the one after that, until it's finished."
"It can't take that long. I need to get out of here."
"You're leaving?" I hear the panic in my voice. I don't know why I'm reacting like this. I shouldn't care if he leaves, but I do. I don't want him to go. "When are you leaving?"
"I