Page 89 of Flare

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ma’am? He just called my mother ma’am?

I set the vase on the table and then join the others in the family room after checking to make sure Mom doesn’t need any help.

My dad has the blender whirring with margaritas. When the sound stops, he shakes the container a bit, and then pours two margaritas for Donny and Callie.

“Good to see you, Brock,” he says. “What do you want to drink?”

“A beer would be great, Mr. Pike.”

“Frank, please. A beer it is. I’ve got Guinness and Coors extra gold.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a Guinness,” Brock says. “That sounds great.”

“Rory?”

“I think I’ll start with water, Dad.” I steal a glance at my abdomen. You never know…

“Good enough.”

Dad pulls a bottle of Guinness out of his mini fridge, and then he pours me a glass of water from the tap.

“Go ahead and sit down. Maureen put together some cheese and crackers to tide us over while we wait for her dinner.”

Callie and Donny make themselves comfortable on the couch. That leaves a couple of chairs and the love seat.

I grab the love seat and pat the seat next to me. Brock takes the hint and joins me.

Dad of course takes his recliner. He’s drinking water, same as me.

My dad just doesn’t like liquor. He’s not an alcoholic, and he will have a glass of champagne on special occasions. Other than that, though, except for the occasional beer, he just doesn’t drink.

My mom on the other hand…

She comes down, her apron no longer covering her.

“Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes.” Dad begins to rise, but she stops him with a gesture.

“Don’t bother, Frank. If there are any of those margaritas left, I’m going to try one.”

“Yep,” Dad says. “In the blender.”

Mom pours herself a margarita and takes a chair that just happens to be closest to Brock.

“We are thrilled to have you here,” she says to him.

Donny and Callie snicker at each other on the couch.

And the Ping-Pong player inside my stomach hits another out of bounds.

“I’m happy to be here, Mrs. Pike.”

“Maureen, please.”

“Of course. Maureen.”

“So, Rory tells us you had a wonderful time in London.”