A Simple Life: Chapter 113 (Patreon)

In Grandpa’s eyes I see the same blend of guilt and shame whenever he heard his daughter say something nasty like she just had.  It tore him up to hear his daughter treat his grandson like she did.  I knew that his one great regret in life was how far he and Anna had allowed their only child to stray.  He might have been the greatest grandpa in the world but, according to him, he and Anna’s free-spirited live and let live philosophy had made for being lousy parents.  As he told it, all had been smooth sailing until Joni turned 15 when she fell in with a bad group of friends.  Just as with strict conservative families where a child might rebel to become a carousing party animal Joni swung the other direction from her upbringing of free-thinking idealism into rigid outdated mores.  Busy as their life was in those prime years little did they realize the radical shift in their daughter’s worldview until it was too late.  Peace, love and understanding had been replaced by intolerance, judgment and homophobia.  The more they tried to reel her back in the further she wriggled from their grasp.  By the time Mom met Dad, a man who shared those same attitudes and then some, and became pregnant with Paige her ways had been set.

Grandpa tries to pull me away from her.  Keeping his tone upbeat for our guest’s sake he takes my hand.  “I just brewed a fresh pot of coffee.”  He says.  “I could whip you kids up some scrambled eggs and bacon if you’re hungry.”

My attempt to go with Grandpa is blocked by my mom keeping a tight grip on my arm and remaining glued to my side.  In the span of a few seconds a silent argument flashes back and forth between Mom and Grandpa’s eyes.  Today Mom wasn’t budging.  Wishing to keep things cordial, probably because he knew how important this meeting between him and Winona was to me, he cedes the battle and steps away.

“Actually, we were coming by to see if you wanted to join us for breakfast at Chub’s.”  Winona says, oblivious to all that had just happened.  “Our treat.”

“Our?”  Grandpa raises his bushy brows and smiles.  “Look at these two.  They’re an ‘our’ already.”

Winona laughs.  “You’re free to join us, Joni.  The more the merrier.”

“This really isn’t a good time…”  Mom stresses, before Grandpa cuts her off.

“Free grub!”  He claps.  “I’m in.”

“This is not a good time!”

“Hoo hoo!  Let me grab my jacket!”

“Dad!”  Mom shoots him a hard look.

“You can stay here and mope if you want to.”  He says.  “But I’m hungry.”  After a quick trip into the wheelhouse to grab a faded blue windbreaker he starts locking Bella up.  “You got wheels Winona?”

“Got my truck.”  She says as she takes her keys from her pocket to spin them like an old west cowboy with his six-shooter.  “If we all don’t mind gettin cozy that is.”

“I mean, I don’t mind.”  He quips.  “But I heard your boyfriend is a real bad mamma-jamma.”

“Oh yeah.”  She warns.  “He’s a straight up bad ass.  You better watch your hands old man.”

“Ha!”  He lets out a loud guffaw at her cheek.  “I’m a married man young lady!”

“Hey.”  She winks.  “I won’t say nothin if you won’t.  Just don’t let him catch ya.”

“Ha ha ha!  Are you hearing this Anna?”

I stand there giggling, absolutely adoring the way these two were already bantering back and forth.  I just knew they were gonna like each other!  It made my heart so happy to see it.

At my side Mom wasn’t nearly so charmed.  In fact she was downright stewing in anger at the way they were carrying on.  She grumbles something under her breath then says curtly.  “Fine.  Avery and I will go in my car.  We’ll meet you there.”

This stops Grandpa’s laughter in a heartbeat.  “Joni…”

She turns on him and jabs a finger into his chest.  “It’s all just fun and games to you, isn’t it Dad?  It’s all a big joke, huh?”

“Joni…”

“No!  Don’t Joni me.  You drop that bombshell on me, on poor Avery, and now you just want to go for breakfast as if everything is alright?  What about us, Dad?  Some of us can’t just laugh it all off, Dad.  Some of us actually give a damn!”  Grandpa shifts uncomfortably as he shoots an apologetic look Winona’s way as things were suddenly very awkward.  “I need to talk to my son.  We will meet you at Chubs.”  She turns to leave with me in tow.  Knowing better than to sass my mom I move along with her without resistance.

“Sprout?”  Winona says, concern in her eyes.

“I’ll s-s-see you at Ch-Chubs.”  I say softly and with a reassuring half-smile.  “I n-need to talk to m-my m-mom.”

“Okay.”  She says.  “I’ll see you soon.”

“You be nice Joni.”  Grandpa says as we hit the gangway.  “You be nice!”

Mom doesn’t answer but lays her head on my shoulder, my arm still clutched tight to her side, as we make our way down to the dock.  As we start toward the parking area I peer back to see Winona and Grandpa talking on deck.  Gone was the fun and laughter.  I had fantasized about that moment of those two meeting.  I thought about how I was going to show Winona all around Grandpa’s home and show off his crazy kitsch collection and maybe get him to regale us with some of his better stories.  But in all those imaginings I had never pictured Mom being there to spoil the fun.  Mom sure had a way of killing a mood, just like me.  As with our similar looks the apple didn’t fall far from its tree.  I was so stupid!  The moment I saw her car I should have turned around and left.  Stupid, stupid, stupid!

“H-How you d-doin Mom?”

“Not so good Avery.”  She says.  “That was not the news I needed to hear today.”

“Yeah.  It’s s-sad.”

“As if I haven’t been through enough lately.  Now this.”

“Y-Yeah.”

We walk along at slow and plodding pace as the waves slosh beneath our feet.  “Dad said he was going to keep quiet but that it wasn’t fair that you have to carry the secret alone.  How long have you known?”

“N-Not too long.”

“You should have told me Avery.  You should have told me right away.”

“S-S-Sorry.”

“I know you two were always close.”  She says.  “But he’s my dad.  I know what’s best for him.  I’m your mom.  I know what’s best for you.  And what’s best for this family.”

“He d-didn’t want a fuss made.”  I say.  “And he d-didn’t w-want to spoil J-Jack and Lauren’s good news.”

“It was selfish of him.  And of you to keep it to yourself.”

Even after all these years, her barbs still hurt every single time.  “S-Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”  She puts an arm around me.  “You thought you were doing good.”  At the car she turns me toward her to fix the collar of my jacket.  “You look so handsome today.”

“Th-Thank you.”  I say.  “Y-You l-look good too Mom.”

She smiles and kisses my cheek.  “You must have taken this news hard.”  I nod.  “I can only imagine.  Having to keep that bottled up inside.”  She hugs me tight and I hug her back.  “It’s okay Avery.  Mom’s going to take care of everything now.”

“I’m okay.”  I whisper.  “I’m…j-just g-g-gonna miss him.”

“We all are Avery.”  She pats my shoulders.  “Maybe not the best idea to bring your new friend over at a time like this.”

“Oh, um, I-I-I…”

Knocking on my skull lightly she says.  “Use your head next time, huh?  God.  That poor girl had to walk into the middle of that.”

“Yeah.”  I bow my head low.  “I-I’m s-sorry Mama.  It was st-st-stupid of me.”

“Yes it was.”  She says.  “How many times do I have to tell you, family business stays in the family.  God you embarrassed me.”

“S-Sorry!  S-S-Sorry Mama.”

“It’s okay.”  She hugs me again.  “It’s okay my son.  Shhh.  Grandpa’s got your head all mixed up right now.  He knows how sensitive you are.”  She steps back and nods toward the passenger door.  “Come on now.  Get in the car Avery.”

“Y-Yes Mom.”  I get into the passenger seat, buckle in, then sit quietly with my hands folded on my lap.  She gets in and soon we are on our way.  We drive in stifling silence for a few blocks until she turns left when she should have turned right.  “Um…”

“Don’t worry.”  She answers my unspoken question.  “We’re going to Chubs.  I’m just taking the long way.”  She glances over at me then back to the road.  “We need to talk.  Alone.”

Chapter 114