“We dodged another bullet,” Adam said nonchalantly, but I could tell he was very happy about the compromise.
So, when July rolled around, we packed our cars to the roof with half of our worldly belongings, including Rufus and this time Crank as well. Mr. Proctor was taking care of the outside animals, but he had developed an aversion to Crank because he claimed she bit him.
“I’m so sorry that happened, Mr. Proctor. Are you sure that you’re all right?” He got too close to her mouth, I thought. Definitely.
He stood facing me in the driveway, awash in disgruntlement, with his bulbous thumb wrapped in what seemed to be a truly excessive amount of gauze bandage secured with surgical adhesive. With the bandages his thumb was twice its normal size, a dramatic statement of his pain and suffering.
“I guess I’ll live. But I’m telling you, Mizz Stanley, I ain’t getting in the ring with that cat ever again. I like all God’s creatures ’cept that one,” he said. “That’s a terrible cat.”
Thus, the Stanley family’s cat, having lived up to its reputation, was headed to the beach to shed with impunity all over the dwelling of an unseen landlord.
Adam got out of his car first and Max jumped out to direct me into my parking spot as though he were a ground crew member working for an airline, guiding a plane to safely park at its jetway.
I laughed and rolled my car into the spot next to Adam.
“Your brother,” I said to Luke, shaking my head. I wondered, did my sons lie around cooking up ways to amuse each other? Or was their silliness just spontaneous?
“He’s a nut!” Luke said and laughed.
We began unloading, carrying suitcases, tennis rackets, endless bags of groceries and tote bags inside. It would take many trips back and forth and hours to set up our residence. Luke took Crank’s crate into the house, struggling against its shifting weight as Crank mewed in loud protest at being zigged and zagged up the steps.
“Don’t let the cat out! Luke? Did you hear me?” I called out. “Not until we are finished unloading the cars!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Luke called back.
“That cat will take off to kingdom come like a bullet,” I said to Adam.
“I’ll keep my thoughts on that to myself,” Adam said.
I could tell by his expression, he was obviously thinking it would be nice if Crank went to that great catnip bar in the sky.
“Come on. You know you love Crank,” I said.
“Right,” Adam said. “That cat’s the spawn of Satan.”
Adam had just slung his golf club bag over his shoulder when a door slammed. There stood Carl and Eve on the steps of their condo.
“Hey, there! Y’all need a hand?” Eve called out.
“Well, look who’s here!” I said. “What a surprise! I’ve been meaning to call you since I got your Christmas card! Where does the time go?”
Eve shot a look to Adam that spoke loudly—Adam and Eve knew that they were going to be there. I knew in that moment that Adam had been keeping secrets.
I’ll deal with you later, I thought.
“Hey! How are you?” Adam said, blushing to a deep red behind his sunglasses. He shook hands with Carl. “How are you, buddy?”
“Good. Good. Uh-oh,” Carl said, filled with devilish humor. “Somebody got very serious about his golf game this year. Look at those clubs. I see some Big Berthas in that bag!”
“Well, yes, I bought new clubs, if that’s an indication of how serious. I guess we’ll see,” Adam said, not exactly challenging Carl but challenging him all the same.
“I hope you brought your wallet,” Carl said and laughed. “Here, give me that.” He scooped up a heavy duffel bag from the driveway behind my car and, to further demonstrate his superior manliness, took the remaining three as well and carried them all inside. “How are you, beauty queen?” He gave me an air kiss.
“Oh, you . . . ,” I said and thought, Okay, it’s not so terrible to see them again, even if he is a bit of a blowhard.
Adam, Eve, and I watched as Carl’s biceps rippled and flexed, and I was a little breathless. Eve was not.
“Did you see that?” Eve said. “He’s a regular Rocky Balboa. I’m married to a real he-man.”
“I feel strangely inadequate,” Adam said. “Short between the trousers.”
I rolled my eyes at him and said, “Oh, honey. He’s just trying to be helpful.”
“Right,” Eve said.
There was a trace of sarcasm in Eve’s voice that was not lost on any of us, and I wondered what had gone on between Eve and Carl in the year we had been apart. She’s probably just tired, I thought, and it is as hot as the bottom floor of hell. Or maybe something had changed. And why didn’t Adam tell me that they would be here again?
“Oh, come on. He’s a darling!” I said. “So, how’s your momma and how is Daphne?”
“Oh, they’re fine,” Eve said. “Cookie took Daphne to the movies. Why don’t y’all get settled in and come on over for an early supper?”
“Oh! That’s so nice! Thank you. But we also have Adam’s father and his, um, girlfriend with us this year.”
Eve’s eyes opened wide over the mention of Adam’s father having a meaningful other.
“No kidding? Wow! How fun! Bring them too. It will give Cookie someone new to talk to. She’ll be thrilled! It’s no problem. I’ll call Pizza Hut!”
I stood there, suspended in time for a moment, and a thought flashed through my mind. Did I really want to pick up where we left off the prior year? How much of this vacation did I really want to spend with Eve and Carl? Then, just as quickly, I realized I’d sound ungrateful if I declined on the spot without a ready excuse. And I would be sending a message that conveyed a chilly wish for distance or privacy that I wasn’t sure I felt. It was Adam’s deception that was bothering me. So, even though I wasn’t sure about anything, I accepted. One supper together? It was a small thing in the larger scheme of a two-week vacation. And it would give Clarabeth some fresh ears to deafen.
“How’s six o’clock?” I said and smiled.
“Great! We can get all caught up.”
Eve gave me a tiny princess wave and glided into her condo. I thought to myself, How is it possible that she looks younger than last year? And she’s still too pretty for her own good. I wondered what Eve did to herself. Did she have a face-lift? Botox? Fillers? Or one of those other noninvasive treatments? Dang, I thought, whatever she’s doing, she looks amazing.
I wasn’t too happy with my own looks. Childbirth, sun, and probably my family’s DNA were causing slight irregularities in the coloration of my complexion and there were tiny wrinkles in the corners of my eyes when I squinted. My fortieth birthday was approaching and I wasn’t too thrilled about that either. But I wondered if I went back to Greece and measured myself against other Greek women my age, how would I fare?
What am I supposed to do about it? I thought and sighed.
I turned to go inside as Carl was coming out.
“Wow! It’s so nice to see y’all again!” he said. “Isn’t this a happy coincidence?”