Life Changes - 8. Chapter 8

“So what are you going to do?” Neil sat on my bed looking at the stuff I’d managed to carry down to my room.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Weren’t you supposed to decide which job you were taking.” I stood staring at my brother.

“Stop evading the question. Answer mine, and then I’ll answer yours.” Neil crossed his arms and stared at me.

I flopped onto the floor and hugged the huge bear Harry had given me.

“Well?”

“We talked. Harry is an idiot. Mrs. O’Conner had to help us clean up. There was so much stuff between the flowers, the balloons, and the stuffed animals. There are going to be pictures all over Facebook and Instagram. I gave away all the balloons. I mean what the hell would I do with them, Neil?”

I was rambling and I knew it. When I finally stopped, Neil walked over and sat beside me.

“Okay, so you should be done stalling. Are you going to keep dating? If you are, you know that is okay, as long as you both were honest and set up some ground rules so you don’t hurt each other.”

I pulled the bear closer. I was glad Neil was letting me work through this.

“We did talk. Harry and I are going to take a week away from each other. I told him that I am not the type to go from one person to the next. If he wants to date me, he has to ready to be with just me. If he ever does anything like this again, I warned him I’d rip off his balls.”

Neil smiled and pulled me into a hug while I cried.

It took a bit but eventually, I pulled myself together.

“Sorry,” I muttered as I wiped my nose.

“Sorry for what? Crying?” Neil tilted his head and smiled. “I think you forgot how often I cry. Thank god for mom and dad. Without them and you, I really don’t know how I would have survived with Maryann.”

“Well, the munchkin always seems to know what she wants.”

“Yes. Speaking of Giggles, I’ve made a few decisions. I guess I should start by telling you I talked with Mr. Weaton today. He and Lisa are separating. He said he couldn’t see her affecting another generation, and he wanted to see his grand-daughter grow up healthy and happy. It was a hard thing to listen to.”

I sat staring at my brother.

“He convinced me that I needn’t worry about anything but raising Maryann and being happy, Ralph.”

“So, um, does that mean you are taking the job here?”

Neil hugged me close. “Yup. I’ll be working a half hour from here. Maryann will be able to grow up where her father did.”

“You mean her fathers. You and Frank grew up here. You’ll take her to visit with the Stevens. She will get to know her grandparents and me.”

“Hey, you guys down there?” Dad called.

“Yeah,” Neil called up.

“Well, come up. I bought pizza for dinner and Mona is giving Maryann a bath.”

We went up and sat at the table.

“So, before your mother comes in, do I have to kill Harry?” Dad looked at me and smiled.

“No. He’s okay. We, uhh, talked. I guess.” I could feel myself blushing.

“Good.” My dad patted my shoulder then sat down and stared at Neil for a moment. ”So now that Ralph is taken care of, what are your plans, Neil?”

Before Neil could say a word, Mom came in cradling Maryann in her arms. “She isn’t so little anymore.”

“Nonsense, she will always be my little girl,” Neil commented as he took Maryann into his arms.

“Our little girl,” said both of my parents in unison.

“You know, you are young enough to have another kid,” Neil said as he rocked the baby.

“I can even help change diapers.” I watched as the color drained from dad’s face.

“No. Your father and I can wait ‘til you get married and give us grandchildren.”

“Well, I’m not dating and I’m not sure if Harry can carry a baby for Ralph, so you’ll have to wait a while.”

Mom paled as she stared at Neil and me, but Dad just laughed.

“Anyway, I’m going to take the job with Morrison and Company. Looks like you’re stuck with me and Giggles here until I start getting regular paychecks.”

Maryann grabbed Neil’s finger and began to giggle.

“You know that Mona and I want you to stay here.” Dad smiled as Neil kissed the baby’s head.

“Yes.” Mom popped open the pizza box and began sliding slices onto plates and passing them out. “I’d rather keep the family all under one roof as long as I can.”

“I plan on taking a trip right after my birthday next month.” Neil maneuvered the baby and tried to eat as she tugged on his arm.

“Oh? Do you need us to babysit?” Dad paused, a slice of pizza halfway to his mouth.

“Nope. Taking Giggles here to see her grandparents. Mrs. Steven wants me to have a scrapbook she has about her daughter. She says her and Andrew aren’t as young as the rest of the grandparents, so she wants to get some stuff together for her grand-daughter that will let her know about that part of her family. I really didn’t get a chance to know Maryann well. I mean, I know she could cook up a storm, was a great computer programmer, and she loved Frank. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to know her as well as I’d have liked. At least this way, I’ll learn about her from her parents and be able to answer any questions when the munchkin grows up.”

Mom was all teary. “I think that’s beautiful.”

“I guess if we are sharing things, well, I better too.” I saw dad shoot me a wink as I looked at mom.

“Oh, really? What do you need to tell us?” Mom sat very still and stared at me.

“Um, well, Harry and I talked. We are going to try again. I told him….”

“No! I forbid it. He was,” my mother was building up a head of steam.

“Mona! Enough. If he is old enough to date, he is old enough to handle the fallout.”

Mom stared and then just sat there. Maryann began to fuss due to the raised voices.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you. The whole family has been through a lot in the last few months. I do have some news, which is mostly good.” Dad grabbed mom’s hand before he continued. “I was offered a new position this week that comes with a big raise. I also got some mixed news from my brother. There was a fire in the clothing store next to Stevie’s restaurant. It spread and the restaurant was destroyed. Until the insurance companies are finished and the place is rebuilt, he is out of a job.”

We all sat sort of stunned. None of us could figure out why Dad was smiling.

“The good news is Chris and Stevie figured this was as good a time as any, so they moved up their wedding. The two of them are coming with two of their close friends to get married here.”

“Really?” I stared at dad in surprise.

“Yeah. Seems they plan to get married and stay here with us for a few days. They’ve both said they don’t want us to become the sort who only see each other for weddings, funerals, and the occasional graduation.” Dad picked up his pizza and began to munch.

“Good. Maybe I can get Stevie to teach me his waffle recipe.” Mom reached out and snagged another slice of pizza.

I just sat there smiling at family and feeling extremely lucky. With my uncle getting married and my brother staying here my life was getting better. Hell, if Harry and work things out, in a few years we might get married too.