“My daughter and my son-in-law think I’m an idiot.”
“Granny!”
“It’s true. They think I can’t handle certain situations anymore.”
Larry brings our glasses over to the table and stands behind us, waiting for instructions.
“Oh, for the love of God, Larry! Sit down and stop making a fuss. He’s a big boy, now, he’ll work it out for himself.”
“Work it out? What the…?”
Larry sits down next to my grandmother. She takes his hand, squeezing it.
“Holy fucking shit!”
“Frederick!” Granny scolds.
“So it’s true! I wasn’t making it up or anything?”
“If you’re referring to the fact that Larry has been my lover for at least twenty years, then no, you probably didn’t make it up.”
“How do you feel about it? You’re in shock. You’re probably angry, or feel betrayed…” Larry begins cautiously.
“Honestly… I feel happy,” I say instead, and they both sigh in relief. “I hate the idea of you being in the house all alone.”
“As you can see, dear,” Granny says, as Larry brings her hand to his mouth, kissing it tenderly, “I never have been.”
12Sean
After the surprise announcement, everything feels decidedly more relaxed. Eric seems different tonight – different in his mannerisms, even. And I’m not just referring to the fact that he came to my door instead of waiting in the car. Or the fact that we made conversation on the way over here. It must be this environment, the fact that his family isn’t here, the relationship he has with his grandmother. He’s even interested in my job, when his grandmother starts asking me unexpected questions about it ? yet another thing that has surprised me tonight.
Maybe he’s not a total dick. Maybe his behaviour the other night was down to that environment, to the company. Maybe, beneath all that bitterness and resentment, there’s so much more. I just wonder whether it’s worth trying to uncover it; after tonight, we really will go our separate ways. For good, this time.
“I was thinking that I’d like to host Christmas dinner this year.”
“Here?” Eric asks.
“I want to see this place sparkle like it used to.” She turns to me. “For a few years, my daughter has invited me to her house, and I’ve always been forced to accept.”
“Granny doesn’t like celebrating Christmas at my parents’ house.”
I look at Evelyn for confirmation, but she simply shrugs.
“There are always long, boring discussions about donations, events, techniques, research… Not things you want to be talking about over Christmas dinner.”
“My parents always invite a load of random people,” Eric says, providing me with the missing piece of the puzzle.
“We always used to celebrate here, together. Like a proper family – not as if we were at some charity event.”
“It’s been years, Granny,” Eric says, taking a sip of wine as if trying to send down the bitterness in his voice.
“It’s about time we made up for it, then.”
“Why go to all that trouble, though? For what?”
“To have my family here like the good old days.”
I watch the two of them, trying to work out what’s really going on – because I get the impression that there’s something else happening here, in a language I can’t seem to understand.
