Page 56 of The Close-Up
“Really?”
I nod.
“Sunday, then?”
“Perfect.”
“I gotta head back to work, but...” He takes a step back into the hallway. “We’re good, right?”
I attempt to smile with my mouth full of scrumptious egg tart, relieved that Simon and I have navigated through this rift and we’re firmly back to friends. But as he looks at me, I notice a hint of something in his gaze.
Something about it hits differently, like from this moment on, our friendship has shifted. I shove the thought away and tell myself not to think too hard about it. We’ve resolved this rift and we’re back to being friends again.
“We’re good.” I smile at him.
He flashes a soft smile of his own, then darts down the staircase.
“You ready for this?” Simon asks from the driver’s seat of his car.
“Absolutely. I’m starving.”
As we head to his family’s place, I gaze out the passenger window at the traffic whizzing past us on the 101, then glance in the other direction at the deep blue water of San Francisco Bay. The late afternoon sunlight casts a glowing orange beam across the water, which shines like glass.
“So will it just be your mom and grandma tonight, then?”
Simon nods, his eyes on the road ahead. “Yup. My sister can’t make it. She’s out of town for work.”
“Should I know anything in particular about your mom and grandma? Any topics to avoid?”
“Nah, they’re pretty open and kind people who love chatting about almost anything. Although if you compliment my grandma about her cooking, she’ll love you forever.”
“Good to know.”
“The fact that you’re bringing them flowers is enough to guarantee they’ll love you.” He glances at the bouquet of multicolored gerbera daisies sitting on my lap. “That’s a nice touch, by the way.”
“Promise I’m not trying to score points. I just thought it would be a nice thing to do since they’re kind enough to feed me.”
Twenty minutes later Simon pulls into the driveway in front of a tall and narrow two-story stucco house with a beige exterior and dark tile roof.
When he opens the front door, a chocolate Lab darts straight over to him. “Hey, Kiki!”
The dog spins around in excited circles, bumping into our legs. Her wagging tail hits my knee, and I lean down to pat her head. She responds immediately by licking my face. I fall back, laughing.
“Kiki likes you,” Simon says as he gives her several pats.
“You’re here!”
Looking up, I see Simon’s mom, Barbara, walking toward us, a red apron tied around her waist. She claps her hands. “Kiki, come! Now!”
The dog obeys her command, instantly running over to Barbara. She pets her head, then points for her to sit on a nearby leather sofa. Then she tightens the ponytail holding back her light brown hair and turns back to us.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you in person, Naomi.” She pulls me into a hug.
I thank her for having me, then turn around and pick up the bouquet of flowers I placed on the floor when Kiki ran over to us.
“These are for you.”
Barbara’s mouth turns into a perfect O shape, indicating her surprise. “Oh my goodness, you didn’t have to do that. How gorgeous! Thank you!”
