Page 81 of Every Time We Touch

“Wonderful,” Mom says. “I’ll tell you all about it when we eat. Can you take this please, darling?” She hands me a basket of bread.

By the time we’ve laid the table and everyone’s sitting down, Lauren still hasn’t arrived. Either she’s still mightily pissed off with me, or she and Gus are dealing with a small-child emergency.

“Let’s not wait,” Mom says. “Let’s eat.” She doesn’t look too worried.

“She hasn’t been in touch?” Austin asks.

“They’re probably on the way,” Juan says.

“How many pancakes are you having, Auntie Jen?” Wyatt asks.

“We’ll have to see about—” I’m interrupted by the sound of the back door opening.

“Sorry we’re late.” Lauren walks into the room, her husband behind her, Lily in his arms. She doesn’t give us a reason which, I guess, is her right, but doesn’t stop me from second-guessing that it’s because of Clancy and me.

Instead of going around the table and kissing everyone hello, which is the habit in my family, Lauren finds her chair and sits. Gus puts Lily in her highchair and just stands around, clearly unsure whether to follow his wife’s example or not. In the end, he gives us an awkward wave and takes a seat next to Lauren.

The St Jameses have always dealt with tension by smothering it with chitchat and today’s no exception. My siblings talk over each other for a few minutes, until a natural silence falls.

“Is Clancy Auntie Jen’s friend now?” Wyatt asks through a mouthful of pancake.

I cast Lauren a sideways glance.

“She’s a friend of all of us,” Heather says.

“But where’s Grandpa?” Lucas asks.

“She’s most definitely not a friend of all of us.” Lauren goes on the attack.

“Okay,” Mom says. “This family has survived divorce, remarriage, many bouts of heartbreak, and Juan’s karaoke phase. We can survive this.”

“Excuse me?” Juan does this thing where he pretends to be offended but is actually glad he’s the subject of conversation.

“No, excuse me,” Lauren says. “Because I don’t know what to do with this.” She gives Clancy the death stare. “I don’t know what to do with you.”

“I wish this was easier,” Clancy says, her voice steady and her gaze—impressively—unwavering. “But I’m not here to hurt anyone.”

“We’re all adults here,” Austin says. “We can discuss this in an adult manner.”

“I’m an adult, too?” Lucas asks.

“Sorry, buddy,” Austin says. “I was talking to Auntie Lauren.”

“We shouldn’t talk about this in front of the kids,” Lauren says. “I came here for Mom. Not for… them.” She spits out the last word as though it tastes disgusting. “Tell us about your movie, Mom.” Ostentatiously, she turns to our mother.

“Sweetheart,” Mom says to Lauren. “No one’s asking your dad not to be hurt. But Jen doesn’t have to spend the rest of her life being punished for falling in love.”

“If not the rest of her life, then at the very least the rest of this meal.” Lauren leans back in her chair and crosses her arms in front of her chest.

“Why are you so mad, Auntie Lauren?” Wyatt asks. So much for not discussing this in front of the kids.

Lauren’s face does soften a touch at our nephew’s question.

“How about,” Nora says, “we have a civilized meal first, then hash this out.” She winks at Wyatt. “I’ll have a pancake eating competition with you.” The days that not a single carb would make it past Nora’s lips have long gone. “Then, we can go to my house.” She waggles her eyebrows.

“Will Imani be there?” Wyatt adores Nora’s best friend.

“She sure will,” Nora says. “So will Princess, Rogue, and Izzy,” Nora continues, expertly defusing the situation by adding her dogs to the mix.