CHAPTER 39
TREY
Trey’s father recovered well enough to become annoyed by everyone checking on him.
This, according to his mother, meant he was fine.
Sunday dinner resumed.
Paula arrived carrying dessert.
Trey’s father looked at her.
“You made that?”
Danielle noticed changes before Paula volunteered them.
Anthony noticed Danielle noticing. Nia noticed everybody.
The resulting dinner became less an interrogation than a group exercise in strategic harassment.
Trey took it with good humor until Anthony crossed a line, at which point Danielle corrected him before Trey could.
The table went silent for half a second, then erupted.
Anthony looked delighted. Trey filed the moment away.
“No, sir.”
“Good. Honesty.”
Paula laughed.
Trey’s mother swatted him with a towel.
The evening was easy until his father asked, “So when are y’all getting married?”
Silence dropped over the table.
Julian looked delighted.
Trey closed his eyes.
“Dad.”
“What?”
Paula drank water.
His father looked between them.
“I asked a question.”
“And they don’t owe you an answer,” Trey’s mother said.
“Thank you.”
His father shrugged. “I like her.”
Paula smiled. “I like you too.”
“So?”
Trey put down his fork.
“Please stop helping.”
Julian laughed.
On the drive home Paula was quiet.
Trey waited.
Finally: “Did that bother you?”
“My father?”
“The question.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he doesn’t determine our timeline.”
Paula nodded.
“Did it bother you?”
“A little.”
“Why?”
“Because part of me wanted to say soon.”
Trey’s hands tightened slightly on the wheel.
He did not look at her.
Paula laughed softly.
“You’re doing a very good job not reacting.”
“I’m driving.”
“Mm-hmm.”
At a red light he turned.
“Soon?”
“I said part of me.”
“I heard.”
“Don’t get excited.”
“I’m not.”
“Your dimples are showing.”
Trey looked forward.
The light changed.
Paula smiled out the window.
Trey felt the future move a little closer.
Neither of them pushed it any further that night.