taste test.” He was holding a spatula heavy with a dripping meat patty as he turned around. His eyes grew wide when he looked at Jude. The patty, grease, onions, cheese and all, dropped to the floor. Janie and Sophie broke out in shrilly giggles, and Mom covered her mouth to force back a laugh.
Jude stared down at the splat of meat on the floor. “I think I’ll take a rain check on that burger.”
“I’m sure we can get you one without the linoleum print,” Mom said.
Dad stepped over the fallen burger and wiped his hands on his food crusted apron. “Holy shit, I can’t believe it. Holy shit”
Janie clapped her hands and giggled. “Oly shit.”
Mom shot Dad a rare, admonishing glare.
“Sorry. Holy Moly, Holy fucking moly. You’re Jude King.”
Jude smiled and stuck out his hand, which was brave considering the condition of the apron Dad had just wiped his hands on. “Pleased to meet you, Sir.”
“I feel like I know you,” Dad gushed. “I still remember when you rode your first two wheel bicycle in that documentary they made about your dad.”
Jude looked over at me and smiled.
“Creepy ain’t it?” I asked.
“Not at all.”
Dad’s face pulled tight suddenly. “How’s your dad doing? I’ve heard everything from a heart attack to a drug overdose.”
“He’s fine. It was just exhaustion. He’s at home resting right now.”
Dad turned to me and it looked like he’d swallowed his tongue.
“Yes, Dad, I met him, and we talked about you.”
“Whoa!” Dad yelled. “You met Nicky King.” He looked at me with more pride than I’d ever seen him muster.
“By the way, Dad, I saw my last grades on-line. I graduated third in my class. Well, I’m not sure if it counts since I wasn’t actually at the graduation but—”
“That’s great, Sweetie,” he said, brushing off my school accomplishments to get back to what mattered most. “So did you make a good impression? Did you practice all the good manners your mom and I taught you?”
Mom and I burst out laughing.
“My dad was thoroughly impressed.” Jude smiled over at me, and my heart did that little jolt thing it did whenever he looked at me. “We are all thoroughly impressed.”
“Is that right?” My mom was searching my face for clues of just how thoroughly things had been between us. Fortunately, I’d learned how to put on a poker face when it came to boys.
Sophie grabbed my hand. “Edie, did you bring gifts?”
“Gifts,” Janie repeated.
“As a matter of fact, I did.” I slid the back pack off my shoulder, removed the toys, and held the boxes face down. “Pick one, and you both have to promise to be happy with the one you choose.”
“I promise,” Sophie said. She grabbed the sporty Barbie.
I handed Janie the party dress Barbie, and Sophie immediately craned her neck to see if Janie got the better doll. “Oh, I like that dress,” she whined.
“Sophie, you promised.”
“That’s O.K, my doll is prettier,” Sophie said.
“No mine is,” Janie cried.
“They are the same dolls but with different outfits.” I looked at Mom for help, but it was obvious that she was glad to have a break from them. I’d spent a lot of time taking care of my sisters and after I left, Mom had probably felt it more than anyone. “I knew I should have bought them each the same doll.”
“Then they would have complained that they wanted different ones.” Mom put her arm around me and led me to the couch. Dad had already corralled Jude in the kitchen. He sat him down at the table and prepared him a burger. I heard them talk about Jude’s career in music and his artwork. Apparently Dad knew a lot about the entire King family. Jude sat politely in the small, smoky kitchen listening to my dad tell an entire narrative of Jude’s childhood, probably knowing more about Jude’s than mine.
I sat on the couch, the familiar, mildew-smelling, lumpy couch and leaned my head on Mom’s shoulder. She glanced over at the kitchen. Dad had Jude’s complete attention. “First of all,” she spoke quietly to be drowned out by the sizzling stove, “he’s breathtaking.”
“Yeah,” I said on a sigh.
“What exactly is going on? I thought you were there to be a companion for Nicky’s daughter.”
“I am. Finley is a lot of fun. We’re having a blast together. I’ve never had a friend that I’ve bonded with so quickly as Finley. And she has a pet pig.” That comment pulled Sophie’s attention away from the Barbie.