Page 17 of Five Days in July
“Your home is so cheerful.” I smile at Annie as Al pulls out a chair for me. There’s an open place setting next to mine and a trivet waiting in the middle of the table for the lasagna.
“Thank you! I’ve been thinking about doing some updating, but when it comes right down to it, I still love it the way it is.”
“Except for my den,” Al turns to whisper conspiratorially. “She’s been after that room for years.” He winks before jumping to help Matt dish out the lasagna, conveniently avoiding a lighthearted swat from Annie.
After everyone has an overflowing plate and a full glass in front of them, the questions begin.
“So Lenore, I absolutely love your name. Is it from Poe?”
“Annie.” There’s censure in Matt’s voice as he gives her the same look he gave Al earlier.
“Hush, Matty, and let me pry.” She turns back to me. “I’m going to assume it is. Do you go by your full name or a shortened version?”
Her forthrightness is tempered by what I think is genuine care and curiosity.
“Lenore or Nore is great. Thank you for asking.” I pause and keep an eye on Matt when I ask, “So, Al says you’ve known Matty since he was in diapers?”
Al snorts in his drink, and Annie smiles, enjoying the subtle teasing. I caught his irritation with the nickname on the ride back to the garage.
“That is very true.” She smiles indulgently at him while he scowls at his plate. “His family lived nearby while he was growing up and then for a little while, with us too. I have some adorable pictures I should show you after we’re done eating.”
“Jesus Christ,” Matt mutters. “Can we please just start eating?”
“I’m not opposed to that.” Al slices off a chunk of lasagna with his fork and starts.
Matt follows suit, but Annie is much more precise in her movements, slowly adding food to her fork before looking up. “So, how long have you been in the area?”
I finished chewing the bite I’d just taken. “Oh my god, this is delicious!” I pause to swallow, and Annie preens. “Only a couple of months. I moved up from southern Wisconsin when I found a job as an assistant and secretary for an accounting firm in Green Bay.”
Some of my good humor fades as I remember the job is gone now, and my bills are piling up by the hour.
“Change the subject, please, Annie.”
Matt glances toward me before forking up more lasagna.
“What? I was just making polite conversation. And usually, the topic of jobs comes up quite regularly when you first meet people.”
“Just drop it, please,” Matt says again with the defensive fierceness of my personal knight in shining armor.