away so I don’t get emotional. Because the last thing we need is to add that to tonight’s menu.
Jennings doesn’t say anything. His jaw just tightens as he plucks at the brie wrapper.
Maris heads into the pantry and comes out with a tray. “I’ll get a knife. Kara, if we have this, I’m certain we don’t need neflies. Why don’t we save them for when we have kielbasa? Kevin, does that work for you?”
“Totally. Mom, can I go call Brooks?”
“Sure, sweetheart,” I say absentmindedly. “Don’t be too long since your father is here.”
“Right. I just wanted to before it got too late back home. I haven’t told him I have a father yet.” Kevin takes off toward the basement at a fast clip.
“And I need to get dressed for work so I can head out right after we’re done eating,” Maris declares. “Will dinner hold for twenty? Jennings was a little early anyway.”
Jennings flushes as he chops the bread into wedges of varying sizes.
“Absolutely,” I confirm.
“Great. Back in a few.” Maris heads toward the stairs.
“Thank you, Lord.” I send my thanks upward when the kitchen has resumed its normal level of peacefulness. I enjoy the silence as I unplug the skillet to let it cool before I put away the five pounds of bacon I would have had to fry up to get the necessary amount of grease. When I turn around, Jennings is handing me a piece of bread laden with brie and a slice of prosciutto on a napkin.
Right now, it makes me want to launch myself in his arms and kiss him all over his handsome face. Curbing that, I murmur an appreciative “Thank you” before I take a healthy bite and moaning. “Let me find the corkscrew.”
Jennings chuckles. “Have they been like that all day?” he asks as he continues to slaughter the bread.
Turning from the gadget drawers triumphant, I admit, “It’s always like that between them. It got worse when I started cooking. The meal is one of their favorites.”
Jennings nods, adding the last of the bread lumps to the platter. “So, what are neflies?” Jennings asks, putting down the knife.
“A very thin dough boiled in water you then have to fry in bacon grease. It’s an utter pain in my ass to make, but Kevin begged for it.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.
“Are you going to put me in the same category as our son and your friend if I tell you that sounds fucking fantastic? I’ve been living off of fast food all weekend.”
“Yes, but I’ll forgive you because it really does taste as good as it looks.”
“Is there any chance I’ll get to have it?”
“Maybe. It depends.”
“On what?”
On if you don’t disappoint our son. On if we can get along well enough for you to be around. But I don’t say that aloud. “On whether a growing boy can withstand the temptation to not eat the bacon that’s in the refrigerator,” I say lightly.
“Kara?”
“Yes?”
“I’d really like to talk with you about…” But Jennings is interrupted by Kevin’s footsteps on the stairs.
“Brooks says hi, Mom. Oh, cool. Snacks.” And I leave whatever Jennings was going to say unsaid. Instead, I enjoy Kevin hoovering through half of the tray before Maris makes her way down the stairs while making small talk with his father.
Not long after, we sit down to eat. Conversation flows smoothly with Jennings asking Kevin what he’s seen in Juneau. I fear he’s going to choke on his meal trying not to laugh as Kevin brings out evidence of his argument that Juneau has a distinct ratio of fast-food restaurants to residents because “—before we left, Mom was researching the builders for our first home, Jennings. In the neighborhood we’re looking in, there are at least seven, not counting our local grocery store. And if you drive just a few minutes,” he exclaims, as he shoves a bite of casserole into his mouth, “there’s at least twenty more.” The look he sends Maris is filled with horror. “I feel like we need to send you boxes of TGI Fridays on dry ice.”
“You do realize I can buy that at Walmart?” she says dryly as she stands. “It’s actually more of a treat to have you and your mother here to cook and have a conversation with.”
“I get you, Maris,” Jennings agrees. He takes another bite and swallows. “This is about twenty times more delicious than most things I eat out.”