Part IV

It was getting late. Lucy looked around but couldn't find Dan and figured that he had gone outside somewhere to sneak a cigarette. The twins were still monopolizing the TV, forcing everyone else to sit through The Pokemon Movie for the second time. Ruthie sat in an armchair by herself, her eyes gleaming as she looked around the room, taking note of who was present and who wasn't. Matt was slumped in a corner of the couch; Lucy could hear Sarah upstairs trying to bribe the kids to stay in bed. The low murmur of Mary on her cell phone carried in from the stairway. Simon and Henry were nowhere to be seen, and Lucy assumed that they must have gone outside with Dan.

"How about some ice cream?" her father asked.

Her mother looked puzzled. "Why would we need ice cream, dear? All the kids are here in the house."

"No, I mean I would like to eat some ice cream. I know there's a gallon of vanilla in the freezer. Is anyone with me?"

"Me!" the twins cried, in perfect synchronicity.

"Me too," Ruthie added.

Remembering that her mother had just sat down, Lucy said quickly, "Don't get up, Mom. I'll get it." She rose and headed toward the kitchen.

"Don't forget the chocolate sauce!"

"No problem, Dad," she called as she entered the kitchen. Flipping on the overhead light, she saw Simon and Henry kissing in front of the sink piled high with drying dishes. They sprang apart as she noticed them and stood looking at her with guilty expressions on their faces.

"You two better watch it!" Lucy hissed as she grabbed the ice cream, sauce, bowls and spoons. "They were just about to walk in here until I volunteered!"

Simon and Henry nodded at her and she turned to leave. As she turned the corner, she could hear them snorting with suppressed laughter behind her back. She kept going, gritting her teeth with irritation. Idiots. Simon always had to live dangerously whenever he came home. Telling them he was moving to Vermont, for Pete's sake!

"Here's the ice cream!" she announced with false cheer. The twins grabbed theirs without even glancing away from the TV screen. Everyone silently began to eat, watching the action on the TV with glazed eyes.

Mary came into the room. "Sorry, gang, but I gotta go. They're calling me in."

"What?" Annie asked, lifting her head from her husband's shoulder. "I thought you said you got the day off."

"I asked for it off, but somebody's called in sick and they need me after all. I'll just catch a late flight and I can be there first thing tomorrow." She was trying to look as though she was sorry to be going, but not doing a very good job.

Mary trotted up the stairs to get her suitcase. A few minutes later, Sarah's voice drifted down the stairs. "I said no jumping on Aunt Mary! You get into bed now, Kady, or no TV tomorrow! I mean it! I really do! Okay, I'm going to count to three! One! Two! Two and a half!"

Matt was apparently asleep again, because he snored loudly. He still had a large pink barrette stuck in the front of his hair.

Mary skipped back down the stairs. Yeah, she was doing a great job of looking sorry to go, Lucy thought wryly. Her sister made a big fuss of telling everyone not to get up, but they all did anyway, of course, to give her the goodbye hugs. "Where are the Simon and Henry and Dan?" Annie asked, looking around.

"I think they went for a walk after dinner," Lucy said quickly.

"Well, tell them goodbye for me. See you next year, everybody!" Mary called out cheerfully and opened the door. Out on the doorstep was Dan.

"Hey, you're finally back from your walk!" Lucy cried out, hoping he'd take the hint. After a second of hesitation, Dan smiled and nodded. Mary went through the goodbye hug ritual with him, and Lucy noticed her wrinkling her nose curiously. Oh God, Lucy thought, I hope he doesn't reek of smoke.

"Gosh, it's getting so late!" she said loudly. "And Dan and I have such a long drive tomorrow! We'd better be getting to bed, don't you think, Mom?"

Annie smiled. "You're right, it is late. I've been trying to keep from yawning."

Lucy steered her fiance inside and up the stairs, hoping to keep him away from her mother's sensitive nose. Dan caught her eyes and looked into them meaningfully. "In the boys' room," she whispered to him furiously, and he rolled his eyes, but kept walking down the hall.