Chapter 21
Marie Lacroix stood in the airport terminal with her two sons, daughter in law, and young grandson, waiting anxiously for Sandy to arrive with Tyler and the man she had planned to marry.
"They should be landing at any time," Andy said. "Then there's getting through security."
"I don't like this whole flying thing," Marie said nervously. "All those terrible things we hear about it."
"Mom, surely you didn't expect them to drive all the way from New Mexico, did you?" Dave asked.
"No, but it always makes me nervous when Sandy's flying anywhere."
"I think you're just nervous about meeting this man, Marie," Edie, Dave's wife, said reassuringly while she shifted their son, Davey, in her arms. "It's going to be fine, you'll see."
Andy spied Paul first, looking down at the photo in his hand to make sure it was the right man, before seeing Sandy and Tyler behind Paul.
"There they are!" Andy said.
"Aunt Sandy!" Davey cried. "Tyler!"
Marie was speechless when she saw Paul. "Oh my…..he looks so much like Michael."
"I was just thinking the same thing," Edie agreed. "It's almost scary."
"He seems a decent enough guy from when I talked to him on the phone last night," Dave nodded. "Let's hope that's the case or Andy and I will have to clobber him."
"You will do no such thing, David Lacroix, Sr.," Edie scolded him.
"Hey, had anyone heard from the Dillards?" Andy asked.
"I talked to Peter," Marie nodded. "He and Suzy will meet us at the house. They're very excited to see Tyler."
"I bet. No one's seen him since they left Philly," Dave nodded.
"Mother!" Sandy cried, rushing toward them.
"Sandra, Tyler!" Marie smiled, hugging each. "I'm so glad you're here."
"We're glad to see you too, Granny," Tyler replied. "You look nice."
"Thank you, sweetheart. Your Nana and Pop Dillard will be meeting us back at the house."
"Cool." He turned to Paul. "Paul, this is my Granny Lacroix. This is Paul, Granny. He's marrying Mom."
Paul gave the older woman his best smile. "How do you do, Mrs. Lacroix?"
"Oh please, do call me Marie. Mrs. Lacroix makes me feel so ancient!"
Sandy eyed up her brothers and Edie. "I see Mother brought the calvary," she kidded.
"Who, us?" We volunteered to come along," Andy said.
"Nice try, Andrew," Sandy shook her head. "Paul, this is my twin brother Andy, and our older brother, Dave. The sane woman holding the child is Dave's wife Edie and their son, Davey. Guys, this is my fiancé, Paul."
Paul gave each man a bone crushing handshake, exchanging pleasantries.
"Holy shit!" Dave cried, rubbing his hand. "That's one hell of a shake you got there, man."
"You aren't kidding," Andy agreed.
"Don't let his size fool you, Uncle Dave," Tyler said. "He can kick some serious ass."
"Guess he isn't a former champ for nothing," Andy said, laughing.
"So you're the one who read up on me," Paul said, obviously flattered.
"Well, I had to find out about the guy my evil twin was marrying."
"In other words, you're a nosy shit," Edie said.
"That too."
"I didn't even know Sandy had a twin," Paul said as they all headed for their cars.
"We don't make it common knowledge," Sandy giggled.
"Now you all don't have to worry about a hotel," Marie said. "I have Sandy's old room made up, and I had turned Tom's home office into a guest room for Paul and Tyler."
"This will be fun!" Tyler approved. "You still got the pond, Granny?"
"Of course. I thought of having it drained and closed over after your grandfather died, but I just couldn't do that since you like your ice hockey so much, and it's always so lovely to see the ducks come back in the spring. Are you playing hockey at school, Tyler?"
"We don't have hockey team at my new school, Granny."
"That's too bad. Grandpa and I always loved coming to your games when you were here in Philadelphia."
"I know. And I remember Dad taking me to the Phillies games when I was little."
"Guess we're going to have to have a game or two while you're here, kid," Andy grinned. "Since it's been awhile since you played, I may have an advantage."
"I'd like that," Tyler nodded. "And I've been practicing with potato hockey at home."
"Better watch, Andy," Sandy told him. "The last time you challenged Tyler, you got your ass handed to you."
Paul laughed. "Hey, he's beaten my ass in potato hockey."
"And I was stuck cleaning up the mess," Sandy replied.
"Hey, speaking of that kind of stuff, do you know Paul still holds the record for the wrestling team's fastest pin? 7.4 seconds. No lie," Tyler said proudly.
"I don't doubt it," Andy nodded. "I've seen some of his pro matches on YouTube. And I turned on Raw last week for the hell of it. Good match, man."
"Thanks," Paul smiled, knowing he had won at least one of his future brothers in law over. "Maybe I can get you guys into a show the next time we're in Philly."
"You boys and your sports," Marie said, shaking her head.
"Sorry for boring you, Granny," Tyler apologized. "So are you still playing bridge and dancing?"
"My knees aren't allowing me to dance much these days, Tyler," Marie answered. "All part of getting old. But I'm still doing bridge."
"Granny was a Rockette a long time ago," Tyler bragged to Paul. "Grandpa showed me the pictures and said Granny had the best legs out of the whole row."
"Oh, Tyler!" Marie chuckled, blushing. "That was over forty years ago!"
"And she has a new boyfriend," Andy grinned.
"Oh? I didn't hear about this," Sandy said.
"Andrew!" Marie cried. "Now you know Norman is just a companion to go to bridge and Atlantic City. There's no hanky panky."
"What's wrong with that, Granny? Grandpa would want you to go out. Just like I told Mom when she started going out with Paul. Dad would want her to date."
"So what's this Norman like?" Sandy asked.
"His wife died last year. We met at the senior center and started talking. He was just a lonely man that liked bridge and poker. So we started going to the games together," Marie replied.
"And went to Atlantic City together last week," Andy grinned. "Norman's a great guy, San. I don't think I remember Mom being so giddy since they've been going out."
"The important thing is that your mom's happy," Paul nodded. "Just like Sandy's made me happy."
"You going to marry him, Granny, like Mom's marrying Paul?" Tyler asked.
"Oh, Tyler! Don't be silly. Things are fine with me and Norman just the way they are. He goes his way and me my own way. I think that is why we get along so well."
"And honestly, I think one wedding is enough to deal with right now," Andy chuckled.
"When are you two getting married, by the way?" Marie asked Sandy.
"We haven't set a date yet. There's Paul's schedule to consider. He'd have to arrange time off around that."
"And it isn't going to be a huge gala," Paul added. "We've agreed on family and close friends. Fifty or sixty people at the most."
"That sounds reasonable enough," Marie agreed. "Have you thought about a dress?"
"Not really. I'll probably be looking at some second-marriage ones this week. I'm not thinking of anything frou frou or cheesy."
"Well, if you're up this way again, Jeanette is still around. She did a wonderful job altering your gown when you married Michael."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
"Aren't you glad we guys don't have to go through that stuff?" Tyler asked Andy and Paul.
"You got that right. But I'm happy being a bachelor anyway," Andy nodded.
"And I got my suit from the Hall of Fame ceremony last year," Paul added. "No use wasting money on something else when I have a perfectly good one I only wore once."
"Cheap ass," Sandy teased.
"Thanks, baby, I love you too."
"I still got my suit from Grandpa's funeral," Tyler spoke up. "I wore it then and for picture day at school. It should be okay."
"Forget it, young man," Sandy said. "The slacks on that thing look like flood pants with you getting so tall. I'm taking you next weekend to get fitted for something else."
"Do we have to?" Tyler asked with a whine. Going shopping with Mom would be so dorky, he thought.
"Yes. You are not wearing high water pants to my wedding."
"Just go with Mom on this one, Ty," Paul said. "Trust me, it's easier to go along with what women want. Hell, if nothing else, you'll get some pants that are long enough for you."