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He looks me up and down, and I quake in my shoes. “You must be Daniel,” he says.
I nod, holding out my hand. “Daniel Hansen, sir.”
A smile cracks across his face. “Matt Blakely.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
“Make yourself at home,” he says. Then he turns to Margo. “I’ll let Mama know he’s here.”
Does my arrival really need to be announced to the entire family?
From the outside it’s an older house, but inside it’s sleek and modern. The walls are gray with white trim, and everywhere I look, there are black and gold accents. Photos of Annie and Margo from the time they were little to now plaster the walls.
I follow Margo into the kitchen where Annie stands infront of a popcorn maker. The kernels pop and crackle into the bowl she’s placed next to the machine.
“Hi,” she says. I think she’s scared to look at me because she doesn’t hold eye contact very long. Either that, or she’s embarrassed by the fact that I knew she had a crush on me.
“Hey,” I say. “What’s the popcorn for?” I’m trying to break the ice. Maybe if I act normal, Annie will too.
“We’re watching a movie,” she says.
Margo smiles at me. “I hope that’s okay.”
I smile at the sisters. “What are we watching?” I don’t really care what we watch as long as I get to spend time with Margo.
Annie is about to respond when the front door flies open.
“Where is he?” Margo’s mom runs through the house like there’s a fire. Margo must get her eyes from her mother, because her mother’s eyes are brown and the size of saucers. She locks onto me and barrels toward me.
For a moment, I think I’m about to be tackled as she grabs me and forces me into a hug. She holds on to me so tight I can’t breathe. “Hello?” I squeak.
“You wonderful, charming, beautiful boy,” she says.
“Mama!” Margo and Annie say in unison.
She steps back. “I’m allowed to be excited,” she says, letting me go. Mostly. She’s holding my arms, but she leans back to get a better look. “This is the first time either one of you have brought a boy home.”
“Careful, this might be the last time,” their dad calls from the hallway.
Margo smiles wide. “Well, this is my family. Hopefully, they haven’t scared you off yet.”
Her mom rolls her eyes. “Oh hush. We aren’t that bad.”
“How’s Mrs. Jackman?” Margo asks.
Her mother steps around me to grab a small handful of popcorn. “She’ll be okay. She needs to rest, though, and I told her she needs to be honest with her doctor about how she’s feeling.”
“Well, I’m glad you were able to help her today. You look happy,” Margo says. There’s a silly expression coating her face as she watches her mom. I don’t know why. I haven’t known these people long enough to understand how they interact with each other. I feel like I’m missing half the conversation from the glances they’re exchanging.
Her mother waves her off and turns back to me. “You’re staying for dinner?” she asks, but before I can respond, she starts talking again. “Of course you are. I don’t know why I asked. We’re having salmon, mashed potatoes, and salad.”
“He’s a vegetarian,” Margo says.
“Oh,” replies her mother. She blushes and fans herself with her hand. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound like you had to eat salmon. We have other things. I could make you pasta or a sandwich. Or I could run back to the store and buy some tofu. I’ve never actually cooked tofu, but today is as good as any to learn—”
“You don’t need to do that. I’ll just eat the potatoes and salad.”
She crosses her arms. “Nonsense. That is utterly unacceptable. Those are side dishes. I insist on making you something to go along with it.”
