“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I…Nothing. It was just something I read.”
“Well, it’s stupid.”
The doorbell rang.
Thank God, Caroline thought, jumping up and hurrying to the front door.
“Hi, there. Are we late?” Peggy asked as she and Fletcher stepped inside.
“Right on time,” Mary said, coming up behind Caroline and accepting a bouquet of long-stemmed yellow roses from Peggy and a bottle of expensive white wine from Fletcher. “I’m so thrilled you could make it. Caroline, could you please put these gorgeous flowers in a vase? Don’t forget to trim the stems.” She handed them to Caroline with scarcely a glance in the roses’ direction.
“Thank you so much for inviting us,” Peggy said, following Mary into the living room as Caroline walked toward the kitchen.
“Fletcher, maybe you could open the wine,” Caroline heard her mother say in an almost coquettish tone of voice.
“Okay. Where does she hide them?” she muttered as she searched through the cupboards for a vase.
“Talking to yourself again?” a male voice asked from behind her. “I hear that’s the sign of a crazy person.”
“Shit,” Caroline exclaimed as she spun around to face her brother. He was sitting in one of the kitchen chairs, one long leg crossed over the other. “You scared me half to death. Where did you come from?”
He pointed in the direction of the bedrooms.
“I thought you were at a business meeting.”
“I was. Snuck in twenty minutes ago. Thought I’d have a nap, but your scintillating conversation with Mother kept getting in the way. You might try the cupboard over there.” Steve pointed toward a high cupboard above the stove.
Caroline had to stand on her tiptoes to reach the shelf, her fingers stretching toward the neat row of glass vases. “I don’t suppose it would occur to you to help.”
“It’s much more fun to watch you struggle,” he said as the heavy vase almost slipped through her fingers. “You sure you want that one?”
Caroline carried the vase to the sink where she filled it with water, then unwrapped the roses.
“Don’t forget to trim the stems,” Steve said with a wink.
She located a large pair of scissors in the top drawer next to the sink and proceeded to snip an inch from the bottom of each long stem, her brother chuckling all the while. She noted that he was having trouble focusing. “I see someone started celebrating a little early.”
“And I see you brought pie.”
“Pumpkin.”
“I prefer apple.”
“So I’ve heard.” She finished trimming the roses, arranged them in the vase, and then picked it up and carried it into the hall. “Coming?” she asked her brother.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Steve, sweetheart, is that you?” Mary asked as Caroline and her brother approached. “I thought I heard your voice.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Mother,” Steve said, walking into her embrace. “Fletcher…Peggy. Good to see you again.”
“How are you, Steve?” Fletcher asked.
“You’re looking well,” Peggy added.
“As are you.” Steve dropped into the chair Caroline had occupied earlier.
Caroline deposited the vase on the coffee table in front of the sofa and stood back to admire it. “The flowers are so beautiful.”
“They are. But why did you pick that vase?” Mary asked. “Surely there was a nicer one…”
“I tried to tell her,” Steve said.
“This vase is perfect,” Peggy said.
Mary sniffed at the flowers. “It’s such a shame that roses don’t smell anymore.”
“Why is that, I wonder?” Steve asked. “And more to the point, what’s everybody drinking?”
“Fletcher and Peggy brought a lovely bottle of Chardonnay. So thoughtful.” Mary glanced pointedly at Caroline before pouring her son a glass and placing it in his outstretched hand.
“I wouldn’t mind some,” Caroline said.
“Are you sure, dear? You know how you get when you drink.”
“Excuse me?”
“Allow me,” Fletcher said, jumping up and filling a glass for Caroline as the doorbell rang.
“That’ll be Micki,” Mary said, heading for the front door.
“What is she talking about?” Caroline asked Peggy. “How do I get?”
“She’s just baiting you,” Peggy answered. “Try not to bite.”
“I’d like to bite her head off, is what I’d like to do.”
“And we’re off,” Steve said, smiling from ear to ear.
“Sorry I’m late,” Caroline heard her daughter apologize from the foyer. “I waited forever for a bus.”
“Don’t give it a thought. You’re right on time.”
“I was at the hospice,” Michelle said, entering the living room and nodding hello to everyone.
“I thought you worked mornings,” Mary said.