Page 82 of Together in Harmony
I raise an eyebrow.
“That will signal that we are all in.
Normally you couldn't get me to meet a girl’s family for a million dollars, but I actually want to meet Sheila and Patsy.”
Asa and I agree it’s a good idea. “OK, get dressed. Sunday best—we’ve got aunts to visit.”
???
“I’ll probably be a couple of hours,” says Harmony, as we pull up at the retirement home. “Is that OK?”
“Not a problem for us,” I tell her as I help her out of the back of the limo. Asa and Lennox exit at the same time. We are all wearing shirts and ties, it’s a little odd.
The car pulls away. “Wait!” cries Harmony, waving a hand. “She’s gone without you!”
“Told her to come pick us up again in two hours, just like you said.”
Harmony is open mouthed, so I just pat her on the arm. “Come on then, don’t keep the aunts waiting.”
We walk through large revolving doors into a brightly lit lobby. There is some quiet muzak coming out of discrete speakers.
A couple shuffle by, taking their oxygen tanks for a walk. I glance at Lennox. He’s looking like a deer in headlights. This is definitely not his happy place.
A receptionist looks up and her eyes widen when she sees us.
“We are here to visit with Ms. Sheila Rowan and Ms. Patsy Blakey,” Harmony says.
Very eagerly, the receptionist jumps up and gives us sticky labels that say ‘visitor’.
“Write your name on these and wear them at all times please. Do you know the apartment number?”
Harmony does, so we hastily make our way to a bank of elevators and she hits number five.
As we wait, Asa examines a huge floral arrangement. “It’s not real,” he whispers.
Lennox gets the giggles.
Harmony isn’t saying much.
“Are you OK, darling?”
“Yes?” She definitely doesn’t sound sure.
“Talk to me,” I say, taking her hand and squeezing it.
“Oh, it’s everything really. Having to deal with Screech and his crap again. And then introducing my three lovers to my two elderly aunts. That’s nerve wracking. What’s the etiquette for this kind of thing?”
“We’ll have to make our own etiquette,” I tell her as we enter the lift. “We’re trail blazers. But I told you not to worry about Screech. If you disobey, I might have to punish you.”
Her cheeks flush delightfully and I run a hand over her bottom, then tap it gently.
The elevator doors ping open.
On the fifth floor we long along a corridor which has a pink and gray swirl carpet and a strong scent of disinfectant and air freshener.
Harmony pauses outside 538b, then knocks.
A fragile looking lady answers the door. She’s small and a little bent over.
