Sammy and Ilna, love you to the moon. REAL McRollers and Readers, thanks doesn't seem like enough, but thank you always. This one is for my own cousins and all the fun, then and now.
Conversations with Grace and Angie:
One for the Books
Grace glanced at the clock - 5:30 p.m. just in time for her guest's arrival. With a quick sweep through the living room, she fluffed the cushions on the couch and adjusted the throw pillows, ensuring everything was just right, then giggled to herself because her visitor wouldn't care a bit about clutter or fluffed pillows. The apartment was cozy, decorated with items she, Linda and Kendra had chosen as well as framed photos of their families and friends. Linda was on a weekend trip with Grandma Josie and Kendra had a concert on the big island, so she had the place to herself. Ten seconds after she checked the time again, an unmistakably excited knock, followed by the words, "Grace! I'm here!" sounded at the door.
As soon as she opened the door, Angie burst in, actually bouncing with each step. "Hey, you," Grace knelt down to meet her at eye level. "Excited for our sleepover?"
Her cousin nodded vigorously and flung herself into a hug. "Very very excited! It's gonna be so fun." Looking over the little girl's shoulder, Grace greeted Catherine. "Hi, Auntie Cath. You can leave her stuff anywhere for now."
Catherine accepted a hug from Grace before taking both her daughter's hands. "Be a good listener and have fun." She kissed the little cheek. "Call if you need us," she told her niece before placing Angie's little duffel bag on the sofa.
As soon as she kissed her mother goodbye, the seven year old turned to her cousin and said, "Guess what? Joanie got a bra! Mommy said I can get one when I'm eleven."
Grace nodded, having heard the story from Catherine earlier in the week. "Can you guess who took me for my first bra?"
"Uncle Danno?"
Grace laughed out loud, picturing her father's expression back then. "Nope. Your mommy took me."
Angie's mouth formed a perfect O. "Then you had fun, 'cause Mommy's very good at shopping. Almost as good as Grandma."
"It was very exciting, and your mommy makes everything fun," Grace agreed, standing up and leading the way to the kitchen. "Now, how about we make some dinner together. I was thinking of spaghetti."
"Yes!" Angie trailed behind, her feet pattering against the hardwood floor. "And then can we have cookies?"
"Spaghetti it is, and we can do better than just cookies. It's our first official sleepover here, so we can make cookie sundaes later," she said, already pulling out the ingredients for dinner from the fridge.
Angie automatically went to the sink to wash her hands before donning the apron Grace handed her. "I'm ready to cook!" She announced and her cousin grinned, thinking she'd worn that same apron the first time she'd cooked with her father after moving to the island. It was tiny, but she somehow could never bring herself to part with it, and now that Angie fit into it perfectly, she was glad she'd kept it all these years.
As they cooked, the kitchen filled with the scent of sautéed garlic and tomatoes. Angie tore lettuce for a salad, and Grace stirred gravy with a wooden spoon while noticing her cousin's brows were knit in a very Uncle Steve-like expression as she concentrated.
"Daddy said you cooked for the team when you were getting a badge once."
"I did. I made macaroni and meatballs at your house because we had a tiny kitchen then - I was just a little older than you - and Uncle Danno and your daddy got into a whole thing about gravy and calling it sauce." She laughed at the memory.
"Nonna calls it gravy, so it's gravy." Angie confirmed.
"Which your daddy came around to." She kissed the head full of curls as she passed with the dishes and placed them on the table."
"I can do the forks and stuff," the little girl offered. "I'm all done with the salad."
"It looks great, good job." Grace offered a fist to bump. "The silverware is in that drawer." She pointed.
"Daddy and Uncle Danno are funny when they don't agree," Angie giggled, long aware of the banter her father and uncle took part in. "Like when Daddy says the Beatles are better than the Rolling Stones. They're both silly, because those bands are good but they're not from New Jersey, and New Jersey music is the best."
"And that, right there, may be my dad's favorite statement you've ever made."
"And Taylor Swift is very, very good," the seven year old added. "Is she from New Jersey?"
"Pennsylvania, but that's pretty close to New Jersey. And I know our dads will banter forever, and it is funny. I remember a time they had to chase down a suspect and they ended up on a farm. There were chickens and goats everywhere. My dad destroyed his shoes and Uncle Steve kept telling him he shouldn't have worn nice shoes."
Angie's eyes lit as she locked onto the part that stood out. "A goat case! I love goats!"
"I know you do," Grace said, in the understatement of the year, while putting the spaghetti into a bowl.
"Maybe you can get one because you're a grown up in your own house?" Angie suggested with her usual enthusiasm.
"I don't think the landlord would be too happy about a goat in the apartment," Grace chuckled, "This is an apartment, so we don't own the house, and there are rules."
"Maybe someday, then," the little girl sighed. "Because that would be so awesome."
"Everything's ready," Grace said as she placed a bowl of meatballs and a pitcher of lemonade on the table. "Let's eat."
To be continued …