Page 5 of Waiting for Gilbert
GAYLA PEEVEY—I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS
People notice me now that the show is over. Smiles and slightly confused expressions aim my direction. Before I have time to explain my intrusion, Diana barrels across the room with baby Jack in her arms. “You’re here!”
Diana didn’t scream an embarrassing nickname before all these strangers. See? We are grateful. I muster enough enthusiasm to match her excitement and we do a fun little hug, rock, pull back and squeal, and hug again sister dance. “Hey everyone!” She turns to the room. “This is my sister, Cordelia Thompson.”
I flash a wave and fall into a mock curtsy,Princess Diariesstyle. Diana and I perfected the move as children in case we were ever called upon to take over a kingdom.
Jack is all baby softness and squishy cheeks when I bring him into my arms as a shield against anyone I don’t care to meet. He honors me with an open mouthed grin and tries to yank a chunk of hair from my scalp.
“Ope. Jack, no, no, no.” Diana pries his fist from my hair. Letting go is not his favorite thing, and he twists his face into a pout.
“Gosh, Diana, this might be your cutest one yet. How old is he now? Three months? Four?”
“Six.” She gives methatlook as she draws out the word. I deserved that. Right. So it’s been a few months.
“My, how time flies.” Nonchalant banter isn’t my strength. “Where’s the rest of the gang?” Diana has five other kids here somewhere: Ten, eight, five, five, two, and Jack, who’s alreadysix months old.
Before she answers, Jack rubs his face against my neck and proceeds to throw up all down my front. The majority of it slides under the neck of my hoodie and into my bra. “Ahh.” I shudder. “Help.”
Diana bites her lips in a failed attempt not to laugh. “Sorry.” She whispers with tears in her eyes.
“Oh, gosh. It’s warm. Ugghhh.” He wacks me in the face for good measure. I hold him away from my body. “Take it back.” The smell wafts upward and I turn my head. “I’m going to your house now to shower for the rest of my life.”
“No, no, no.” She’s laughing at me! My older sister has zero sympathy for my plight andis laughing at me. Normally I’d be laughing with her. Maybe do a hula dance and pretend it’s all fun and games—grab a paper towel and make the best of it. This was nobody’s fault and babies will be babies. But it’s been a day and I’m done.
“Look, Diana, I’m exhausted?—”
“Aunt Jewels will help you get cleaned up. You haven’t even had dinner yet.” She disappears with Jack.
“Aunt Cordy! Aunt Cordy!” There’s an echo of high-pitched children’s voices a moment before they dance around me, a human maypole.
“Hi, Lance! Hello, Leo!”
The five-year-old twins grab my hands and pull me across the house. “Come see the food! We cooked the best ones from that book you made us.” Groups of partygoers move aside for the hooligans, and we land in the middle of the kitchen. Everyone else must have eaten because it’s just us in here with counters full of homemade treats, chips, and veggies. The boys each hug one of my thighs, their burned red hair mops of curls. You can tell them apart because Lance has a certain quirk of his smile that is just… well, Lance. My nieces join the scene. “Happy holidays, Lauren.”
Lauren’s white-blond hair is tamed into a side braid. She’s got her sister, Lisa, on her hip. Lisa shies away from me when I rub her back. Last visit I was her favorite. “Where’s Landon?”
“He can read,” says Leo.
“He likes books all’a time,” says Lance. The boys eye each other and Lance says, “Now!”
One on either side, the twins squeeze my legs and try to lift me. They’ve attempted this trick every visit since they’ve been able to talk. Because I’m the size of a middle-schooler (and a small one at that) they have it in their heads they should be able to do it. What is it with people thinking they have permission to pick me up just because they can? It’s always been a joke with these boys until today.
Today they manage it. For a millisecond, their joined efforts succeed, and my heels leave the floor. “Ah! Put me down. Put me down!” An awkward laugh bursts from my mouth when my feet are flat again. “You little gremlins! Get off me.” But they’re ruthless. Now that they know their super power, my pathetic attempt to ward them away doesn’t prevail. They work as a devious machine. Leo pokes me in the side where it tickles and Lance tugs my purse. “Did you bring us treats?”
Lisa is wrapped around my ankle. When did that happen? Lauren is no help because she’s filling a plate with chips and cheese sauce. If only Landon were here, maybe he’d help.
I try to wrestle free with a smile pasted on my face. Aunt Cordy is usually the fun aunt, but I don’t have it in me tonight. Leo and Lance brace themselves to lift me again, and I’m not prepared for the annoyance that flares in my gut. I want to shake them off and shout at them.
One of them yells, “Go!”
My feet leave the floor with my balance off center. I tilt until I’m falling. I crash onto the tiled kitchen floor, and my head bounces against a cabinet. A ring of concerned cherub faces surrounds me. Stars dance through my vision. Little hands pat my hair, tug my shirt. I squish my eyes closed and take a moment to control my tongue from spouting something I’ll regret.
“Please, stop touching me,” I say through gritted teeth. A thirty pound toddler straddles my belly and pounces. “Oof. Lisa, not now.”
“Get back.” A male voice fills my ears. “Go on, Lance. Leo, move over.”
I open my eyes as Lisa’s weight vanishes. Kneeling before me is the cello man. His jovial smile has been replaced with concern, maybe pity. He bounces Lisa on his knee, and the twins hover on either side of him. “Lauren.” He speaks without moving his gaze from me. “Take the kids out of the kitchen.”