I loved the idea. “Yeah, a sleepover, like when we were kids. That would be amazing. You can have my room since I’m sleeping in Gran’s these days…” I sniffed. “I just don’t want… crap.” I swiped at my eyes.
“Nope…” She thrust out her hand. “Don’t do it, you can’t do it, or I’ll do it,” Tammy warned.
“And then I’ll do it,” Ricky added.
“See, don’t go there.” Tammy gave me a stern look.
“Okay, move in for a while, please!” I begged.
“No need to beg, I said I would. I’ll sleep in my clothes tonight and get my stuff in the morning. It’s been on my mind, I wanna do this. For a little while at least. Get some bonding time with Gran, you know, bug you and stuff,” Tammy said softly.
I felt lighter all of a sudden. “Thanks.”
Tammy flashed her eye at me again from behind the blanket. “But don’t be sappy, I don’t like sappy.”
“Oh please,” I flashed her one back, “I’m not sappy!”
Ricky spit out some of his beer. So, maybe I was a little sappy at times. Ricky stayed until the end of the third movie then went home across the street. I set Tammy up in my room and decided to leave Gran on the couch. I didn’t want to wake her, so I just settled into the La-Z-Boy and slept in the living room that night.
The next morning, Gran was thrilled to hear that Tammy had moved in for a little while. Every night, Tammy and I sat vigil together, just soaking up life, ordering take-out if Gran had a craving or cooking together in the kitchen. I could tell that Gran was having a wonderful time. Ricky would stop by and brought his husband on occasion. Athena even brought her baby for all of us to fawn over. Things felt perfect and nobody mentioned the elephant in the room again.
Before I knew it, it was Saturday again. I told Tammy and Gran that I would sit out the family day with KP and Wenton, but both refused the idea. They liked that I did things with KP and his brother, and seriously, it was the only time I got to get away from my life, which was so full of complicated feelings. Granted, I was trading up for more complicated feelings, but having a different set was a nice change of pace. Tammy had promised her boyfriend she would spend the weekend with him, so she called dibs on Saturday afternoon with Gran.
“You get her to yourself all the time. I never get her to myself. Don’t be selfish,” she pouted.
So, we agreed. Tammy would spend Saturday afternoon alone with Gran, and I would get to be with her Saturday night and Sunday. It felt right. Gran was doing okay; I hadn’t seen a lot of change. She was still fragile and barely ate, but she was as feisty and spirited as ever.
I was both excited and nervous to see KP. It had been a week, and over that time, when I wasn’t thinking about Gran and the circle of life or entertaining Tammy and Ricky while they sat vigil with me, I was almost obsessing over the man. I thought of his soft lips when I kissed him, and his sad story about his loveless family. I was both anticipating and dreading seeing him again. I felt safe that he wouldn’t made any indecent proposals, but also sad. As much as I hated to admit it, it was part of his charm.
I also looked forward to spending more time with Wenton, but I was fearful too. I saw the same vicious life cycle circling around Wenton’s world. But as Gran had so eloquently offered, there was shit we could do about it.
This time, Gran insisted on greeting KP at the door. She hadn’t been walking around too much these days, but she got out of her jammies and put on her “America Fuck Yeah” t-shirt and a pair of jeans. This woman. She always had a thing or two up her sleeve. When the knock came on the door, she took her time answering it. KP looked a bit startled to see her.
“Hi, I’m here for Caitlyn,” he said kindly.
She looked him over. Like, really looked him up and down over a space of time that must have lasted a hundred years. “Cat, he’s a whole lot hotter in person, you crazy nut.”
I blushed but grinned at an embarrassed-looking KP. “Oh? I hadn’t noticed, Gran,” I said as seriously as I could manage.
“Gotta get you a pair of glasses,” she quipped, nearly yelling at him. “Want some tea?”
“I would love some, but we’re already a little late I’m afraid. Can I take you up on the tea offer this afternoon when we return?”
“It’s a deal.” Gran shook on it and nearly fell over.
Tammy arrived and escorted Gran to the rocking chair on our porch. “I got her, Cat. You guys have fun.” She actually smiled like she meant it.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I asked, probably for the one hundredth time.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll hit you,” she threatened.
“Okay, okay,” I finally conceded.
She rolled her eyes.
Family day at the facility was just about what I would expect it to be. There were balloons and mega bowls of munchies. Gloopy foods in aluminum trays, BBQ, and an iPad blaring music over some crackling speakers. Very… um, institutional. Luckily for all of us, Wenton loaned the facility the karaoke set up, so all the families had fun with that. I got to see KP at work. It was a surprise. I thought we’d be sequestered away with Wenton as we usually were, but instead, KP was being pulled this way and that by people who, for lack of a better word, were schmoozing. He was gracious about it, but he wasn’t too happy.
I was amused watching the spoils of celebrity and also happy that it gave Wenton and I a chance to be alone to talk.
“Do you like family day?”
“It’s okay.” He looked jealous though as his brother was being moved from one group of people to the next. “I like the macaroni salad.”
“Looks yummy,” I said, trying to connect.
“You should try it.” He smiled but there was a note of sadness in the expression.
“Maybe later. Are you okay, Wenton?” He seemed so distant.
“Yeah, I’m okay. My brother has to talk to people at this party. They know my parents. We hate them.”
“Who? The people or your parents?” I was confused.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Both.”
“Why?”
“Cause they’re stupid.” He had a good point. Sequestering a family member away from their parents on family day was pretty “stupid.”
“Do you want to get some macaroni salad and talk?” I was hoping he would feel comfortable having a conversation with me alone.
“Sure.” He seemed to brighten up at my suggestion.
While in line, he started talking about his childhood. Usually when he spoke, he had a childlike manner, as if he never really aged past seven years old. Today, he seemed more mature than I was used to seeing him.
“Do you know why KP is on the scavenger hunt?” he asked out of the blue.