Update time! In this chapter: Careening around roads! Tears! Dimples! Pasta! Domesticity!
So, you know, the usual: kind of fluffy angst and angsty fluff. ;)
Thanks for reading and any and all comments! You complete me. (Ugh, now I made myself think of Tom Cruise.)
"Ten minutes to back out," I joked, as we made the turnoff onto the "charming country lane," as Michael called it. She glanced at me and gave me a little smile, but I knew she was nervous. I'd caught her nibbling her lip several times, and although I'd got her dancing in her seat when I put on Jack U Off, that was a few dozen miles ago.
"That's cute, but you're not helping," she informed me, her voice subdued, and schooled her face into that flat affect front that she sometimes fell back on when under pressure. "Unless it is you who is having thoughts of backing out…"
"Wait, whoa whoa, no," I interjected. "I'm just trying to dispel any tension. I think we're both a little edgy, but I'm pretty damn sure they'll all love you." I had pulled my bare feet off the dashboard and turned toward her in my seat to say that, and she gave me a brief look that expressed that she was trying to buy it, despite knowing this was a big deal. "Hey, relax," I told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's— oh, shit! Take this right!"
The tires squealed a little as she took my last-minute directions, and we had to swerve to avoid the street sign. "Sorry," I apologized, just as she sighed "Cosima" under her breath. Then I couldn't help but start giggling. She rolled her eyes, but at least she seemed to have shaken off her nerves for the moment, about being at the house, at least, if not so much getting there.
"Left here," I pointed out, making sure there was plenty of distance to signal and turn this time. We passed an antiques store, a bed and breakfast, a pub, a small playground. Space grew between yards as the land beside the road rose into a gentle hill. Then there we were, the meticulously cared-for wood-sided house in white and blue, with the front-facing porch and the driveway winding around to the back. We pulled in, me grinning excitedly and sliding on my shoes, and I said "just park here" as we got around to the side of the house just before the rear deck.
"This is it," I nodded, turning to her and squeezing her hand. "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be," she answered, and I almost chuckled at the slight oddity of the colloquialism in her accent. Sometimes I could swear she was speaking in cursive.
There was a call of "hey" and the swing and slap of the screen door, and Michael came jogging down the stairs to meet us.
"Hey, Michael," I answered, climbing out of the car, wrapping my arms around him and squeezing as he enveloped me in a hug. "Ah, the beard is growing, again, eh," I observed, as he placed a kiss on the top of my head and stepped back.
"You know me," he said in his gentle voice. "Summer winds down and I become a mountain man." He looked up with a smile and his kind eyes shining. "You must be Delphine. Welcome."
Delphine stood between her open door and the body of the car, smiling back. Maybe it was better she met him first. Michael can be very grounding. Teo has more energy than even me when I haven't done pot in a while. They both rounded the car and met at the back, where Michael held out his hand and Delphine took it in a simple shake.
"Let me get your luggage," he insisted. "I'll bring it to your room."
Just then there was the bang of the screen door, again, and I turned to see Teo striding toward us, full toothpaste commercial smile on blast, and in front of him ran my little dear heart…
"Mommy," Sevvy yelled, and flung himself at me. I caught him in a hug.
"Hey, buddy," I murmured into his hair, after kissing his cheek. "I'm glad to see you." I let us both fully take each other in for a moment, then leaned back a bit. "Would you like to meet my friend?"
He nodded, his cheeks a little flushed with excitement. Behind me, I heard a murmur of voices and turned around. Delphine and Teo stood close to one another, almost shoulder to shoulder, both watching my interaction with Sevvy intently. Both of them seemed to have tears welling up at the same time, her eyebrows raised and dimples showing, him… well, damn if his eyebrows weren't raised and his dimples showing, too. The thought made me giggle.
"Okay. Sevvy," I said, and led him to them with a small touch to his shoulder, "this is Delphine, who we told you about. Delphine, this…" I looked up into her eyes, brimming over, her smile which trembled slightly as she sniffled the tears back, and I felt emotion well up in my throat and tear ducts, as well. I swallowed. "This is Sevvy, a totally awesome dude, and my son."
"Hi," Sevvy said affably, "I'm Sevvy," and he gave a little roll of his wrist and fingers in greeting so much like my habitual wave. A sound came out of my lover, sort of like a stifled laugh mixed with a small, breathy cry.
"Hello," she said, and bent down into a crouch to get on his level. "I'm Delphine. Your mother has told me about you. I'm very happy to meet you."
Sevvy's dimples deepened, too. He solemnly reached out his hand for a handshake, something he had taken up doing, of late, something that made me realize how much he was growing up every time he did it. Delphine took his hand gently, mirroring his slightly formal air as she did it.
"Enchanté," said one love of my life, as she moved their arms up and down once. Sevvy cocked his head and grinned.
"Enchanté," replied the other love of my life, gamely, even though the word was not quite right and a little bit thick on his tongue.
Delphine's eyes rose to meet mine, and there was a brief moment where I thought we were both gonna lose it. I quickly straightened up and tousled Sevvy's hair.
"So, what's for lunch, buddy," I asked him, and he turned around and immediately began running toward the porch door.
"Pasta," he yelled, not even looking to see if we were following, his voice filled with glee. "Come n' get it!" He dashed through the screen door in an instant and it swung and thwacked behind him. We adults all looked at each other for a moment, all smiles and light chuckles.
"You heard the man," Teo finally said, after clearing his throat. "Let's go eat."