“Oh, you mean Jon.”
“Ah, right, Jon. Youshould bring him around soon. Let himliventhisplace up a little.”
Considering it had beena little over a month since Jon had met my grandmother, it surprised me thatshe even remembered him and the girls. As she focused her full attention onThe Family Feud, reciting the answerswith impressive dexterity, I headed to my room with only one thing on my mind.
***
“Hey,” Jon answered on the first ring. “Iwas actually just about to call you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, I wanted to askif you saw Lilly’s unicorn shirt. She wants to wear it on the first day ofschool and I cannot for the life of me find the thing.”
“It’s in her drawer,” Ianswered with clarity. “I saw it there earlier when I was getting her pajamasout.”
“Are you sure? BecauseI’m looking in—oh, wait. There it is, never mind. Crisis averted. Thanks.” Iheard the dresser drawer close as Jon said, “Lil, here it is, okay? Now, timefor bed. Go brush your teeth.”
“What-ever,” she grumbled, and I laughed.
“Six going on sixteen,”Jon mumbled into the phone. “So, I’m sure you didn’t call to help me find mydaughter’s missing t-shirt. Unless you’re psychic, in which case I’m really impressed.”
“No, but that would behandy. Actually, I was calling to ask what you were doing tomorrow beforework.”
“Well, it’s Lilly andShelly’s last day of summer vacation before they start school, so I thoughtmaybe we’d go out for lunch or something. But I’m open to suggestions.”
I hesitated for amoment before I replied, “I need to ask a favor of you.”
“Anything.” He said itnearly romantically, the way someone might to the person they were in lovewith. It was gruff and intimate, and I had to remind myself that Jon O’Delldidn’t love me, not in the way my characters loved each other. We werefriends.Friends who’d slept togetheronce and never spoke of it again.
“Grandma was askingabout you tonight,” I spoke around my thoughts. “She wanted you to come over,and I told her I’d ask.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I’d really appreciateit.” I wish I could’ve said it could wait, but I didn’t know how much longerGrandma had, and if Jon and his daughters would make her happy, I wanted thatfor her as soon as possible.
“Absolutely,” hereplied without even a blip of hesitation. “I’ll bring lunch.”
***
“You didn’t have to do this,” I muttered,greeting Jon in the driveway with his three daughters in tow. They squealedwith excitement at the sight of me and I offered them hugs as their dad asked,“Didn’t have to do what?”
“Bring food.” He cockedhis head cluelessly and I gestured toward the pizza box in his hands. “Icould’ve made something.”
“You do enough,” heprotested gently, flashing me that lopsided smile of his.
With a roll of my eyes,I led him into the house. The girls trailed behind and hesitated beforeentering the house while Jon entered enthusiastically, shouting mygrandmother’s name like he’d been friends with her for years.
“Margaret! Rememberme?”
“I’m not senile, Jon,”Grandma grumbled, and I was about to tell her to be nice when he chuckled.
“Glad to hear it. Andhey, it’s good to see you again.” He bent at the waist to kiss her cheek,laying a hand against her shoulder. “How’ve you been?”
“Still old,” shegrumbled.
“Yeah, I know.” Hesmiled sympathetically. “You like pizza?”
“Does anybodynotlike pizza?” Grandma askedincredulously, and he laughed.
