Kin (16 page)

Her mother leaned forward, her cleavage dangling in front of him. “Welcome to our home.” She shook David's hand but didn't let go, pulling him towards her. She put her other hand up to shade her eyes from the glare of the sun.

“Do I know you?”

“No, you don't,” Kay answered.

“I'm sure I've seen you somewhere before.” Virginia let go of his hand. “I'll think of it. Why don't you two have a swim? Dinner's not for hours yet.”

“I hope it's not fried food. David can't eat fried food.”

“Talk to the cook about it, not me. I'm sure he'll be happy to rustle up another masterpiece of culinary delight for your new boyfriend.”

Kay looked annoyed. “Let's go for a swim.” She walked away.

“It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Hanover.”

“If you need anything, David, just let me know. I'll arrange it for you, pronto. Anything at all.”

David nodded and went after Kay. She took off her robe and dove into the pool without waiting for him, which was too bad, since Kay in a bathing suit was something to see. As David pulled off his shirt, he was aware of Kay's mom watching his every move.

He wasn't in Kansas anymore.

In the end, Kay lent him her older brother's suit. Louis Jr. lived in New York, running a couple of his father's companies. His suit fit David pretty well. Kay dusted off his shoulders and gave him a last look.

“You are a handsome creature.”

“Thank you.”

“I'm warning you now: don't play my mother's games. She'll turn herself inside out to try to get your attention.”

David put his arms around her. “Do you honestly think I could look at anyone else when you're in the room?”

She had to reapply her lipstick before they went downstairs.

There was a cocktail party before dinner, and then the guests were ushered into the dining room. David had never seen a table that long before. Kay's mother patted the chair next to her and asked David to sit down. Kay frowned and sat to the right of her dad.

There were an astonishing four wine glasses at each place setting. Kay need not have worried about David's diet, as everyone was served grilled salmon drizzled with maple dressing. Dessert was a lemon sherbet with chocolate-dipped vanilla wafers on the side. David spent most of the meal nodding at whatever Virginia was bleating on about but keeping his eyes on Kay, who was determined to drive him crazy by licking her cutlery in inappropriate ways when no one was looking.

But while Kay was flirting with him, Virginia was groping him under the table. At first he couldn't believe what she was doing, and assumed she'd reached for her napkin, but the second time it happened it was perfectly clear that her movements were intentional. He reached down with his own hand and took hers away from his crotch, but she just held on to his hand and rubbed it between her thighs.

David choked and pulled his hand away to grab his water glass. Kay asked him if he was all right and he nodded. Virginia patted his back.

“We don't want anyone dying at the table,” she laughed.

Thankfully dinner was over then, and he and Kay escaped outside and walked down to the private wharf where the family's boats were kept. Sitting on the dock with their legs hanging over the side and listening to the soft laps of the waves on shore, with the stars twinkling above, was finally something familiar for David. At that moment he missed home.

“Will you ever take me to your bungalow?” Kay asked.

“I'd have a hard time doing that now.”

“My father grew up in a company house, and my mother lived in a trailer in Hants County. My dad built his fortune from the ground up. Mom recognized a good thing when she saw it and has been unhappily married to his money ever since.” Kay sighed. “All my brother and I ever wanted was to have a happy family, but we have everything else instead. You're underestimating me. I'd never turn my nose up at your bungalow and your fine outhouse.”

He put his arms around her and they stayed quiet, listening to the bullfrogs and the call of the loons in the distance. Eventually it got chilly and they headed back up to the house, where the lights shone from every window and the guests milled around, drinks in hand, laughing to kill themselves and talking too loud over the background music. Some of them danced and a few of them staggered. It was like a nightclub.

Kay looked tired, and David suggested they both hit the hay early.

“No midnight visit to my room?”

He laughed. “Your dad knows far too many people who could whack my kneecaps. I think we should wait until we get back to the city.”

They kissed each other goodnight. David went into his room and Kay continued to hers. He was taking off his clothes when the adjoining bathroom door opened and Kay's mother walked into the room, twirling a glass full of wine.

“We meet again.”

“Uh…I think you have the wrong room, Mrs. Hanover.”

“You think I don't know my own house? I have access to all these bedrooms.”

“Mrs. Hanover…”

“Stop calling me that. I came to tell you that I remember who you are. You're that lovely sullen boy who was a bartender at the university. My friends and I used to have fantasies about you.”

She put the wineglass down on the nearest bureau, walked up to him, and encircled his neck with her arms. “Kiss me.”

He backed up, but she took his head and forced him to kiss her, and before he had a chance to get her off him, the door opened.

“I forgot to tell…Mom?”

Virginia turned around. “Oh, darling, David was kissing me goodnight. You really should knock first.”

Kay looked like she wanted to cry and her face went beet red. “Why do you embarrass me like this? Why would you embarrass David? It's pathetic.”

“I don't think that's a very nice way to talk to your mother in front of a guest.”

David removed Virginia's arms from around his neck.

“I'm so sorry, David.”

Virginia pointed her finger at her daughter. “Don't you dare apologize for me in my own house. Who do you think you are?”

“I'm not sure yet, Mother, but I thank God every day that I'm not you.”

David walked over to Kay and deliberately held both her hands. “You are the most beautiful woman in my world. I'd be so happy if you married me.”

Kay burst into tears and then flung herself in his arms. “Yes, yes, I'll marry you.” They kissed each other and forgot about her mom standing there until she started to clap.

“What a performance. If you think you've won, Kathleen, you're sadly mistaken. Have a great life with a nobody and his hillbilly family from Cape Breton.”

David turned to face her. “I am not a nobody, and I'm very proud to come from Cape Breton. I'm also extremely proud of my family. And can I just say that my mother has more class in her baby finger than you and all of your friends downstairs combined.”

Virginia gave him a filthy look. “Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.” She stalked out of the room.

Kay looked at him with adoration. “No one has ever stood up to my mother like that.”

“I can't believe your mother, Kay. Get packed. We're leaving tonight.”

* * *

Annie and Henry were deliriously happy in their new house. It was Henry's wedding gift to her, and he made sure it was clear across town from his mother's, so there'd be no unexpected pop-ins. They spent many happy hours together decorating.

The rest of the time, they were in bed. Henry was determined to be a father before his next birthday, and Annie, being Annie, happily obliged.

When David called to say he was engaged and bringing his fiancée home for Christmas to meet everyone, their mother became a cleaning and baking machine. Annie got fed up that every time she was over, Mom was roaring around the house trying to make everything look better.

“Mom, you realize this girl isn't blind. She'll know that the coal stove is a coal stove no matter how many times you polish it.”

“What's wrong with making a good impression? She's used to the best, according to David.”

“I hate to tell you, but according to David she doesn't know how to cook.”

That stopped her in her tracks. Mom gave Annie an incredulous look. “What do you mean she doesn't know how to cook? What about David's ulcer?”

“It'll become gigantic and walk the earth as a terrifying force of evil.”

“Stop it. Your brother has a terrible time with his stomach. It's no laughing matter.”

Annie reached for a banana and peeled it. “So teach her yourself.” She broke off a piece and stuffed it in her mouth. Lately she couldn't get enough bananas.

“When am I supposed to do that? She's only coming for a few days.”

“Write all your recipes down in a notebook and give it to her for Christmas.”

“That's an excellent idea.” Her mom went back to her scrubbing.

“And while you're at it, do one for me, but only include fattening fried things and every dessert you ever made.”

Annie called Lila to tell her the good news.

“Give him my best,” Lila said tightly.

“You're going to see him, aren't you? We have to be together when we first lay eyes on her, and everyone wants to see Caroline.”

“We'll see. It's not much fun to drive into town with a cranky two-year-old.”

“She's adorable.”

“An adorable crank. Don't make me feel guilty if I can't make it in. I'll do my best.”

“Why can't I push you around anymore?”

“I'm a mother. See ya.”

David and Kay hoped to be in Glace Bay in the afternoon the day before Christmas Eve, but there were reports of snow squalls between Antigonish and Sydney, which made everyone tense hoping they weren't caught in bad weather. Annie and Henry arrived and Mom wondered if Annie's outfit was fancy enough.

“For cryin' out loud! If my husband likes it, do I give a crap what she thinks?”

“Don't use rough language. It reflects on all of us.”

Annie rolled her eyes and reached for a piece of sliced coconut loaf on the coffee table.

“Don't eat that! Wait until they get here.”

“Dad!”

Kenzie looked up from his paper. “Dear, let the girl have a piece.”

Much to their delight, the Johnson car pulled up. Everyone rushed to the door to usher in Aunt Eunie, Uncle Joe, Lila, and Caroline, nicknamed Cricket, who was looking especially adorable in her new Christmas dress, with her golden-red hair a mass of curls around her face. Henry always grabbed her first and made a big fuss over her. He loved kids. Anyone's kid would do.

They spent a blissful hour watching Caroline run from person to person, handing them candy from a dish and saying “Here go!” to all of them.

“Hey Mom, how come you're not yelling at Cricket for getting sticky fingerprints on all the furniture?

“She's allowed to do whatever she wants.” Mom grabbed Cricket from behind and gave her lots of kisses.

Annie thought Lila looked flushed and tired. She went over and sat beside her on the couch. “You okay? Do I need to check your pulse?”

“I'm fine, I have a bit of a headache, that's all.”

“Want me to get you something for it?”

That's when Mom, who was constantly at the window, shouted, “They're here!”

Everyone but the Johnsons ran out to greet the happy couple. Eunie and Joe didn't want to interfere, and Cricket was busy tearing up pieces of newspaper on her mother's lap.

When David and Kay came through the door amid shouts of hello and welcome, Annie took one look at her soon to be sister-in-law and whispered to Henry, “He's hit the mother lode.”

Kay was dazzling in a winter white coat with a fox-fur collar and cuffs. It was hard for Annie to keep her eyes off her and when she noticed it was hard for Henry as well, she gave him an elbow. Even her father stood a little taller, while Mom beamed at the prospect of gorgeous grandchildren.

David kissed them all and they kissed Kay too, who looked excited and happy to be there. She left red lipstick on the men's cheeks and they grinned like fools. But she was just as nice to Annie and her mom, and Annie knew that she was going to like this girl, even if no one would ever notice Annie again at a family get-together.

Mom ushered them into the living room. “And these are our dear friends, Eunie and Joe Johnson, and their daughter and granddaughter, Lila and Caroline. Lila is like one of the family. She and David and Annie grew up together.”

“It's such a pleasure,” Kay smiled and walked around to shake all their hands. “What an adorable little girl! Isn't she perfect, David? What's her name again?”

“I call her Cricket,” said Lila.

“You are so lucky to have such a beautiful child. David and I would like to start a family as soon as we can, isn't that so, David?”

“Yes, indeed. I'll just go out and get the bags.” He left the room and went out the front door. Kay smiled at everyone as she took off her coat. “You have a lovely home, Mrs. Macdonald.”

“Thank you. We're happy here, aren't we, Dad?”

Dad agreed.

Henry, Joe, and Dad offered to take Kay's coat. She took off her gloves, unbuttoned her coat, and removed the white cashmere scarf at her neck. “Thank you.”

Then they stood around and looked at her like she was an exhibit at a Hollywood movie set. Her silver dress had sparkly snowflakes embroidered on the skirt, and her diamond earrings twinkled when she turned her head.

Cricket got off her mother's lap and reached over to touch Kay's skirt. Kay bent down and let her feel the material. Then David came back in and shouted from the porch that he'd take the bags upstairs. Mom and Dad were finally galvanized to start being proper hosts. Mom asked if Kay would like to go and freshen up. Annie thought she looked plenty fresh already, but Kay humoured her mom and followed her upstairs.