Part 12
CJ and Toby stayed pretty quiet the next day. He came over around noon and mostly talked with her brothers and uncles. CJ helped her mom with the food and the settings for the funeral tomorrow.
"So, what's going on?" Anna asked. But CJ didn't hear her, she was staring out at Toby. All the women in the kitchen started laughing, causing CJ to jump and look over at her mother.
"I'm sorry, what?" CJ asked.
"I asked what's going on? You seem distracted."
"I'm fine," CJ smiled.
"Then why have you been staring at Toby all afternoon. It's almost eight and you haven't even talked to him."
"It's nothing," CJ said quietly.
"Could you all excuse us for a moment?" Anna asked everyone in the room.
"Sure," Everyone smiled and walked out, leaving Anna and CJ alone.
"Will you tell me now?" Anna asked.
"Mom, nothing happened," CJ said.
"I know my daughter. Now something is going on. You and Toby haven't stopped talking since you got here, and now today, you two haven't even been in the same room with each other."
"Mom…"
"Claudia, please tell me," Anna looked at CJ and nodded.
"Last night I took Toby back to the hotel, and then I came home and talked with Alex."
"Alexander told me about your talk, but he says you were acting strange even before the talk. Did something happen between you and Toby?"
"No, nothing happened."
"Did you want something to happen?"
"Mom, I'm here for you and the family. Not for, you know…"
"Sex."
"Mom, please," CJ gave Anna a look that made her laugh.
"Claudia, it's not like it's my first time hearing it."
"I know, but that word isn't supposed to come out of my mom's mouth. It's just wrong."
"Tell me what happened," Anna asked again. CJ took a deep breath and looked up at her mother. It dawned on her that they haven't been able to talk like this forever.
"When I took him back to the hotel, we had a, I don't know, a moment or something."
"Or something?"
"He leaned in, and I leaned in…"
"Yeah?" Anna smiled.
"Then he looked at me and jumped out of the car. Then he walked into his room."
"Without saying anything?"
"Yeah. Then I get back and my World turns upside down because of what Alex says. I always thought you guys just thought it was fun to torture me. I didn't really think you thought Toby was the one."
"Well, we do love to torture you, but I honestly think Toby is your man. You told me about that time in the barn. When you two were about to kiss, but started laughing. You said it was because you two were just friends."
"We are just friends."
"But what happened last night? It sounds like neither of you started laughing."
"Maybe…"
"That's what scared him," Anna finished. "Listen, the funeral is tomorrow. Why don't we just get through that before we tackle something else?"
"That's the best idea you've had since I got here," CJ laughed.
"Thanks a lot," Anna joked. "Tomorrow's Friday. I made arrangement for you and Toby to leave on Sunday."
"Mom…"
"Nope, you have a job to get back too. But I want you two to visit more than twice a year. Do you understand me?"
"Yes mom."
"Good," Anna smiled. "Lets finish the cooking," She said as she called everyone else back in to get everything done.
"So, what's going on with you and Claudia?" Brain asked.
"Yeah, you two haven't talked at all today," Michael added.
"Yes we did." Toby said.
"Yeah, she asked you if you wanted dinner and you said sure. End of discussion," Alex laughed.
"See, we talked."
"Lovers spat," Brain smiled.
"Don't you three have something to do?" Toby asked.
"We're doing it," They all laughed. "It's called, relaxing. You should try it."
"I'm relaxed. Look at me. I'm in a tee-shirt and shorts. This is relaxing."
"It's the middle of February, why are you in shorts?" Alex asked.
"I'm used to below zero temperature. This is tropical to me."
"It's 33 degrees outside."
"It's a heat wave. Talking about a heat wave," Toby started to sing.
"I'm leaving, he's freaking me out," Brain laughed as he walked back into the house.
TBC