Page 42 of Broken Grump

“Randall O’Brien,” I initiate the introductions. “Hayden Cohen.” He stands, and we shake hands.

“Very nice to meet you and put a face to the name.”

I turn to Addie, “And this is Addie Flo—Cohen.” I curse myself. This whole time, I was making sure she was up-to-date with trivial things he may or may not bring up. But I went ahead and blow her last name right away.

“Flo-Cohen?” Randall asks, puzzled.

“Just Cohen,” she corrects with a smile as she grabs his extended hand. Then, she slaps my chest. “This silly husband of mine.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “I guess I still can’t believe she’s mine.”

“Ah!” Randall acknowledges with a nod before bending over, feeling for his chair, and then taking a seat.

Before we do the same, Addie and I exchange a relieved look.

“I understand that. My sweet Claire and I have been married for almost twenty-seven years.”

“Twenty-seven years? Oh, my gosh! You don’t look old enough to be married for that long,” Addie butters him up.

Good girl.In fact, he looks much older than forty-five. With his gray hair that’s combed over onto his forehead, patchy facial hair, and sunken cheeks? I would’ve guessed he was closer to fifty-five if I didn’t know any better.

The small talk is then cut short after we order. Addie goes for the spicy basil duck, our new friend Randall requests the green curry sans duck, and I keep things light with a papaya salad.

“Are you on a diet?” he asks, presumably after the server walks away.

“Oh, no.”

Addie jumps in for me. “He’s just practicing in preparation for lent. That’s how great of a Christian he is.”

She’s laying it on a bit thick, but Randall, nevertheless, seems entertained by the whole façade.

“Ah, you’re a superior man than I,” he comments with a chuckle, raising his cloth napkin up to his thin lips and wiping them.

I wiggle in my chair. “Oh, no, I wouldn’t say that. If anything, my wife,” that sounds so weird to say, “is just being too kind. I actually just had a big breakfast.”

“I see.”

Shortly after that, our food is delivered to the table.

It all smells heavenly, and I almost make the mistake of just digging in.

But the sound of Addie clearing her throat made me put my utensils down again.

“Randall, would you please do us the honors?”

She’s really impressing me with all of this.

“Absolutely.”

From there, we all bow our heads, close our eyes, and join our hands together.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the food we are about to receive. We also pray that you’ll watch over our children and keep them safe. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”

“Amen,” Addie and I say at the same time.

His words reminded me once more about her daughter.

“That was beautiful, Randall. Thank you,” she compliments and totally distracts me.

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