“It’s from Victorian times, and you know how they were,” June says, pulling up a chair.
“Secret perverts?” I say.
June points a finger-gun at me as she sits.
“Bingo,” she says. “I read once that tablecloths were to cover up scandalous table legs because men simply couldn’t control themselves otherwise. Dunno if it’s actually true.”
The three of us all happen to glance at Caleb at the same time.
“Okay, I hate that you all just looked at me,” he says. “I’m not even the one who started this conversation about fucking furniture.”
Now June starts laughing.
“It’s a long story and I don’t think I can trace it back,” Caleb tells her.
“I don’t think I want you to,” she says, still laughing. “I think this is perfect and delightful just like it is.”
We all go quiet for a moment, facing out into the yard where Seth and Thomas are playing kickball.
Or, rather, Seth is slowly and carefully rolling a big rubber ball toward Thomas, who is watching it with all the seriousness and intensity an almost-three-year-old can muster, and then wildly swinging one leg several moments too late.
Then, he chases the ball and throws it vigorously, with both hands, sort of in Seth’s direction.
I’ll just say it: Seth is hot with a toddler.
“Someone’s gonna sleep well tonight,” Charlie says.
“Yeah, kickball really tuckers Seth out,” I say, and she laughs.
“I have to admit, now I understand why some people choose to have their kids when they’re twenty-two,” she says. “He just runs. All day. His two modes are sleeping and sprinting. I’m tired.”
Suddenly, Thomas is sprinting toward us, something in his hand. He stomps up the deck stairs, then runs over to us.
“It’s a pinecone!” he shouts.
Charlie sits forward and holds out her hand.
“Ooh, how exciting,” she says. “What’s it —"
“It’s for Caleb,” he informs her, and goes straight for his uncle.
“Wow, thank you,” Caleb says, as Thomas deposits his prize. “You know what kind of tree this comes from?”
“He just runs,” Seth says, coming up the stairs behind Thomas.
“Yup,” says Charlie.
“Did Rusty just run?”
“I think she did a little more sitting still,” Charlie says, fondly watching Caleb and Thomas discuss the pine cone. “It’s hard to compare, though.”
Behind us, the sliding glass door opens, and Levi walks over to June, puts his hands on her shoulders.
“You need anything?” he asks.
“I’m fine,” she says. “Thanks.”
He leans down and plants a kiss on the top of her head.
“I need that,” I hear Thomas say, and then a second later he’s full-bore toddler sprinting to Levi.
“This is a pinecone!” he shouts.
“Hm, let’s see,” Levi says, crouching next to June. “You know what? You’re precisely right.”
“It’s got seeds,” Thomas informs him.
“I feel like my thunder’s been stolen,” Caleb says, and Charlie laughs.
“I gave him life and he didn’t even look at me,” she says. “Savage.”
Dinner is macaroni and cheese, prepared by Chef Rusty under Eli’s guidance, along with salad and collard greens and succotash. It’s all very Southern, and Rusty is positively delighted when everyone says they love it.
After dinner, she and I sit on the front porch, watch the stars come out, and I get a full rundown of what’s going on in sixth grade at Sprucevale Middle. In brief: the science teacher, Mr. Albertson is the worst, her friend Kimmy has really been on her nerves lately, her new friend Megan is just the coolest, and eeeeveryone in her grade has a crush on this boy named Dale, but Rusty doesn’t see the appeal.
I strongly suspect she’s got a crush on someone, but she’s not naming names and I’m not that nosy.
We talk for a while about the robotics camp she’s starting next week, and then it’s time for dessert. Everyone eats pie and does some more shouting and laughing, and through it all, I keep catching Seth staring at me.
We head out a little while later, and when we get into the car, Seth casually looks over at me, then clears his throat.
“Mind if I run a quick errand on the way home?” he asks.
“Sure, where to?” I ask, leaning back in the passenger seat.
“Frog Holler,” he says, and flips on his turn signal. “You know how we’re doing that hopped cider collaboration? There’s something I have to go pick up over there. For that. It won’t take too long.”
I give Seth a searching look as he checks the road and then pulls out of the driveway, picking up speed. After a moment, he glances over at me.
“What?” he asks, a strand of hair coming loose over his forehead.
He’s going to propose.
I don’t know how I know, but I do. I’m instantly and completely certain, and I try not to laugh.
“Nothing,” I say. “It’s a nice night for a drive over there.”
We talk as we drive: about the fact that June is probably pregnant, about whether Rusty has an adolescent crush on Silas, about whether Victorian really wanted to fuck tables or if that’s a weird myth.
There’s a part of me that wants to tell him to pull off to the side of the road so I can lean over, kiss him, and tell him yes. As different as things are now than ten years ago, I can tell he’s still nervous.
He doesn’t need to be. We live together. We’ve talked about getting married and having kids, because we’re adults and partners who talk about major life events. He already knows what the answer is.
But when he turns into the Frog Holler driveway, he shifts into neutral instead of second and then curses when the engine roars.
“Sorry,” he says, and then shoots me that charming grin.
“Need me to drive?”
“I need you to keep your commentary to yourself,” he says, and this time I do laugh. We’ve got the windows down, and the warm breeze comes through and tosses my hair around. It’ll be a nightmare to untangle later, but right now, it feels free and wonderful and I don’t care.
The barn comes into view, all the lights off. No cars in the parking lot, but the floodlights on the mural are all lit. Seth pulls up carefully, parking his car as precisely as if he were in a tight spot between two minivans.
Before we get out, I do lean over and kiss him. He pauses a moment, then sinks his fingers into my hair, kisses me full force.
“What was that for?” he asks, thumb still on my jaw.
“I can’t just kiss you?” I ask.
“You can kiss me, and I can be suspicious,” he says, pressing his lips to mine again.
“Come on, you’ve gotta get the… whatever you said,” I tease, and we get out of the car.
It’s dark, the moon nothing but a sliver in the sky, the stars out in full force n the warm summer night. We link hands as Seth leads me away from the front door and toward the rise overlooking the barn.
I know exactly where we’re going. We stop at the same spot where we kissed after our last first date, and Seth turns, looks at me.