Neither Mike nor Steve realized how hungry they were until they walked into the home at DeHaro Street. They could smell the savory aroma of the roast beef paired with fresh baked bread. Jeannie had set the table each with plates, cutlery and a couple of ales, a surprise for them both, figuring that the darker beer would pair nicely with the hearty roast beef.
"Aw man," Steve exclaimed, "this looks and smells amazing."
As she brought over the platter or roast beef, Jeannie added, "well none of it counts if it doesn't taste good."
The next several minutes were spent devouring the food before them. A three pound roast, vegetables, and an entire loaf of sour dough bread, gone with very little fanfare. Afterward, Jeannie cleared the table and brought out coffee. "I have dessert, but thought we could wait on that and just have a cup of coffee."
"What is it, Sweetheart?" Mike asked.
"Mom's apple pie," she beamed.
Steve swore he could see Mike's eyes grow a little glassy. His voice cracked when he added, "I think that sounds wonderful, but yes, let me digest a little bit of that delicious roast beef."
Jeannie sat down and began drinking her coffee. "So, what was it like going back to your childhood home?" she asked as she looked at Steve.
"Well, the case added quite a bit of sadness around it. But the place still looks good..."
"Did you see a lot of people you knew?"
"A few," Steve answered, "but understand, we were there on business, so not too many. I did go back to the high school that I would have attended and saw some familiar faces there. And they had class photo collages of the kids I went to school with who graduated there. I would love to go back and spend a little more time to see what those kids looked like in 1963. I'm sure there were some big changes, especially with the girls."
"How so?" Jeannie asked.
"Well, figure the Jackie Kennedy impact. Her hairstyle, her dress. And that was probably before the boys started letting their hair grow out. I mean, when you graduated, I'll bet everyone looked different and that was just a few years later."
"Long straight hair, beads and fringe..." Jeannie remembered.
"And that was just the boys," Mike added. "Which reminds me, Buddy boy, did you miss an appointment at the barber?"
Rolling his eyes, "No I did not and my hair doesn't look that bad."
"Doesn't look that bad, he says. Next time you step into Vice, they are going to put you out on the street."
Both Jeannie and Steve groaned. "That's so bad, Mike."
"All right, all right. I guess I'm out of step with the times," Mike declared as he took a sip of coffee. After all, it doesn't strike me that your love life has been hurt with the shaggy look."
Here it comes, Steve thought to himself.
"I mean, you get them at all ages. Young, middle aged..." Mike stopped as he stared at Steve and waited for a reaction.
Steve smiled devilishly. "That's just part of my charm, not my hair."
"Middle aged?" Jeannie asked. "Sounds like a story."
"Not much of one," Steve corrected. He paused for a moment and then smiled. "But I have to admit, she surprised me at the diner."
"She made a grab, didn't she, Buddy boy?"
"Daddy!"
"I saw you actually turn red and scoot away from her in the booth."
"Oh I hope it wasn't that noticeable. But yes, I got a squeeze on the knee. It surprised me," Steve added.
"What? Who?" Jeannie piped up.
"His old fifth grade teacher," Mike responded slowly with a teasing tone to his voice. "And I have to admit, I thought you were a little flush when you looked at her. Maybe we have a shot at a May-December romance, prey tell?"
"It's nothing," Steve responded firmly. "Look, it was twenty years ago and it was a school boy crush. So yes, it was a little shocking to see her and I needed to make sure I didn't revert to the 11 year old me. But that's all it was."
"I think she saw it and given how you've turned out - and take that as a compliment - she might be open for some after school tutoring."
"Mike!" Jeannie shouted as she was chuckling.
"Very funny. It was all completely innocent."
In unison, both Mike and Jeannie said, "completely innocent..."
"And I guess I'm the only on that had a school aged crush on someone," he said looking at Mike and then turning to Jean.
It was Jean's turn to turn red and Steve realized the implication. He quietly smiled and gave her a wink that her father didn't catch.
Jeannie recovered enough to change the subject, "Okay I think we've given Steve a hard enough time. I'll get the pie. You two stay here!"
