To say thank you and to move things along, I'm releasing more than one chapter this week. Maybe more! Thank you for waiting for me and sticking with this fic!
Before I knew it, Easter weekend rolled around three weeks later. I checked my suitcase at the airport and met Steve at the domestic terminal for the flight to Nashville.
"Tony asked if you were interested in a trip to another one of his vacation homes," Steve said. "In exchange for another batch of cookies."
"You know I am," I said, grinning. I was jittery. "I am so excited about you meeting my family."
"I'm not excited, I'm nervous. I've never met a girlfriend's family before."
"They're going to love you," I said. "You have nothing to worry about."
He took my hand and squeezed it. His felt almost clammy in mine.
The flight was uneventful and relatively short. At BNA, the weather was sunny, but a little cool, perfect for Easter. We came down to the baggage claim, and Daddy and Harland were waiting.
"That's them," I whispered as we came down the escalator.
"Baby!" Daddy cried. "Come here, sweetheart, give your ol' Daddy a hug!"
"Hi," I said, and let go of Steve's hand to hug my father.
"Dani-girl, you look good," Harland said, hugging me.
"So this is the elusive Steve Rogers," Daddy said. "Man, we've been waiting since Thanksgiving to meet you, son."
"It's nice to meet you, sir," Steve said, shaking Daddy's hand. "It's Colonel Conyers?"
"I'm retired now, just call me Curtis. And this is my husband and Dani's step-father, Harland Bettencourt."
"Nice to meet you, too."
So far, so good.
We claimed our luggage and Daddy drove us home to Brentwood. My allergies started acting up almost immediately, since the Bradford Pear trees were blooming and middle Tennessee was an allergy bowl, the pollen count high. I could see the yellow film on the cars. Daddy gave Steve an abbreviated tour of Brentwood, pointing out where I had gone to high school, where the Civil War battles had been, and how bad the traffic was getting. "You know I tried to get Dani to go to school here. Lipscomb has a great program for Licensed Practical Counselors."
"She's a smart one," Harland agreed.
"She's one of the smartest girls I've ever dated," Steve agreed. "You did a good job making her."
"Well, I'm not one to brag, but-"
"Y'all, can you stop?" I asked, blushing.
"You got taste, son," Daddy joked.
"Sure do," Steve agreed. He winked at me and I couldn't help by chortle.
When we got Daddy and Harland's house, I noticed that the old, rotten deck had been torn down and there was lumber piled up, some of it had been assembled in the backyard.
It was only two-thirty, so the kids were still at school and my siblings at work. Harland insisted on making something for us to eat the moment we arrived.
"I told you Steve can eat like a horse, right?" I asked. "Make an extra sandwich for him."
"I remember those days when I could eat everything and not gain an ounce," Harland said. "Just wait'll you turn forty, it all breaks down then."
Steve and I exchanged a knowing glance.
After eating the mid-afternoon snack, Steve insisted on getting my suitcase and his Army duffle upstairs. "Danielle, why don't you and Steve get unpacked? I've got both of you in your room," Daddy said, trailing behind us.
"Daddy, are you sure?" I asked.
"If your grandmother comes over and needs a nap, I want to make sure she'd got the guest bedroom," Daddy said. "Steve, you're okay with sharing a room with her?"
"If it's alright with you," Steve said awkwardly.
"I'll let the two of you get unpacked," Daddy said, leaving the room.
"That's forward-thinking," Steve muttered.
"I'm surprised he's doing this," I admitted. "No sex this weekend."
"Dani, I wasn't.. Uh…"
"I'm sorry. When we get back to New York," I said.
I heard a familiar motor in the driveway: it had to be Lauren. "That's Lauren! Come on!"
I took his hand and led him downstairs.
"Aunt Dani!" I heard Peyton and Matthew shout as the door to the garage opened.
"I'm here!" I called, and rounded the corner to the kitchen.
They both stopped and stared at the blond giant behind me whose hand I was holding. "Who dat?" Peyton asked.
"That's Steve," Matthew explained.
"Give me some hugs!" I commanded.
"That's Aunt Dani's boyfriend," Lauren said, stepping into the house, still wearing her scrubs. "Hi Dani, you look gorgeous."
"You do too," I said, giving her a hug.
"In my scrubs?" She snorted.
"This is Steve."
"It's nice to meet you, Lauren," Steve said, shaking her hand. "She's told me a lot about the work you do."
"Steve's mom was a nurse," I said.
"What branch of nursing was she in? Dani never told me," Lauren said.
"She worked in hospice care," I blurted out.
"That's such a tough field to be," Lauren said. "Almost has hard as neo-natal pediatrics. But hey, I brought a box of wine!"
"Yes, let's tap it!" I cried.
We drank some wine in the kitchen and talked about school and the political drama in DC, while the kids played XBOX in the living room while Harland started on chicken and dumplings for me. "Where's Russell?" I asked Lauren.
"I'm not his mother," she grumbled. I pulled back, surprised.
"It sounds like you and Dani had a nice vacation in Monaco," Daddy said loudly. "I saw the pictures. She blocked your face out, though."
"Special ops rules about social media," I said.
"I can tell you all about it," Steve offered as the door to the garage opened, and Shawn and Ruby burst through the laundry room to the kitchen.
"Papa!" the shouted in unison and saw Steve sitting at the counter, eyes growing wide at the sight of him.
"Hi, we're the Bettencourts," Leighanne said, stepping into the kitchen, holding a six pack of cokes, and had a few bottles of wine under her arm. "We've been wanting to meet you for a while. I'm Leighanne Bettencourt, you must be Dani's boyfriend Steve."
"Yeah, that's me."
"Harland Jr's coming in with the beer," she said, putting the cokes away. "Don't mind my kids, I'm trying to teach them manners, it's not taking yet. My kids are Shawn and Ruby, sorry they didn't say hello."
"I don't mind at all," Steve said. "Dani tells me you're a teacher?"
"I am," Leighanne said. "I teach social studies in seventh grade."
"Like history?"
"Yes, history. We focus on Tennessee History."
"Dani!" Harland Jr shouted, coming into the kitchen with four six-packs of Black Abbey. "Welcome home!"
"Thanks," I said, kissing him on the cheek. "You got Black Abbey?"
"Your favorite!"
After we got everyone situated for dinner and set the kids up at the breakfast nook, the adults settled down at the dining room table. We got to feed chicken and dumplings to Steve, who seemed to enjoy it and the discussion gravitated to him. I had told him it was okay to lie to my family, since his history was unbelievable as it was, but he insisted he wasn't going to. "Leighanne, how was school today?"
"The kids were insane today," Leighanne complained. "They're all hyped up for the extra day off. I'm just happy for spring break!"
"Dani said you teach history, what's really exciting about Tennessee history? Forgive me, I'm a Yankee, I wouldn't know."
"Okay, let me tell you all about prohibition in Tennessee and how there are still some counties that don't allow liquor or wine," Leighanne said. She and Junior started talking about how they were thinking about buying some farmland out out in Spring Hill where they were thinking about starting their own wine label, like Arrington Vineyards, if she could get out of teaching. That was a relief to me. "So what's your favorite kind of wine, Steve?" Leighanne asked.
"I think my favorite would be… I don't drink wine very often unless I'm with Dani, but I like a good red sherry. My favorite is cabernet. Of course, nothing beats the boxed wine Dani keeps in her fridge," Steve joked.
"Hey, no judgment," Junior said. "Boxed wine keeps the longest."
"And I'm a poor grad school student," I added in.
"Okay, so don't us get wrong, we're not complete alcoholics, although we want to start a winery and brought all the booze tonight," Leighanne said. "But it's not every night Dani brings home a serious boyfriend."
"Hey, I don't mind," Steve said. "I grew up downstairs from giant Italian family. Every Tuesday, their garbage can was filled up with wine bottles on the curb."
"Isn't that a stereotype?" I joked.
"They didn't recycle?" Leighanne asked, horrified.
"Momma!" Ruby came running into the dining room. "I want some more milk!"
"Excuse me," Leighanne said.
"I think we should go out and enjoy ourselves," Lauren said. "Everything's going to be crowded tomorrow and Friday, and we've got church. We've got to show Steve a good time."
"Speaking of which, what's the schedule?" I asked.
"We've already missed the Maundy Thursday church services tonight. But the Good Friday pantomine is tomorrow night," Daddy said, getting up, gathering a few empty bowls to take to the kitchen.
"We usually try to entertain the kids with dyeing Easter Eggs, but that doesn't last for long," Harland said.
"I'm ready for it," Steve said.
"We're going to have a bonfire Saturday night after church," Leighanne said. "Are you Catholic, Steve?"
"Yeah, old school, pre-Vacatan II Irish Catholic," Steve said.
"That's perfect," Harland Jr said. "I think we need to take him to lower Broadway."
"No way!" I cried.
"Broadway?" Steve repeated.
"You like whiskey?" Junior teased.
"Sure," Steve said.
"Good, I'm calling the Uber."
"No, we should start with Bushwackers!" Lauren cried gathering up the rest of our empty bowls.
"Hey, what are you kids doing?" Daddy asked, coming back into the room.
"We're going to take Steve to Lower Broadway and get him some buy one get two pair free boots," Lauren said, swilling down the last of her wine.
"You know I can't let y'all go alone," Daddy said.
"Daddy, no, I just want to take Steve to Pinewood Social and bowl a game, that's it."
"What's on Lower Broadway?" Steve asked.
"Oh, Steven, we're going to take you for some fun!" Leighanne said coming back into the dining room, her eyes lighting up. "I want a Bushwacker first!"
I groaned.
"What kind of boots are we talking about?" Steve whispered to me, confused. "I already have boots."
I groaned.
When the Uber arrived, I worried the interrogation would get worse once we took some shots. I wondered where the hell Russell was, and Harland offered to stay with the kids while we went to the party and tourist capital of Nashville. "You don't have to tell them anything," I said. "Get a few drinks in them, they'll start asking questions nonstop."
"I'm not afraid of answering them," Steve said. "Besides, if they're drunk, how much are they going to remember?"
I grimaced.
In the Uber XL, Daddy joined us immediately. "I hope you got a lot of food on your stomach, because the moment we get there, there's going to be shots all around."
"Oh goody," I muttered.
"No, we're getting Bushwackers first," Lauren said.
"Wait up!" Lauren shouted, flinging the van's door open. She had changed into a pair of jeans and a black, one-shoulder top, and a pair of booties. Leighanne and Harland Jr were right behind her.
"We should have gotten Russell to watch the kids," Lauren complained.
"Where is he?"
"Work. I cannot believe they're doing something so tacky as holding a late meeting during the end of Holy Week!" Lauren said, rolling her eyes.
"That's life," I said, shrugging.
At Lower Broadway, it was a little more packed than a usual Wednesday night, but nothing like a Saturday night. We stopped immediately at Broadway Brewhouse and Daddy ordered and insisted on paying for the first round of Bushwackers.
"What is this?" Steve asked as the bartender came by with them. "A milkshake?"
"A milkshake made out of alcohol, basically," Junior said. "Take a sip, it's delicious, it's like a Wendy's Frosty."
I worried Steve would handle his alcohol a little too well as we started drinking. After two rounds of Bushwackers, I was feeling buzzed, but we got up and went down to Tootsie's, where Lauren insisted on a round of shots.
Our family tradition was to shout "Volunteers!" for our home state when taking shots, and Steve looked confused.
"Is that a UT thing?" he asked me.
"No, we're the volunteer state here in Tennessee," I said, voice hoarse from the whiskey.
The band on stage started playing Brown-Eyed Girl by Van Morrison and Lauren insisted on dancing with me on the dance floor, Leighanne joined us. When I got back, Steve was trying to having a conversation with Daddy and Junior, and a fresh round of shots were lined up for us at the bar.
"Come on, let's go!" Junior shouted. "Come on, Dani-girl!"
"I can't believe we're getting swacked on our first night here with your pops, of all people," Steve said to me. My head spun and I gazed down at the shot in front of me. "What is this? Kentucky red-eye?"
"That swill?" Daddy roared. "Hell, no! My daughter's boyfriend is not getting that battery acid! This here is Jack Daniels. Made in Lynchburg, just down the street!"
I had the feeling Daddy was already feeling the effects of our drinking, trying to keep up to impress Steve. My stomach lurched.
"Lynchburg's a dry county. Still," Leighanne told Steve.
"On three!" Daddy shouted. "One, two, three!"
"Volunteers!" My siblings shouted and threw back.
While everyone was throwing back, Steve took mine and then his at the same time, and nobody noticed.
"I heard they're doing karaoke at Acme," Lauren said, rubbing her sternum.
"We'll sober up on the way down," Leighanne guaranteed.
We started the strip towards Acme Feed and Seed, one of the more popular bars for locals, and it was a long walk. I lagged behind and Steve took my hand. "Do you feel okay?" he asked.
"Not really," I admitted. "I don't want to drink any more."
"Okay, you don't have to," he said. "I'll take your shots."
When we arrived at Acme and got our IDs checked, we started up to the second level and got some drinks to take upstairs to the rooftop. Steve ordered a cranberry and vodka for me, and slipped the bartender a twenty dollar tip with a note to make it virgin, secret. Lauren, not playing around, ordered double shots of Jack Daniels, and Daddy had to match her, then challenged Steve. Steve took the challenge, and I bowed out. I watched at Lauren put both shots to her mouth at once and downed them.
"You're not kidding, are you?" Steve asked, surprised.
"Double shots at once, can you do it, Stevie?" Lauren asked, a dangerous glint in her eye.
Steve mirrored her double shot-taking method.
"Damn, you really can hold your liquor, can't you?" Lauren asked, her voice a little too loud.
"We're going upstairs to hear the band," Leighanne said, taking Harland Jr's hand.
"We're going to hang out here for a few minutes," Steve said as Lauren got a Jack and Coke from the bartenders.
"I gotta pee," Lauren announced. "Be right back."
Daddy went upstairs, leaving Steve and me to look around the second floor.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked.
"I still need to sober up," I admitted.
"Your family can drink."
"They're just sizing you up," I said.
"I can act a little drunk if you want," he offered.
"No, please don't," I said.
"Are you okay?"
"My stomach's pretty gross right now. I'll be right back."
I went for the restroom, not sure if I was going to puke or not. I didn't see Lauren, but I called her name. "Sorry hon, I don't think there's a Lauren in here," a voice came from one of the stalls.
I gagged myself (which I knew I shouldn't do) and threw up some of the shots, and I felt a little better. I washed my hands and went back out to find Steve and the rest of my family.
"Dani?"
My head whipped around to see the worst possible person that I certainly did not want to see at all: Chad Horvick. "Oh my God," I whispered.
"Dani, is that you?" Chad asked, come over from where he and a few other people were standing by a pool table.
Shit, shit, shit, I thought. I hadn't done a thing to freshen up my make-up and I was wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a t-shirt from GWU and booties. I hadn't dressed up and my hair was a rat's nest from the flight. I'm sure I had circles under my eyes by now, too.
When you see your ex, you want to look your best. And I certainly did not right now.
"Hi... Chad," I muttered.
"I heard you left town. How you been?"
"Um… Good. Really good." It would have been satisfying to rub in that I had a boyfriend here to who a million times better and was goddamn Captain America and had a bigger dick, but that was not classy at all. An unwelcome burp eased it's way out my mouth, and I swallowed it, somehow, but it burned from the alcohol. "I'm living in DC now, I'm in school-"
"That's great. I got a promotion, and that's Lola over there, we just got engaged."
I felt my stomach lurch again, and then nausea. I almost blacked out. A girl looked up, and she was gorgeous and wearing a cute little dress and had her hair perfectly styled and was thinner than me and had bigger boobs. My eating disorder voice went crazy inside my head. She was like Barbie and I was a Raggedy Anne doll.
That asshole.
I felt a hand on my shoulder from behind. "Congratulations," Steve said. "Hi, I'm Steve Rogers, I'm Dani's boyfriend? Nice to meet you."
He extended his hand to Chad. I felt a million times better that he had come to my rescue, ironically.
"We came to Nashville for the weekend for Easter," I said, finally finding my strength. Chad wasn't going to grind me down.
Chad looked at Steve with his biceps that almost split his t-shirt sleeves and rippling pecs, and I saw his expression sour.
"Nice to meet you," Chad said, shaking his hand.
"Steve, this is my ex, Chad Horvick," I said.
"Good thing he's your ex, I'd have never met you if it he wasn't," Steve remarked. "Dani's a great girl, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she is," Chad reluctantly agreed.
"You said you were engaged? I guess things have a way of working out for the best, don't they?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, I guess so. She looks really good, though. Did you go back on the low-carb diet, Dani?"
That took some balls to ask me that. "No, we just do a lot of walking in DC. We went to Monaco too, I couldn't get her to cliff-dive, though," Steve said.
"Monaco, huh?"
"Yeah. It was fun. We went to Nice, too, had a great time. We got some great pictures, she looks good in all of 'em. She insisted on bringing me home to meet her folks, though, we're both so busy, it's hard to find time."
"So what do you do?"
"I work in Special Ops for the military," he said. "Dani's just amazing in grad school, she made it into the honor society and Tony Stark's veteran health care group is trying to get her for an internship. She impressed him. She's going to be an incredible counselor."
I saw Chad's eyes narrow slightly for a moment. "That's good to hear. I'm… I'm happy for you, Dani."
"Thanks," I said, feeling like I was walking a little taller.
"Well, we've got to go catch up with the others, it was nice to meet you, Chaz."
"It's Chad," Chad snarled, eye narrowing.
"Of course, sorry about that. Chad. Chad. We'll see you around." Steve took my hand and led my drunk ass up the stairs to the rooftop bar.
"I'm sorry about that," I admitted. "But you were amazing."
"I heard the way he was talking to you, bragging like that. What a knucklehead. And asking if you were on a diet right in front of me? What a complete jackass."
"I had some unladylike thoughts, too," I admitted.
"I don't blame you. But you're perfect and he's an idiot. He was awful dumb to let you go."
"Steven!" I said, ducking my head to avoid him seeing me blush.
"But how about how mad he got when I got his name wrong?" Steve grinned conspiratorially.
"You knew it was Chad, didn't you?"
"Eh, he had it comin'. If he started anything, I'da knocked him out."
We got to the rooftop bar and the DJ had some bro country song playing and somebody was singing off-key.
Leighanne rushed towards us. "I was waiting on you to come upstairs!" she cried, a drink in her hand. "Come on."
"Whoa, what's that?" Steve asked, seeing the Nissan Stadium lit up across the river. Acme had a beautiful, unincumbered view of it. The AT&T Building, what the locals called 'the Batman Building' was across the street, and it was gorgeous and lit up in the night.
"That's where the Titans play," I said.
"You like football, Steve?" Leighanne asked.
"I'm more of a baseball guy," Steve said.
"Oh, too bad," Leighanne said.
The song ended. "And up next, we've got Lauren, singing Alone!" the DJ announced.
I screamed and clapped for her.
Lauren stepped up to the DJ stand with a drink in her hand and took the microphone. "Lauren's got the best voice," I told Steve.
Lauren's clear belting mezzo soprano came out through the sound system and before she was halfway done through the song, she had the audience wrapped around her pinky finger.
When she finished, Steve said, "She really does have a beautiful voice," he tugged my hand along to go meet up with her. "Hey, Lauren, that was beautiful. Good job."
"Thanks," she said cooly, downing the rest of her drink. "You're going to sing, right?"
"No, no!" Steve laughed. "I have no musical talent."
"We're pretty well matched," I said.
"Get another drink on my tab, you two," Daddy said, and turned back to Junior to continue the conversation they were having.
"Thanks, but I'm good," Steve said, although we were probably going to go downstairs to that bar for refills.
"We ran into Chad downstairs," I told Lauren.
"Oh, ouch," she slurred. Her eyes weren't focusing. "What happened?"
"He was a complete douchenozzle to me until Steve stepped up."
"Aww, you got a boyfriend to stand up for you when you should be doing it yourself," Lauren sneered.
"Excuse you," Steve cut in, eyes narrowing at Lauren.
"No, Dani's got herself a big strong man because she can't stand up for herself. Men can't do it all for you, hon, you gotta learn to do for yourself!"
"It's never easy to stand up to an ex," I said. "You know that yourself."
"Gotta learn to do it sometimes, babygirl," Lauren said, a glint in her eye.
"You can stop being rude, now. Dani and I are a team-"
"Ugh, stop!" Lauren groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes. I saw her head wobble around like it was going to fall off her neck. "You know nothing about long-term relationships, Danielle!" she said, poking me in the center of my chest chest- hard- with her first finger.
"Lauren-" I started, grabbing her offending hand.
"Hey, break it up, you two!" the bouncer came barrelling through the crowd towards us.
Steve stepped in the way, taking an intimidating stance. "They're sisters, just having an argument," he said.
"No fighting in the bar," the bouncer replied, although I saw him waivering a little bit in front of Steve.
"She's just had a lot to drink," Daddy said to me, apologizing for Lauren.
"Oh, stop sticking up for her when she's being an asshole, Daddy!" I cried. "She's acting just like Momma!"
"I'm the asshole? You can't do shit for yourself, Dani-" Lauren started, but Junior slipped an arm around her shoulders and turned her away from me.
"Dani, Steve, come on, I'll buy you another drink," Daddy said.
"No thanks," I muttered.
"I think we're going to head home, it's getting late and we're pretty tired," Steve said.
"Yeah," I echoed. "Tell Lauren to have fun." I grumbled.
"Heifer!" Lauren shouted over her shoulder, but Leighanne and Junior turned her around from us.
Steve and I took an Uber to Brentwood. Daddy texted me, asking me to come back with them, they were going to BB King's, and Lauren had calmed down while we were waiting on the sidewalk. "I cannot believe how rude Lauren's being," I said. "I am so embarrassed."
"She's drunk. Drunk people say a lot of things they don't mean."
"People also get super-honest when they're drunk," I replied.
"She'll probably apologize tomorrow."
"She doesn't apologize unless she's forced to," I said. "You don't know my sister."
"I don't want to believe the worst in her."
"She's human," I mumbled.
At the house, it was dark and quiet, I assumed Harland had gone to bed. The kids were in sleeping bags in the living room, Matthew was laying across the couch in a tangle of sheets and a blanket. His pillow had fallen to the floor. I picked it up and nestled it beside his head incase he wanted it and smoothed his sheets.
"I bet she's just under a lot of stress," Steve whispered. "Talk to her in the morning, I bet she'll be a lot nicer and apologize."
"She's not your sister," I said. "She can be really arrogant sometimes."
"Dani?" I heard Harland coming down the stairs to the kitchen. "Hi, sweetheart. Are you the first two to come home?"
"We had a lot of fun, but we weren't up for a late night," Steve said.
"How was tonight with the kids?" I asked.
"We watched some Disney Channel, played some Slap Jack, had some ice cream. All good and fun."
"Wait, where's Russell?" I asked.
"He never showed," Harland admitted, shrugging.
"Oh," Steve and I said together. Lauren's comments made sense.
"Lauren wasn't that nice to us tonight," I said. "How are she and Russell doing?"
"Russell is….. I think they're having problems, but won't talk about it," Harland said.
"She said something really rude to Steve and me tonight," I said.
"She's going through something she doesn't want us knowing about about, honey," he said. "Cut her some slack and give her a break."
I groaned. "We're going to bed."
"Night, sweetheart," Harland said, kissing my cheek.
The next morning, I was hungover as hell as I woke up. Steve's side of the bed was cool, but the sheets rumpled. I groaned, and closed my eyes and rolled over, but I heard the door crack open. "Hey, I just made some coffee," Steve said.
"Ugh…"
"I also got some of this in the bathroom," he said, handing me two tiny white aspirin.
"Thank you," I muttered, sitting up. I took a sip of the coffee- he had made it black, instead of how I usually liked it. If I had had creamer in it, I'd have barfed.
"The trick to a hangover is hydration and time," Steve said.
"I wanna sleep a little longer."
"I'll let you rest," he said.
The door to my room cracked open and Peyton stood there.
"Aunt Dani? Why is Steve in your wroom?" Peyton drawled.
"Hey, Pey-day," I said as she stared at Steve. "I'm not feeling too good this morning."
"I wanna play Barbies."
"Okay, let me get dressed and I'll be downstairs in a minute."
"Okay." She turned around and ran out of the room.
"Let's get you cleaned up," Steve said.
After a quick shower, I went downstairs to the living room to find the kids had woken up Daddy and Harland. Daddy was nursing a hangover, too.
"Good morning," I muttered.
"Hey," Daddy said. "Thanks for making the coffee, Steve-O."
"You're welcome."
"Want some beer?" Harland asked. "Or maybe a sip of whiskey your coffee? The hair of the dog that bit ya?"
"Please. To the whiskey."
"Steve?"
"Sure," Steve said.
"You sure can hold your liquor," Daddy remarked to Steve.
"I'm military. I learned how to drink in basic," Steve said.
"Are pancakes too much on everyone's stomach?" Harland asked.
"Plain pancakes sound good," I admitted. I needed something bland on my stomach.
"Where did you go to basic, son?" Daddy asked.
Every muscle in my body clenched and my stomach turned over. I felt myself heave.
Daddy's head whipped around.
"Dani?" Steve cried, seeing me lurching up. I ran to the bathroom and started heaving up the black coffee I had had so far.
"I think you're still a little drunk there, Dani-girl," Daddy said as I mopped up the toilet seat with toilet paper.
"I think so," I agreed.
The hangovers started wearing off as my siblings came over. To my surprise, Russell finally showed up.
After a breakfast of plain pancakes, my stomach started settling. I felt like a human being by the time we had lunch. In the living room, I played Slap Jack with Peyton and Ruby.
"Hey, Matthew, you wanna play Slap Jack with us?" I asked.
"Nah, I wanna color," Matthew replied.
"Coloring? I love coloring," Steve insisted. "I'll color with you. Do you like drawing?"
"No," Matthew said shyly. "I like coloring books."
"We can do that."
Matthew and Steve start coloring at the coffee table while I played a few more rounds of Slap Jack with the other kids. Matthew really started warming up to him, which warmed my heart.
We spent the afternoon dyeing easter eggs with the kids, and Steve got up to help Harland and Junior to work on the deck out back. It needed a lot of work, and the wheelchair ramp for Matthew was past due. He was growing so much, none of us could carry him out to the pool any more.
"Let me show you how to write a secret message on the egg that only shows up after you dye it," I said to Peyton and Ruby, getting out the white crayon. "What do you want to write?"
"Boys are gross!" Ruby cried.
"Yeah!" Peyton cried and they burst into giggles.
"You won't be saying that in a few years," I warned. "Or maybe you will. How about we make eggs with everybody's names on them?"
"I can write my own name!" Peyton cried.
After I helped them write their names on the eggs, we put them in the coffee cups with food coloring. I glanced out the window to see Steve pounding away at a post he was driving into the ground.
"Oh my God…" Leighanne's voice muttered behind me.
"Are y'all looking at my boyfriend?" I teased, blushing just a little.
"He may be a Yankee, but my God, are his parents Zeus and Athena or something?" Lauren asked. "Because he looks like he was cut out of marble!"
My cheeks tingled: while Steve had his shirt on, it was just warm enough that he was sweating to the point his shirt was sticking to his muscles. With the traces of the tan he had gotten in Monaco, he looked incredible, wiping sweat off his brow and Lauren and Leighanne were salivating. "He works out," I replied, going to the fridge to pour a fresh glass of iced tea.
"He must work out a lot," Lauren said, casting a knowing look at Leighanne. She had never apologized or even let on that anything had happened at Acme last night. "We understand why you were so cryptic at Christmas."
"Why do we have to get on this subject?" I asked.
"Because… obviously," Leighanne replied. She and Lauren laughed.
I felt light-headed suddenly and had to sit down. I fanned myself. I guess I wasn't quite over this hangover.
"We have the same reaction," Lauren teased.
There was a squeal from the living room and I heard the front door open. "Nanny!"
I jumped up to see my grandmother using her walker to walk in the door with her grandkids crowding her, Daddy behind her.
"Danielle!" She cried, lifting her head. "I'm so happy to see you!"
"Nanny!" I cried.
"Gimme a hug! Move over, kids! I haven't seen my Dani-girl in four months!"
The sea of children parted and I got to hug Nanny.
"You're looking kind of pale," she said. "You feeling alright?"
"I'm fine," I lied, not wanting to admit we had been out partying the night before.
"So where's this boyfriend?" She asked me after we got her into the living room to Daddy's recliner for her to put her feet up and had greeted the kids.
"Out back," I said. "Let me go get him."
Peyton and Ruby showed Nanny the Easter Egg they had dyed for her, and I took that as a moment to go get Harland, Junior, and Steve.
"Hey, y'all, Nanny's here," I said, coming out to the back porch where they had managed to build about a third of the ramp. The deck was sturdier under my feet, too. "Steve, I want you to meet her."
"Be right there," he said, wiping his face with the back of his hand. I reached to his hand, and we followed Harland and Junior inside.
After they had a chance to hug Nanny, Steve and I stood in the doorway. "Nanny, this is Steve Rogers," I said. "Steve, this is my grandmother, Adelaide Conyers."
"Ma'am, nice to meet you," Steve said, kneeling down to shake her hand so she didn't have to stand up.
"Oh my, you are a handsome one," Nanny remarked.
Steve laughed nervously.
"You look familiar, like I've seen you before," she said.
"I get that a lot," Steve said bashfully.
"Well, it's nice to meet you. I've wanted to since Thanksgiving! Danielle tells me you're in the military?"
"Yes, ma'am, Army. Special operations."
"Curtis was Army, too. I tell ya, I almost lost my mind when he called me and told me he got himself a full scholarship to college, and then told me it was the GI Bill when he was eighteen."
Nanny and Steve had a long conversation and got to know each other. During this time, the kids got rounded up to go home to change clothes for Good Friday services tonight at church. I took a few minutes to get some makeup on and to change into a dark church dress, while I heard Steve getting into the shower. In the kitchen, Daddy was mixing chili into the crockpot for dinner. Nanny was taking a nap in the recliner.
"I think Steve impressed your Nanny," Daddy said.
"Did he impress you?" I asked.
"He's got an artful way of dodging questions," Daddy said sourly.
I crossed my arm over my chest defensively.
"Hold your horses, I'm not saying I don't like him!" Daddy cried. "I just want to make sure he's good enough for my little girl."
"He's good enough," I said.
"I think he's hiding some stuff," he muttered.
"Daddy-"
"Dani?" Steve called from upstairs.
"We'll continue this conversation later," I said. I ran upstairs to find Steve in the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his hips, his hair wet. "Hey, does your pops have a wet stone?"
"A what?"
"I need to sharpen my razor."
"Here, use mine," I said, getting my razor with a fresh blade out.
"I forgot mine somehow," he muttered.
"Hey, are you getting along with Daddy and Harland?"
"Yeah, so far. Except for that whole incident last night. Lauren hasn't apologized yet?"
"No. You know you can lie about things like when you were born, right?"
"Danielle, I'm not going to lie," he said gently, combing his wet hair so it was styled.
The steam in the bathroom was almost too much. "You father got out his gun collection and reminded me he holds a record at Fort Stewart for being able to shoot a moving target at three hundred yard."
"Ugh," I face-palmed. He used to get out his field gear and polish his guns when I had a date picking me up in high school. I should have known. I suddenly got dizzy.
"Dani?" Steve asked, seeing me almost swoon in the foggy mirror. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I promised.
"You just look a little pale."
"This hangover's killing me! I thought I was over it!"
"Go sit down, once I'm dressed, I'll get a water for you. You're probably dehydrated still."
I went back to our room and sat down on the bed to rest. Daddy and Harland had probably let Steve sleep in my room to prove they were cool dads and could handle their baby girl having a serious boyfriend and having sex. I think it was a test to see if Steve would have sex with me in their house if given a carte blanche to sleep in the same bed as me.
Steve came into the room to get some clothes on, freshly shaved. "Maybe you shouldn't drink the rest of the trip?" Steve asked. "Not like you did last night."
"Probably not," I agreed as he stepped into his dark trousers.
"At the bar, I'll tip whomever I have to, promise."
"Thanks," I said, getting up to get my dark dress out.
Ten minutes later, I went downstairs to wake Nanny up, and she wanted to brush her teeth before we left. Harland has gone ahead to church to run the choir. Steve came downstairs and helped Nanny into the front seat of Daddy's Avalon, and I daresay she enjoyed it.
"I'm glad Dani found herself a good Catholic boy," Daddy joked as we drove out of the neighborhood. "I don't know what I'd do if you dated another Presbyterian."
"Daddy!" I groaned.
"Yep, I like my Catholic 'Catholic'," Steve announced.
"Good to hear," Daddy said. "I like that."
At church, we found Peyton and Matthew in the front row by the choir loft, where the "choir
Orphans" sat. Lauren looked perturbed in the soprano section.
Steve and I retrieved Peyton and Matthew, Matthew told us that his dad had been called back to work for another meeting.
We settled in for the Holy Friday service. The Youth Group did the pantomime of the last supper and Crucifixion, leaving us with a somber reflection of the Holy Mysteries.
Steve held my hand and squeezed it while we watched the priest and the acolytes depart. As we departed the church, I whispered, "What did you think?"
"It was an interesting method of showing the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, but I keep wondering where all the Latin went. And then, I remember: Vatican II."
"We're going to wait out at the car with the kids," Daddy said in a low voice beside us. I wondered if he had heard Steve's comment about the Latin, that was suspicious.
I got the feeling Matthew admired Steve, though: he loved talking to him, and Steve gave him all his attention when he did. Matthew told Steve all about his favorite Ninja Turtle while Steve helped Nanny back into Daddy's car.
Lauren came out with Harland from the choir room.
"That was a beautiful service," Steve told them. "The music was amazing."
"Thanks," Lauren muttered. "It would've been nicer if Russell had been where he said he was gonna be."
I wanted to hug her. I knew she was hurting. "He'll come around," I said. Her lips stayed in that hard line.
"I'm taking the kids home. I'll call you in the morning," she replied. "Thanks for watching them during mass."
"We'll see you in the morning," Steve said, helping me into the car.
At Nanny's retirement village, Steve helped her up out of the car. My heart swelled to see him helping her, like she was his own grandmother.
"You know, I'm just faking, Steven," Nanny said. "It's nice to have a strong, handsome young fella's arms around me for once."
"Flattery will get you everywhere Ms. Conyers," Steve replied.
"If I were a few years younger, Dani would have to be on the lookout," Nanny teased.
"Nanny, hands off my man," I joked back as we walked to her condo unit.
"I like you," Nanny added to him.
"Good, I like you too."
At Nanny's unit, she invited us in. Nanny offered us a drink, and I declined. I didn't want another hangover lasting the whole day added into my allergies.
"Danielle, I wanted to give you something," Nanny said, hobbling into the bedroom.
"What is it?" I asked, following her.
She sorted through her closet to the back of it. "Here. You always were the dancer in the family. And Steve said you taught him to dance, so I think you need to have this," she said, hanging me a dress in dry-cleaning plastic.
"Oh, Nanny!" I cried, recognizing her red dancing dress from the 1950s. She had worn it to prom, when she had met Pop-pop. I had a picture of her in it. "It's beautiful! Are you sure you want to give this to me?"
"Well, I can't wear it any more," she said. "It's an Edith Head, too. And my dancing days are over, sweet pea. Besides, I bet Steve thinks you'd look good in red. Now see, I was about your size when I wore this, I think you'd be beautiful in it with that dark hair and pale skin."
I lifted the plastic and got a good look at it. I could see the lining in the bodice that had yellowed a little with time and the tulle skirt. Nanny told me it had been a scandal when she went to prom in a red dress and everybody and Meridian talked about it.
"It's just taking up space in my closet," Nanny added. "So's my wedding dress, if Steve's starts asking about your ring size."
I gulped: it was almost as if she knew Steve and I had almost gotten married on a whim in Monaco. I hadn't spoken a word of it to my family. "Now Nanny, don't count your chickens before your eggs have hatched," I said.
"He still chases you, even though you're his. Chad never did that. And he's an old soul, I can tell. The two of you, you match." She reached for my head, and stooped down, she kissed my forehead. "If your Daddy doesn't give him his blessing, I will. Grandmothers outrank daddies, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am," I said, feeling tears fighting their way out of my eyes.
I helped Nanny back into the living room. "You two get home and get a good night's rest," Nanny instructed. "Tell your father I'll call him when I'm ready to be picked up," she said, letting go of my arm. "Steven, come here."
"Yes, ma'am?" Steve asked, approaching her.
"Closer."
He stepped over.
"Closer, son!"
He stooped down, and Nanny lifted her head and kissed him on the cheek. Steve burst out laughing. "Nanny!" I cried.
"I couldn't help myself," Nanny said, grinning. "Goodnight, you two kids get going."
Steve and I went out to the parking lot. "Your grandmother is so cute," he admitted.
"She likes you. She said you'd like this dress on me," I said, holding up the frock.
"You'd look great in red," he agreed, unlocking the Avalon with the remote. He opened the passenger door for me. Luckily, there was a little package of tissues in stashed in the glove box for my runny nose.
At home, we watched some TV together and Harland and Daddy got a few Army stories out of Steve. I told them about our day in Nice and we told them about the Casino in Monte Carlo. My runny nose sent me to bed, and Steve followed close behind.
The next morning, I had a snuffy nose and a cough. Steve magically didn't have any of the symptoms, much to my aggravation. "Super Soldier Serum," he shrugged. "I haven't had a cold since 1943."
"Ugh, Middle Tennessee allergies," I grumbled, grabbing a handful of tissues in the bathroom and dabbed at my nose. "It's the Bradford pear trees lining the medians in this neighborhood. I think Daddy has some Zyrtec."
We had a lazy brunch and Steve asked about the Civil War history of this area, which Daddy was happy to talk about. Daddy probably talked uninterrupted for an hour while they hammered and drove stakes into the ground, and Steve took it all in.
"New York's got a lot of history," Daddy said when he finished talking about the battle of Franklin.
"I'm actually a World War II history buff," Steve said.
"There's nothing as exciting as the Storming of Normandy Beach," Daddy said, knowingly. "Have you seen Saving Private Ryan?"
I tried to catch Steve's eye. "No, I haven't," Steve said.
Daddy and Harland both groaned. "Great movie," Daddy said. "Steven Spielberg really got it right."
"That's the same guy who did… Raiders of the Lost Ark?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, that's him," Harland said.
Harland and Steve worked on the deck for a few more hours and finished it, save for the water Zyrtec worked, and I was feeling better so I could help more.
It was a beautiful afternoon to relax. Lauren came over with her kids, and Leighanne and Junior showed up with theirs and brought Nanny. "Why don't we play some cornhole?" Harland suggested while Matthew and the kids tried out the new wheelchair ramp on the patio, and the other kids played on the bike with training wheels.
"Go, Wrooby go!" Peyton chanted in the background as Ruby came down the ramp on the bike.
We all tried not to laugh aloud at how cute that was.
We got out the cornhole set and taught Steve the basics.
"You know who'd win every time at this?" Steve asked.
"Clint," we agreed.
"Hey, What?" Lauren slurred.
"Inside joke. About a friend of mine," Steve answered.
"How many beers have you had?" I asked.
Lauren roller her eyes. "I'm just starting my second."
I felt Steve's hand on the small of my back. "That's at least her third," he whispered into my ear. "I know."
We started playing cornhole, and I failed miserably. By the third try, Lauren doubled over laughing. "Quit now, you're embarrassing yourself!" She blurred out between giggles.
"Stop being rude," Steve snapped. The whole group went silent.
"I'm not being rude " she replied, surprised. "I'm just teasing her."
"Teasing is when both people laugh. Did you see the look on Dani's face?"
Lauren scoffed. "She always makes that face when she's embarrassed. She's never learned how to take a joke. Besides, didn't you say you don't have siblings?"
"I don't," Steve admitted.
"Okay, so you don't get how sibling dynamics work. This is what we do."
Steve shrugged and we went back to cornhole.
"For once, I am so happy I'm an only child," Steve muttered in my ear.
"Our kids aren't going to act like that," Steve said as I walked into the bedroom in my pajamas, flossing my teeth. I washed my hair after the bonfire, we all smelled like smoke.
"Like what?"
"Like the way Lauren treated you today," he said form the bed, where he was sitting and reading. "And the rest of your family just let her."
"Lauren caught a lot of crap from Mom," I said. "Daddy's not very good at standing up to Lauren, she's a lot like our mother sometimes on a bad day. She seems to be going through a lot of them, though, lately."
"That's no excuse, though."
"I know it's not. We're not perfect as a family. But, thank you for being there for me, though. I love you."
"I love you, too. Now let's get to bed."
Woke up from coughing around midnight, my voice like a foghorn, and Steve dutifully went downstairs to make a strong hot toddy for me. My throat calmed down from the whiskey (I think it was mostly whiskey, to be honest) and Steve held me until I finally fell asleep.
The next morning, I was groggy and hung over when Steve woke me up. "I know you're not feeling too swell, but we've got to get to Easter Sunday Mass."
"Can you get me a drink?" I croaked.
"Uh… another hot toddy?"
"No. I meant like hot tea or coffee. That was not a hot toddy last night, that was mostly tea-flavored whiskey," I said.
"Yeah, it actually was," he admitted, smirking.
"I'm going to take a shower," I said.
"I'll be right up with something," he said, kissing my temple.
I felt better after another hot shower that cleared my throat and sinuses. Steve left a hot coffee on the bathroom counter for me with a handful of throat lozenges and a package of Mucinex from Daddy instead of Zyrtec this time. He was thoughtful like that.
It was nice to get to spend Easter as a family with Nanny and to go with Steve. I realized that Steve was closer in age to my Nanny than to me as she sat beside him and she whispered to him while he was on the kneeler, praying. I wasn't sure how we'd explain that if anybody found out.
Russell actually showed up for East Sunday and brought Matthew and Peyton. "Dad, that's Steve, Dani's boyfriend!" Matthew whispered to Russell, glowing.
Steve tried to conceal a grin, having heard him.
I liked going to Mass with Steve along with my family. It felt natural. The idea of going to Mass with our children… the small fantasy grave me a rush. Steve would be an amazing father. He loved kids and my nieces and nephews all loved him. I imagined Steve and me as a married couple, a family, with our own kids. It felt real to me right now as Ruby climbed into Steve's lap.
After communion, Daddy whispered to me that he wanted a family picture over by the Marian statue in the alley between the church and the rectory. "Steve's good at photography, let him take it," I whispered.
The exit hymn was announced, and the congregation started the bottleneck exit from the church.
"Danielle Conyers is that you?" Mrs. Yeats, an old southern biddy and gossip asked, elbowing her way over to me. She had been my Sunday School teacher in seventh grade. "Your hair's gotten so long! You look real pretty. Who'd this? Who'd you bring home?"
"This is my boyfriend, Steve Rogers," I said.
"Just a boyfriend? Did you do well in school this year?"
"I did," I said.
"How'd you do?"
"All A's so far, only one B."
"Well, that's nice. Rogers, that's an Irish name, isn't it?"
"My parents were Irish, yes," Steve said.
"This is my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Yeats," I said before Daddy interrupted me.
"Dani, it's time to get that family picture," Daddy said over the noise of the parishioners leaving the church.
"It was nice seeing you, Mrs. Yeats," I said, grabbing Steve's hand, leading him away.
"Are Southern women like that?" Steve asked. "Always that nosey?"
"They sure are," I said.
My family was gathering around the Marian statue garden. "Can you take a family picture for us?" I asked him, trying to mop away the beads of sweat on my temple. The church probably had the AC going at full blast with the Easter Sunday traffic, all those bodies generated heat, and I was surprised I didn't have moon stains under my arms.
"Sure thing," Steve said, getting his phone out.
After a little fussing and discussion, we managed to get in some semblance of order for the family picture. Luckily, the Marian garden was in the shade this time of the morning. I took my stance beside Harland, and tried to smile pretty for the picture when I felt a white-hot ping of dizziness travel up my spine and behind my eyes. My vision almosted whited out and I felt someone grab me from behind: it was Junior.
"You okay, Dani?" he asked.
"Too hot," I admitted.
Steve had rushed up. "Dani?" he asked.
"Let's get you home into some AC," Harland said.
"I want to get the family picture, first," I said. "Let's do this quickly."
"As you wish," Steve said, kissing my forehead.
At home, after I had a glass of water and sat down with Nanny in front of the oscillating fan for a few minutes, I felt better. Lauren, Leighanne, Junior and I hid the dyed Easter Eggs all over the back yard, along with some plastic ones, and a Golden Egg, with a fifty dollar bill inside it. Steve declined to help with the hiding and hung out with Matthew. Steve and Matthew were coloring while Russell watched some golf and the other kids played with their easter basket gifts.
"Why didn't you want hide easter eggs with us?" I asked Steve.
"Matthew and I are going to team up," Steve said. "I'm going to help him hunt."
"Are you buddies with him?" I teased.
"Yeah," Steve said, bashfully as we watched Matthew's tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth, hard at work on his picture. He pushed his glasses up his nose before going back to his coloring. "I see a lot of myself in him."
My heart warmed as Steve pulled Matthew onto his shoulders when we released the kids onto the Easter Egg hunt. I knew his team in the Avengers wouldn't let him hear the end of it if they could see him and Matthew hunting Easter Eggs, but I almost cried it was so sweet. Steve never told him where he saw the eggs, he always let Matthew point. Matthew held his own in the hunt, although he didn't find the Golden Egg, he managed to find the most eggs.
We had Easter Sunday dinner after the kids and Nanny got a good nap in. Leighanne had made an adorable cake that looked like a yellow egg surrounded by green coconut grass shreds. It was delicious, too.
Daddy and Harland very kindly did Steve and my laundry as we settled in for the evening to watch TV and have some coffee.
"So Steve, you think you and Dani will get to come back Memorial Day weekend when we open the pool or are you working?" Daddy asked.
"I think I'm scheduled to be on call that weekend," Steve said. "But swimming is a favorite of mine."
"You swam a lot as a kid?" Daddy asked. "In the city?"
"Uh, no, actually. I didn't get to swim much in Brooklyn, I mostly picked it up in the Army."
"I always wish I had had a chance to learn synchronized swimming," I said, trying to change the subject. "But we didn't have a synchronized swim team in high school."
"But you did swim team freshman and sophomore year," Lauren said.
"I did," I said, nodding. "I gave it up when I started working on my twirling scholarship. I mostly lagged behind and the coach screamed at me the whole time in the pool. In baton, I was a star because in high school, I was the only twirler."
"Twirl the fire batons Aunt Dani!" Ruby cried.
"I don't have them with me," I said. "I'm sorry! They're back in DC with the rest of my things. I'll bring them back next time."
"I've got a video of Aunt Dani with her fire batons," Steve offered.
"I wanna see!" Matthew cried.
"Me too! Me too!" Peyton cried.
The kids gathered around him to watch the video of me twirling fire batons on New Year's Eve in the courtyard of my apartment complex.
"What year did you finish basic, Steve?" Daddy asked.
"Ah, it would have been…"
"He was in the last basic platoon at Camp Lehigh," I offered.
"Really, now?" Daddy asked.
"I'm older than I look," Steve said. Well, it was true. More true than anybody else knew.
"I wanna watch it again, Steve," Peyton pleaded.
"Alright, one more time."
"How old are you, again?" Daddy asked, brow furrowing.
I felt every muscle in my body clench. "That's impolite to ask," I said, trying to make it sound like teasing.
"Only with women," Daddy chided.
"She's right," Nanny muttered, sleepily. "Curtis, will you take me home? I am plum tuckered out."
"Certainly, Mother, let me get your things."
"I think it would be a good idea for us all to get going. The kids have school tomorrow and Steve and Dani are flying home," Lauren said.
"That sounds good to me," Russell said.
"Danielle, did you try that dress on?" Nanny asked.
"A dress?" Lauren asked.
"Yeah… Nanny gave me one of her dancing dresses," I said.
Lauren looked offended. "Oh, wow. You're special."
"Her tits actually fit into them," Russell commented.
"Russell!" I cried.
"What the hell kind of thing is that to say?" Steve blurted out.
"That was a compliment!" he cried.
"Your compliment puts my boobs down," I replied.
"Oh fuck off, Russell," Lauren snapped, "You just insulted me in front of my whole goddamn family, like you even have that right to at this point! Come on, kids, we're going home. Russell, get your own ride."
That was a chilly end of the night. The problems between Lauren and Russell had been blown wide open for the whole family to see.
Lauren and Russell went out to their minivan and started fighting. Peyton came back inside, crying, Steve, unable to take it, went out to the van and brought Matthew in, who had tears running down his face.
"My wheelchair's in the car," Matthew said as Steve set him down on the couch. Peyton was curled up in Daddy's lap, who was rocking her and telling her a story.
"It's alright, here," Steve said, getting his phone out. "Do you want to watch some more videos on my phone? We can download some games."
"I like games," Matthew said.
Leighanne and Junior took their kids out and left, finally. I texted her, and she said Russell and Lauren had ignored them as they ran past and packed Shawn and Ruby into their car. Shit was going down.
At one point, the arguing stopped, and I heard a cardoor slam. Before I could sneak a glance out the window to see what was going on, Lauren came in to get her kids.
"Alright kids, we're going," she said, stomping into the kitchen.
"Matthew," Steve said. "I'll get you out there. I had a lot of fun hanging out with you."
"You're leaving?" he asked.
"Yeah, buddy, I've got work in New York."
"Can you call out sick?" he asked as Steve carried him out to the van.
My heart ached. Lauren and Russell's fighting was affecting their kids. I followed them out to the van. Steve was buckling Matthew into his carseat, Matthew was asking if he'd come back soon.
"Aunt Dani!" Peyton called. She ran up to me and threw her arms around my waist. "I love you."
"I love you too. I'll call you tomorrow, we can FaceTime," I promised, picking her up to kiss her.
"Promise?"
"Promise. Everything's going to he fine," I said.
Steve helped with getting Peyton into her carseat after I passed her over to him. He was so good with the kids.
"Thanks," Lauren mumbled, bringing her casserole dishes out to the back of the van.
"Lauren… if you and Russell are having problems," I began carefully. "Don't fight in front of the-"
"I don't need your advice, Dani!" she snapped. "This is between me and Russell!"
"It's between you and Russell and the kids," I said.
"Listen, Dani. You don't know what it's like to be married. It's not easy. And Steve, you can drop that stupid, idiotic, chivalrous white knight act that we all know is bullshit!" Lauren shouted, angry tears rushing down her cheeks. "Men are trash. All of you! He's going to do the exact same thing to you that Russell does to me. Just wait, Dani! You're better off alone."
She pushed past me and got into the driver's seat of the van, slamming the door. She wiped her eyes, and backed out of the driveway.
"Oh my God," Steve muttered.
"Oh, Steve," I mumbled.
"I will never do what Russell's been doing," he said, gathering me in his arms. "I promise."
I folded some of my laundry in the laundry room, only to hear Daddy getting some heartburn medicine out of the cabinet.
"I'm sorry about how the weekend ended," he said gently. "I know you wanted us to impress Steve."
"Yeah," I muttered.
"Well… Lauren and Russell are having a rough time."
"How bad is it?" I asked. "Nobody tells me anything."
He shrugged. "She doesn't talk to us about it, either. Well… boyfriends come and go, I guess. If Steve's really worth it, it won't bother him at all."
"About that, Daddy. You don't like Steve," I said.
"Now Danielle, I didn't say that," Daddy said. "Don't go putting words in my mouth."
"I'm not," I said. "But you said he was hiding something. He's not."
"I can't worry about my little girl?"
"I'm not a little girl."
"You'll always be my little girl."
I sighed. "He's a good guy," I argued. "And I'm a woman, now, not a little girl."
"I'm not saying he's not. But there's no way he did basic at LeHigh."
"What are you worried about?" I asked.
"That he's out to get something."
"Daddy," I groaned, burying my face in my hands. I did not want to talk to him about my lack of virginity, that he was well aware of in the first place. Talk about embarrassment city.
"I know it's not that, I wouldn't'a put you and him in the same room this weekend if that were it, I wasn't born yesterday," Daddy griped.
"Well, what do you possibly think he's after? After he took me to Monaco and brought me back in one piece? And completely in love with him?"
"Your good credit, I think. Don't go cosigning on loans or anything."
I groaned. "He has over a million dollars in the bank. He knows I'm a broke grad school student and that I don't have anything, he never lets me pay and-"
"No moan' and groanin', huffin' and puffin'," he said, pouring a glass of water to take the omperozole. "I just don't feel that he's being a hundred percent honest with you and the rest of us. Now, you gotta get ready for your flight tomorrow. Oh and here's a Mucinex. You kids get some rest, we're shipping out at oh-six-hundred tomorrow for the airport to beat the traffic."
In my room, Steve was reading on the bed.
"Thank you for bringing me along to meet your family."
"Thank you for putting up with my crazy family," I said sliding under the covers beside him in the bed. "I love you."
"I love you, Danielle. Goodnight."
He kissed me gently.