The Easter service was very nice. Unlike last year, Josh’s shirt stayed tucked
in and Ed remembered to zip his pants.
But something weird happened afterward.
I had everyone over for Easter dinner. Kate says she feels like a rock star who just
got back from a world tour after Holy Week, so we let her sit and wait on her,
while Janet helps me in the kitchen. I
don’t know how restful it is to have kids fighting over who will sit by you and
have the youngest one in your lap, but she seems to enjoy it.
I was in the den getting something, when I noticed my father
talking to her. Usually he and Ed talk
about sports and look for games on TV.
“You know, Kate, for a minister you really are pretty sensible.”
Before Kate could say thank you, he said, “Don’t you think
you could do better for yourself? Oh, I
don’t mean a man,” he said hastily. “I
mean better than Janet.”
Kate sighed like a mother who has just been told for the
hundredth time that her kid doesn’t like peas.
“Why do you have such a problem with Janet? I think she’s nice.” Sometimes it’s hard to tell when Kate is
being ironic.
“She allowed her son to marry Charlie when she was just out
of college. And she keeps saying she
prays for me.”
“I told her that if she does she won’t find you so
annoying. I don’t think it’s working
yet, though.”
“She probably isn’t trying hard enough.”
“I’ll speak to her about it.” I couldn’t believe that Kate
was teasing my father. I don’t know if
he was getting it.
“You know, Missy is heartbroken and feels guilty because of
that mess. I told her that Janet feels
she did her a favor.”
“I certainly hope so.”
“Can you talk to her?”
“Missy?”
“No, your wife.”
“I prefer ‘life partner,’ since wives have always been
treated so badly.”
“Well, can you?”
“Well, it would be healing, and I can’t refuse to promote
healing. . . Does this make me a wing person?”
“Good one, Katie.”
It’s been six months since my father talked to Missy at the
wedding. Has he been talking to her
since then? Fortunately she’s married,
so I don’t have to worry about whether she’ll have a problem with staying with
the kids while we go to the midnight service on Christmas Eve.
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