Chapter Fifteen May 4th
Chapter Fifteen
“I still say we could have done this tomorrow,” Joshua protested as he finished chopping the onions.
Alex glanced across at him and grinned. “Say that again, Weepy?”
Joshua gave him a scowl. “These onions are strong. At least I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to garlic.” He pointed with his knife to the jar of minced garlic, and grinned.
“What’s so bad about garlic?”
“Nothing—until you forget you’ve had your fingers in it and then you accidentally scratch your eye.”
Alex tried not to laugh, but damn, it was hard.
He kept his gaze focused on the recipe he’d printed out for Joshua.
“And the reason we’re doing this tonight is because you’re going to have your hands full as of tomorrow.
What time does Naomi’s bus get in?” When no answer was forthcoming, he looked up.
Joshua had stopped chopping, and was staring at the onions. “Joshua?”
Slowly, Joshua raised his head. “Can we talk?”
Alex arched his eyebrows. “We talk all the time. Usually I have to fight to get a word in.” When Joshua’s mouth fell open, he snickered. “Gotcha. I’m guessing there’s something specific you want to talk about?”
Joshua nodded. “Naomi called a few nights ago. She said she had something she wanted to tell me. Not that I didn’t already know her news, because that girl can’t hide a thing for shit, but—”
“Joshua,” he said gently. “You’re rambling.”
He sighed. “She wanted to tell me she’s got a boyfriend.”
Alex beamed. “Aw, that’s great!” When Joshua regarded him blankly, the skin on the back of his neck prickled. “Isn’t it?”
“Sure. I mean, I think they’ve been together a while now. And I’m glad she finally told me about him. His name’s Simon.”
“Okay,” Alex said slowly. “Then what’s the problem?”
“She said she’s bringing him home with her. Well, technically, he’s bringing her, ’cause he’s driving, but you get the idea.”
“Okay.” Alex gestured to the large skillet. “Turn the heat on. We’re going to cook the onions, then add the garlic.”
Joshua put down his knife, walked over to the sink and washed his hands. “Can this wait a sec?”
“Of course.” Alex went over to the bottle of red wine he’d opened an hour before, and poured out two glasses. He offered one to Joshua, then pulled out a tall stool and sat down. Joshua joined him. “Now, what’s bothering you?”
“Sleeping arrangements,” Joshua blurted out.
Alex frowned. “Why—has Naomi said something?”
“Not a word, but she’s gonna want to sleep with him, right?”
He took a sip of wine. “You don’t know that.”
Joshua locked gazes with him. “She’s twenty. So’s he. Come on.”
Alex laughed. “Okay, you got a point. And you’re having a hard time with that?”
“As Greg is so fond of saying—Duh.”
“But Micah and Greg are sleeping together.”
Joshua rolled his eyes heavenward. “Yeah, but… I mean, Micah is twenty-six.”
“And girls mature faster than boys,” Alex reminded him. Judging by the noise of exasperation that fell from Joshua’s lips, he guessed that was no help. Then it hit home. “She’s your baby, isn’t she? And you’re not ready to have her all grown up.”
Joshua nodded vehemently. “Yeah.” He studied his glass. “It’s not like we don’t have the room. There’s a guest bedroom, now that Micah sleeps in the garage.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Alex patted Joshua’s hand.
“Here’s an idea. You want to come across as a really cool dad?
You tell Simon that he can either sleep in the guest room, or…
you suggest that if he and Naomi want to share her room, that would be okay too, even though every fiber of your being is screaming as you utter the words.
” Alex smiled. “Like they’re screaming right this second. ”
Joshua chuckled. “You got great hearing.”
“Answer me this though. When you and Rachel were twenty, didn’t you sleep together under one of your parents’ roofs?”
“Yes!” Joshua stared at him. “And while I might be ready to be a cool dad, I’m not so ready to be a cool granddad!”
“Okay, Cool Dad, then here’s what you do.” Alex’s lips twitched. “Ask Simon what size condoms he needs you to pick up for him when you go to the store.”
Joshua’s jaw dropped. “Oh fuck, tell me you’re joking.”
Alex burst into laughter. “Of course. That might be pushing things a little too far.” Then he noticed the glint in Joshua’s eyes. “Okay, what just crossed your mind?”
“I could always leave condoms in their rooms,” he said simply.
“Only if you want your daughter to be embarrassed as all hell.”
Joshua grinned. “Isn’t that what being a parent is all about?”
“There is a third option, you know.” When Joshua gave him a quizzical glance, Alex’s eyes glinted.
“She’s had weeks to tell you about Simon, but no, she left it to the last minute.
So you get your own back a little. You tell her you’re not ready to be a grandfather, so unless she tells you they’re using protection—because you’re right, they’re going to have sex—you’re just going to leave condoms where they can find them. ”
Joshua gaped at him. “That’s evil!” Then he grinned. “I like it.” Then he sighed. “So I should give them both options and let them choose?”
Alex nodded. “While making a supreme effort to appear like either option is okay with you. Which I know will not be easy for you.” He tilted his head to one side. “Did I help? It’s difficult to know what to say for the best when you’re not a parent.”
Joshua nodded. “Yeah, and I like the idea of being Cool Dad.” He gazed at the ingredients before him. “How about we make a lasagna?”
“On one condition. Only if you stay for dinner and we eat some of it.” Alex smiled. “You can make it again once she’s home, so she can see her dad cooking.”
Joshua’s eyes lit up. “I like the sound of that. But I got a condition of my own. This recipe is huge. How about I make it again, and you come eat it with us?”
“Only if I can bring dessert.”
“Done.” Joshua fished out his phone and composed a text. “Just telling them I’ll be home later than I thought.”
Alex watched him as he completed his task. He liked that Joshua wasn’t one of those fathers who laid down the law. He was trying to be the best dad he could, the best role model he could. And Alex applauded him for that.
~ 0 ~
“How’s Manda’s grandmother?” Joshua asked, his legs stretched out in front of him, his socked feet resting on the footrest.
Alex sighed. “Well, they sent her home, but if you want to know I think?” He finished his glass of red wine. “She’s gone home to die. She didn’t want to be in the medical center.”
“Will you get a chance to see her?”
He shook his head. “I’d rather remember her the way she was all those times I visited with Manda.” He smiled. “It’s rare these days to find someone of her age who is totally okay with homosexuality.”
“But isn’t there something about Two-Spirit people in Native American culture?” Joshua shrugged. “Not that I know anything about it, but I sorta got the impression Native Americans were LGBT-friendly.”
Alex chuckled. “For God’s sake, don’t bring this up around Manda. We’ve spent many evenings in discussion of this topic. The short version is, LGBT and Two-Spirits are not the same thing, and not all tribes think the same.”
“Gotcha.”
Alex sighed. “Manda has always been close to Asha, who was something of a rebel in her youth. I think sometimes she was closer to Asha than to her parents. And when Asha finally passes off this mortal coil…” His best friend would be a mess, and he knew it.
Alex glanced at Joshua. “You’re looking very relaxed over there. ”
Joshua smiled. “Yeah. Dinner was good. Not as good as when Rachel made it, but I think I might have burned the meat a little.”
“Personally, I like burned. But next time, add more herbs. A little less red wine, maybe.” Alex snickered. “You can overdo it, you know.”
“What you really mean is, when you says ‘You can stop pouring now,’ I should listen, instead of thinking I know best?”
Alex affected an innocent expression. “Listen, you were in charge. I said that from the beginning. But—”
“But being in charge doesn’t mean I should ignore good advice,” Joshua interjected. “And you’ve already proved you give good, sound advice.”
It didn’t take a genius to know what he meant by that. “Don’t worry about Naomi,” Alex said gently. “It’ll all work out. If it helps? I think you’re doing the right thing.”
“You wanna know what really panicked me about the whole situation?” Joshua closed his eyes, his head resting against the seat cushion. “It was the realization that this is it, they’re all growing up, they have partners, and soon…”
“They may leave the nest, Joshua, but they’ll always keep coming back.” Joshua opened his eyes and stared at him. Alex nodded. “Because you’re a good dad. They’re still going to want you in their lives, and the lives of their children.” He smiled. “But not just yet, Cool Granddad.”
“Amen to that.”
They both fell silent, and for Alex, that reminded him why he liked having Joshua around. There was no need to fill the void with conversation. They were both content to enjoy the silence, and each other’s company.
Bliss.