Watching Caleb at our big Fourth of July dinner on the patio (because the long outdoor teak table arrived just in time. The chairs did not. We winged it. It was fine) I see that he's struggling to find his place here so I went and sat with him for a while. I'm only a true body language expert on people I know very well and so it's safe to say he relaxed somewhat visibly, taking an open position in his seat, his expression blooming into a contentment that belied his curiosity about my...uh....schedule. For lack of a better word. For my future plans? When he can see me next? Who am I going home with tonight? He caught my eye and so I did what I always do.
I pointed at Duncan.
Caleb swore out loud and looked away, which brought the conversation to a halt. Everyone looked to me.
Nothing! What? Keep talking.
The conversation restarts slowly and I take my glass and excuse myself, heading to the pool, where PJ and John are floating on loungers, PJ almost asleep, John reading a book. They look content.
Where is Jay? I ask and PJ wakes up.
He's around. Go back to Lochlan, Bridge.
I just want to make sure everyone is good. That's what a hostess does.
I'm the hostess.
You're sleeping.
A good hostess sets the tone for the evening. He winks at me before closing his eyes again. I take a few steps past the pool and he says my name again in warning.
Fine.
I go back to the patio and Lochlan puts down the guitar, pulling me into his lap. Drink?
Five, please.
I would have cut you off at two.
Okay. As long as I can have them both at once.
He laughs and a drink is put into my hand, and the plain lemonade is whisked away. Go slow, he warns. Like he did when I was sixteen and stupid.
Yes, Daddy. I tell him and he flushes with irritation.
Jesus, Bridge.
Ooh. New pet names for each other. I always wanted to be Jesus-Bridget.
They're not pet names. Leave it.
Fine.
I drink my first drink and then accept my second/the last one and I can't finish it. My eyes are so heavy. The string lights get brighter and the air cools down. Soon the pool is empty and the lights are turned off around it too and everyone has amalgamated to the patio proper. Some with beers, some with vitamin water, some with tea. We light sparklers and celebrate the Fourth of July on behalf of our favourite former Americans turned Canadians because we're gracious like that.
Or maybe, like Lochlan, we're grumpy like that. See how fast he went from contentment to ire and how fast Caleb went from ire to contentment? I swear to God for every action with one, there's an equal and opposite reaction of the other and here we go, Bridget's Summer Learning series is here again! This summer we're doing physics. Weeeeeeeee. Pretty sure my favorite years so far were sex and outer space.
But not together.
I mean...
Though, if I had a chance..
Yeah. I would do that.
I pointed at Duncan.
Caleb swore out loud and looked away, which brought the conversation to a halt. Everyone looked to me.
Nothing! What? Keep talking.
The conversation restarts slowly and I take my glass and excuse myself, heading to the pool, where PJ and John are floating on loungers, PJ almost asleep, John reading a book. They look content.
Where is Jay? I ask and PJ wakes up.
He's around. Go back to Lochlan, Bridge.
I just want to make sure everyone is good. That's what a hostess does.
I'm the hostess.
You're sleeping.
A good hostess sets the tone for the evening. He winks at me before closing his eyes again. I take a few steps past the pool and he says my name again in warning.
Fine.
I go back to the patio and Lochlan puts down the guitar, pulling me into his lap. Drink?
Five, please.
I would have cut you off at two.
Okay. As long as I can have them both at once.
He laughs and a drink is put into my hand, and the plain lemonade is whisked away. Go slow, he warns. Like he did when I was sixteen and stupid.
Yes, Daddy. I tell him and he flushes with irritation.
Jesus, Bridge.
Ooh. New pet names for each other. I always wanted to be Jesus-Bridget.
They're not pet names. Leave it.
Fine.
I drink my first drink and then accept my second/the last one and I can't finish it. My eyes are so heavy. The string lights get brighter and the air cools down. Soon the pool is empty and the lights are turned off around it too and everyone has amalgamated to the patio proper. Some with beers, some with vitamin water, some with tea. We light sparklers and celebrate the Fourth of July on behalf of our favourite former Americans turned Canadians because we're gracious like that.
Or maybe, like Lochlan, we're grumpy like that. See how fast he went from contentment to ire and how fast Caleb went from ire to contentment? I swear to God for every action with one, there's an equal and opposite reaction of the other and here we go, Bridget's Summer Learning series is here again! This summer we're doing physics. Weeeeeeeee. Pretty sure my favorite years so far were sex and outer space.
But not together.
I mean...
Though, if I had a chance..
Yeah. I would do that.