Page 83 of Time To Live Again

“Let’s finish this up and let it simmer for a while,” I suggest. She slides the cutting board over to me and I toss half the garlic into the pot. The rest is for the mushrooms. I turn the heat down.

We’re making stuffed mushrooms for the appetizer and chicken parmesan for dinner. And for dessert, chocolate cake. Olive says it’s Evelyn’s favorite meal. I convinced her to let me make the sauce, and she’s doing the rest.

“I’m going to scrub my hands in the bathroom to get the garlic smell off my fingers.” She pecks me on the lips and jumps out of the way before I can smack her butt. I wipe down the counters and put dishes in the dishwasher. How domestic.

We went grocery shopping after brunch, and I noticed some differences between us. She’s more frugal than I am and loves coupons. She hates peas, and I could eat them every day. I’m a Cap’n Crunch fan, and she’d rather have granola. I could devour a jar of Nutella, but the thought of it makes her sick. I told her she needs to try European Nutella. It tastes so much better. And yes, there is a difference. To me anyway.

I enjoy seeing her in her own element, like she’s seen me at the hotel. I don’t really have an established “element,” but the hotel is pretty close. It’s how I spend my time when I’m not traveling, anyway.

Olive comes back, wiggling her fingers. “I can still smell it, but it’s almost gone.”

I reach out and lead her to the couch. “Come sit with me. Let’s look at our calendars.” I open mine on my phone and click on the date of Corey’s memorial. “What are you doing the first weekend of March?”

She scrolls her calendar. “As of now, nothing, because I haven’t looked that far ahead. Why?”

“Corey’s memorial is that weekend. March second. I’d like you to come.”

“Really? It’s a family affair, and I haven’t met Corey’s family. And?—”

I press my finger to her lips. “Olive, you’re part of the family now. Please come. They already know that I was going to ask you.”

She considers with a smile. “Then, yes. I’d love to.”

We square away the details for that weekend. I’ll finish my assignment the weekend before the memorial. Olive will come out the Monday after and spend a week with me. We also discussed Super Bowl weekend. Since she doesn’t want to stay at Andy’s place when I’m there for obvious reasons, I told her I’d pick the hotel and surprise her. And she insists on picking me up when I arrive. No argument there. After a month apart, I want to see her face when I walk out of the airport.

* * *

They should be here any minute. I’ve been calm most of the day, but something has triggered my nerves. Now I can’t stop fidgeting. Currently, my fingers are picking at my jeans.

Olive grabs my hand. “If you don’t stop, you’re going to wear a hole in your pants before they even get here. There’s no need to be nervous. They’re going to love you.”

“What if?—”

She cuts me off, wagging her finger. “Nope. It doesn’t matter if they like you, anyway. What matters is thatIdo. More every second that passes. They can have an opinion, but it doesn’t mean I’ll agree with them. Hopefully any negative ones will stay in their heads and not come out of their mouths.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and gives me a long, all-consuming kiss, convincing me that everything will be fine. That’s shot to shit when the doorbell rings. Meeting new people has never been a problem for me. Until now.

“Let the games begin,” she says, grinning as she goes to the door. I follow and open it for her. “Hi! Come in.” Olive hugs her mom first and then her uncle.

“Mom, Uncle Bruce, this is Leo,” she says with enthusiasm. Her mom gives me a once-over, focusing on my hair mostly. Not a long-hair fan? Her hands are clasped in front of her, giving me a closed-off vibe.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Hansen,” I greet her as friendly as possible.

“It’s nice to meet you, Leo. Thank you for entertaining my Olive while she was gone. And please call me Evelyn.”My Olive? Entertaining?

There’s no chance to respond because Olive’s big, jovial uncle jams himself between Evelyn and me. “Nice to meet you, Leo. Glad I could make it tonight. Call me Bruce.” He shakes my hand and firmly squeezes my shoulder. “It smells delicious in here. I heard we’re having chicken parm. Can’t wait.”

I whisper to Olive, “By any chance does Andy take after your uncle?”

The corner of her mouth tilts up. “That obvious, huh? You should’ve met my dad. He was definitely the life of the party.”

I observe their interactions and watch Evelyn the most. Olive looks a lot like her. Similar height, same dark features, thick hair. Olive’s eye color is unique. I remember her saying she has her dad’s eyes. They are beautiful women.

Evelyn looks friendly enough, but is it fake? I know things have gotten slightly better since Olive returned, but I can’t imagine her being all that welcoming to me. Call me insecure, I guess.

“I brought some champagne, and it’s cold. I thought we could celebrate Olive’s thirtieth birthday tonight, since we missed out.” Evelyn takes the bottle out of a bag and hands it to Olive. Was that a jab at Olive? She doesn’t seem to notice.

“Let’s pop that baby open,” Bruce says, rubbing his hands together. He’ll definitely be the buffer tonight.

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