137.
The Tuckers' SUV had never been livelier than it was on the day the family headed north to Riverdale for the first family gathering since New Years Day. Finally, the virus subsided, and though cautionary measures were still in place, the all clear had been given to resume normal activities, with a few caveats. Large gatherings, such as sporting events, were still prohibited or had to be conducted with attendance caps, masks were encouraged and required in many venues, and Noah and other school children quickly became accustomed to having their temperatures taken daily. The lingering restrictions and requirements were minor inconveniences compared to the isolation of the past two months, and there was very little resistance among the population, least of all with Noah, Maggie, and Wyatt who had dutifully grabbed their masks before leaving home and now wore them under their chins for the car ride. Olivia explained they didn't have to cover up at Grandma's house, but the kids genuinely seemed to like their virus-mandated accoutrements.
A mere millisecond after Ed brought the vehicle to a stop in Caroline's driveway, Noah unbuckled himself and helped Maggie and Wyatt with their car seat straps. He didn't wait for Ed or Olivia to lift the twins onto the ground. Instead, he shimmied out of the backseat, threw the door open, and sprinted to the front porch where Caroline was waiting.
"GRAMMA!"
"NOAH!"
The eighty-something-year-old stood no taller than an inch above five feet and probably clocked in at about a hundred pounds, but she lifted Noah in the air and swung him from side to side as she hugged him. Even when he was back on his feet, Noah kept his head against her and his arms around her waist. In the car, Maggie and Wyatt shouted, kicked their feet, and flailed their arms. Ed and Olivia couldn't get them out fast enough. Once they were freed they made a beeline for the porch. Caroline sat down on the top step so she could hold all three at once.
"Grandbabies!" She cooed, "My little darlings!"
Olivia squeezed Ed's hand. The twins clamored for space in Caroline's lap. From their vantage point the scene was both touching and chaotic-three pairs of jean-clad legs jostling for position, three sweet voices competing for attention, and Caroline trying her best to give her full attention to each child. Somewhere in the chatter someone mentioned cookies and Caroline ushered the trio inside, momentarily forgetting about Ed and Olivia.
"Daddy," Noah poked his head back outside, "Gramma says c'mon."
"What about Mommy?" Ed teased.
Noah shot him an exasperated smile, "Always, Mommy! You know dat!" He darted back inside.
Ed nuzzled Olivia at the spot directly under her ear, "Always Mommy," he repeated. "I like that."
Olivia tilted her head into him and took a deep, satisfied breath full of spring-like air, and gazed down the street. It was lined with squat, two-story, single family homes, some brick, some outfitted with dull-colored aluminum siding. Each front yard had a small patch of grass at various stages of coming to life after the long, but not particularly frigid winter. The mid-March weather, notoriously unpredictable, decided to grace the tri state area with warm temperatures, and the neighborhood was bathed in brilliant sunlight. It wouldn't be long before children emerged from their homes to play ball in their yards or navigate the cracked sidewalks with bikes and scooters. Suddenly, everything seemed right in the world, or, at least on this suburban block.
"We should go in," Olivia said. "Let's get the bags."
"I might have to go get another propane tank," Ed said, "Didn't think about that until now."
"Whatever we need, we can get it."
Ed paused and stared at her soulfully. "You're right," he said after several seconds.
"Just now realizing that?" Olivia playfully poked his chest.
"No, but, I guess we spent the last few weeks so wrapped up in what we were missing...I didn't think about, well, or, maybe I didn't appreciate that, at the end of the day, we had everything we needed."
Olivia tugged on his wrists and gave him a kiss. "We sure did."
Caroline did a double take when she saw Ed without his jacket. For the get together he'd thrown on a simple navy polo and jeans, but the short sleeves accentuated his new, extra-beefed-up arms as he hoisted the food, drinks, and toys they'd brought.
"Eddie, what in the hell have you been doing? You look like one of those wrestling men on TV!"
Ed screwed up his face and asked, "You watch wrestling?"
"Commercials," Caroline muttered. She hugged her son and swatted at his chest, "You look fantastic. A real Mr. Universe. And while you're here I have some chores you can do with those muscles."
"Thanks, Ma," Ed replied, "And, okay."
Next, Caroline embraced Olivia and cradled her face in her hands, "Dearie how are you?" Caroline and Olivia shared a moment only mothers could comprehend. Caroline squinted and scrutinized Olivia's face, searching for hints of the stress two months of constant worrying certainly inflicted on her psyche.
"I'm good," Olivia replied, "And so happy to be here and see you! And...relieved."
"Of course you are," Caroline winked and patted Olivia's cheeks before releasing her. "Now, what would you like to drink?"
"Gramma," Noah said, "Do you have Shirley Temples?"
"Yes I do," Caroline said, "Get me the shaker. We'll make yours first. Don't want you and your brother and sister stumbling around in the yard."
Ed rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Olivia laughed softly and kissed his cheek. Nothing was more normal than Caroline exasperating Ed, and she was thrilled to see it happening again. There was a knock at the door followed by its springs creaking and Sarah's voice calling out to see if anyone was home. Noah tossed the shaker at Caroline and followed Maggie and Wyatt through the living room and into the foyer where another joyous reunion ensued.
"SARE BEAR!"
"JUSSY!"
"PUH! PUH!"
Pearl barked and ran in circles.
"Sarah," Caroline shook her head, "Had to bring that damn dog."
"Of course we did," Sarah replied, somehow hearing her grandmother in the midst of the noise, "She's your granddog and family."
Pearl jumped on the twins, and they erupted into giggles as the dog licked their faces.
Caroline smiled and poured three Shirley Temples, one into a glass tumbler and the other two in Tupperware sippy cups that had been in her cabinet for at least thirty years. If the dog made her grandchildren laugh like that, she would gladly accept the animal into her house.
…..
By mid-afternoon, Caroline's backyard was bustling with activity and the grass was dotted with the outdoor toys Caroline had collected over the years. There was a golf set, croquet, a few ride-on cars, various balls, and a very popular bubble mower which Maggie, Wyatt, and Sofia fought over every few minutes. Ed, Justin, and Sonny got bored with small talk after a while and tossed around a football in the driveway. The women of the family, plus Ed's brother John, sat in a circle on the deck and took turns giving updates on their lives.
John was technically recovered but still felt like his lungs weren't quite functioning normally, hence the reason why he passed on the invitation to play football. Olivia's insides clenched when he half-joked that his brother and his mother had histories of smoking and he was the one who had the lung issues. Olivia couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to the story of why Ed and John weren't close. For the first time, she saw how John carried a chip on his shoulder, yet she wasn't sure of its cause. It was possible he was simply cranky. However, Olivia had never spent much time with John in this fashion. They'd always spent time together during holidays or birthdays, when the celebration predominated. Ed had never suggested simply hanging out with John and his family, and he'd never suggested hosting them at the beach house.
Olivia shoved the question marks surrounding Ed's brother to the back of her mind, though, because Brooke and Sarah were there and she was elated to see them again. Zoom and Face Time were great, but nothing could take the place of actual in-person contact. Brooke had had the roughest go of the past eight weeks, but she seemed genuinely grateful and happy to be around her family. Olivia was a tad nervous when Caroline first saw Brooke, for Caroline noticed everything and didn't have much of a filter. As soon as Brooke walked through the front door, it was clear she'd gained weight, and Olivia hoped Caroline would keep any remarks to herself. Thankfully, she did.
The only appearance-related comments Sarah made were of the cosmetic variety. She desperately needed her hair cut, a mani-pedi, and a wax job. "Lip, eyebrows, the whole she-bang," Sarah said, peering at herself with her iPhone's camera.
"Bikini?" Caroline asked.
"Grandma!" Brooke exclaimed.
Unfazed, Sarah replied, "Not yet. We'll wait a couple months for that. Oh, so, we're still doing Ireland, right? I just need to let my firm know I'm still taking those days and I might have to dial in to a meeting at some point while we're there."
"We're going," Olivia said, "Unless-"
"-Nope," Sarah interrupted, "No unless."
"I think I want to go," Brooke mumbled. "I have this thing now, I mean, before this we could pretty much do whatever we wanted and for two months we couldn't...I realize I took everything for granted. So, the excuses I had not to go are not working for me anymore. Sonny's not going to be able to go…"
"If he can go," Sarah said, "Justin can watch Sof, too."
All eyes shot in Sarah's direction. Justin had graciously offered to stay home with Maggie and Wyatt for the week they were spending in Ireland, but Sarah had, perhaps, overstepped in offering his services for another, younger kid.
"Sonny can't go," Brooke said, "They're going to be swamped for the next few months catching up with everything that was delayed. And, his mom can help out. Justin doesn't need to be running a toddler hotel and day camp."
"But he's so good at it!" Sarah gushed and watched her agile, swarthy husband catch an errant pass from Sonny one-handed and relay the ball to Ed. Justin had let his hair grow out and his head was covered in two-inch long, thick, black curls. Both Ed and Sonny sported scruffy facial hair, but Justin was clean-shaven. When he smiled, which was often, his teeth gleamed. Justin's entire demeanor oozed fun. It was little wonder that Noah and the twins loved him.
"Sare Bear, when are you going to start having some babies of your own?" Caroline asked.
"Grandma, I am nowhere near ready for kids," Sarah replied matter-of-factly.
Next to her, Brooke admired the way Sarah could respond to and let a potentially offensive question or comment roll off her back. Had Caroline posed the question to Brooke a few years ago, she would've burst into tears. But, then again, Brooke was certain Sarah was telling the truth when she said she didn't want kids quite yet.
"I am perfectly happy spoiling Noey and the twins and Sofia," Sarah continued, "And I expect the favors to be returned in spades when I have children." She winked and downed the rest of her gin-and-tonic. Behind her, Maggie climbed the cedar steps and, perhaps since Sarah was the first adult she encountered, tugged on her pull-up.
"Potty, Sah!" Maggie said with utmost urgency, "Gotta'go!"
Olivia grinned. She and Ed were proud of themselves for committing to toilet training during quarantine, and their efforts were apparently paying off. "Do you want me to take her?" She asked Sarah.
"No, no," Sarah stood up and plucked her empty glass from the table, "I need a refill anyway. Anything I need to know?"
"Just put a new pull-up on her if it's wet," Olivia said, "They're in the bag."
"Got it."
"Are you giving them treats for going?" Brooke asked after Sarah and Maggie were inside.
Caroline was incredulous. "Treats?"
"Yes," Brooke said, "Little things...you know...for going."
"I'll tell you what my kids got," Caroline took a haughty sip of her cocktail, "They got dry pants."
Brooke and Olivia looked at each other and giggled.
"Hard core," Olivia said.
Brooke raised her glass, "To being hard core."
….
Olivia came downstairs and found Carmen in the kitchen standing over a stove full of pans sizzling with savory goodness. On the opposite counter, the waffle iron was heating and a bowl full of batter sat beside the machine, waiting to be poured. "Carmen," Olivia said softly, "You don't have to do all this."
"Oh, it's my pleasure," Carmen replied in her thickly accented Bronx voice.
Even though Carmen was only a few years older, Olivia always regarded her as a motherly figure. She reminded her of Caroline-small in stature but capable of holding the attention of an entire room of people, short, spiky hair, and a desire to dote on everyone she loved.
"Can I help with anything?" Olivia asked.
"No, no, I'm actually done for now, until the sleepyheads wake up."
"How about coffee?"
"Sure," Carmen smiled and handed Olivia a mug.
Olivia grabbed the Bailey's from another cabinet and held it up, "Want a little?"
Carmen grinned, "Sure."
"Let's go out to the porch," Olivia said, "I love the mornings out there." Carmen sat on the swing, and Olivia took her favorite spot on the loveseat and sat facing the ocean. "The mornings here are gorgeous," she said, "Such a peaceful time."
"It always takes me a couple of days to get used to the quiet," Carmen said. She had spent her entire life in the Bronx. Her block in Soundview was sleepier than any other neighborhood where she'd lived, but the type of silence the beach house provided was foreign.
"I saw a movie once, I can't remember which one, but the main character was from New York and went south and kept a recording of the street noise. He needed it in order to sleep."
"I can certainly relate," Carmen replied. "I have noticed that JJ sleeps so much better here. I wonder if that's a coincidence or if Sarah and Justin need to think about leaving the city. Have you and Ed ever considered moving to the suburbs? Or even here full time?"
The idea of moving to Long Island or upstate had crossed Olivia's mind from time to time, but she had never considered permanently relocating to Bethany Beach. "At a few points I thought of moving. Most recently, when Ed's mother passed away, I thought about moving into her house, but...Ed didn't want that. He had a good point. The kids love their school. They're happy. We'd be moving for the sake of moving."
Olivia paused and considered apologizing. She was speaking from a place of privilege, for their three-bedroom apartment on the west side of Manhattan was a far cry from Carmen's working-class neighborhood with its hit-or-miss schools. However, Carmen appeared unbothered, and they were sitting on her beachfront deck. It was no secret the Tuckers had been extremely fortunate.
"We've started spending so much more time here," Olivia continued, "I imagine that'll continue, and I hope you'll join us more often."
"I will," Carmen sipped her coffee, "Mmm, This is good."
Olivia raised her mug, "Yes it is."
A few minutes later, Justin appeared with baby JJ in his arms. The infant was deliciously pudgy. His skin was the color of caramel and his hair was light brown, thick, and curly like his father's. He smiled and reached for Carmen. After the requisite good mornings, Justin handed him over.
"I see we're all set for breakfast," he said.
"Just waiting for everyone to wake up," Carmen said as she nuzzled JJ.
"Get yourself some coffee," Olivia said.
"I will," Justin said, "But I gotta be quick. I promised Wyatt we'd go to the oyster drop off. They're thirty minutes out."
Wyatt had many obsessions, and, after years of summer living in Bethany Beach, he'd finally become infatuated with seafaring culture, in particular, Delaware's oyster farms. One of the boats was scheduled to come in with a haul that morning and Justin promised to take Wyatt.
"None of us knows how to cook those things," Olivia said.
Justin shrugged, "I bet if we take 'em to the bar down there they'll do it."
Such an arrangement would never fly in the city, but Olivia agreed with Justin. They knew the owner of the bar and she was sure he'd do them a favor and prepare the oysters Wyatt selected. They would probably even see him there-local restaurateurs got first dibs.
"Thanks for taking him, Justin," Olivia said. "He loves this kind of thing." Indeed, Wyatt had such a deep interest in many topics, it took every single bit of extended family manpower to keep his mind occupied. A single visit to a museum or a particular site was never enough. If something caught Wyatt's interest, he needed a follow-up. Ed and Olivia were intentionally putting off a trip to the Smithsonian exhibits in Washington, D.C. because they were sure Wyatt would be totally overwhelmed. They were considering taking him solo and only allowing him to visit two or three of the museums. In this case, Wyatt desperately needed to see how the oysters he loved to slurp with hot sauce and a little splash of lemon made their way onto the iced platter.
Carmen stood and gave JJ to Olivia, "Let me make you two a plate," she said in her typical busy manner, "Wyatt loves my waffles. He can have one now and one later, or both now, whatever he wants."
She continued talking, but Olivia could no longer hear once the screen door slammed shut. She was glad they'd decided to leave the original wooden door on the house. The simple piece added so much original character to the spaces they kept modernizing. Olivia stood JJ on her stomach and he bounced up and down.
"What do you think, J? You want to go in the water today? Want to go with grandma?"
JJ grinned and giggled and his back straightened when something caught his eye. "Justin Carmen," Olivia called, "I'm going to take little man down to the beach and walk a bit. Be back soon."
"See you when you get back," Carmen said.
Olivia kissed JJ's chubby cheeks and made her way down the steps, "C'mon, little man," she said, "It's a lovely morning for a walk, isn't it?"
JJ kicked his legs and squealed.
Olivia looked back at the house. The second story drapes were still drawn, but she knew Wyatt was awake and tiptoeing around the shared den bedroom, carefully choosing his clothes for the oyster outing. Instead of feeling left out that Wyatt hadn't asked her to take him to the unloading site, Olivia was grateful. Wyatt and Justin shared an intellectual bond, and Wyatt seemed to instinctively know the best person to ask on what he conceded were odd and off-the-beaten-path missions. When Wyatt brought up the subject two nights ago, Justin jumped at the idea. Remembering both their smiling faces, Olivia chuckled and held JJ close.
"Oysters tonight if we're lucky, baby boy," she cooed.
JJ gurgled and cooed. So far, he was nowhere near the fussy infant he'd been just a couple of weeks ago. Maybe the beach was good for him; maybe, as Carmen had alluded to, he preferred more serene surroundings.
"Stay here as long as you want, JJ," she said, "As long as you want."
…..
Olivia had every intention of, once again, bringing up the subject of Ed's relationship with his brother, but after the kids were asleep, she couldn't think of anything other than how much she wanted to feel his strong, sturdy body making love to her. He took the hint and, as soon as the coast was clear, started peeling off her clothes. In the throes of passion she clutched his arms and Ed was sure he had never felt so masculine in his entire life. As good as it felt, he almost was sorry when he finished.
"Did we put the leftovers away?" He asked, breathlessly, into the crook of her neck.
Olivia chuckled. "That's what you're thinking about?"
"I was thinking about having some of those mini quiches. I'm kinda hungry. You want something?"
She wasn't particularly hungry but agreed anyway, "I'll go along."
They weren't two steps out of their room when they realized other members of the Tucker family had late-night snack ideas.
"Maggie. Wyatt," Ed said sternly, "What are you doing?"
"Ge'a snack, Dada!" Maggie said brightly. She held up a cylinder of Ritz crackers and pointed at Wyatt, whose head was in the refrigerator, "Wy' get stin'cheese!"
"St'cheese!" Wyatt announced proudly as he turned around. As if he expected to see his parents there, he grinned and offered them a tube of mozzarella. "St'cheese? Magg have cra'er!"
It was impossible to be mad at or frustrated with the twins. And, they had gone to bed early and had not had their regular day of meals. Ed and Olivia sat the two-year-olds on the island and shared a late-night cheese and cracker snack with them.
"Now," Ed said as he tucked them back in, "Stay in your beds. No getting out."
"No get out," Wyatt slurred, clearly ready for sleep.
"Love you sweethearts," Olivia said.
"Loveuuuuuu!"
"Lubbbuuuuu!"
"C'mon," Ed grabbed her hand, "Let's get back to bed before Noah wakes up."
…
#Tuckson
Alright, truth time. Are you still reading this? I'm thinking about calling it quits. It looks like people are still reading, but, with no chance of canon Tuckson, maybe this has run its course. Thoughts? I'm thinking about ending it.