After the dinner with harry, Mel went home and quickly changed into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt before going to her parents’ home. When she got there, all the lights were on downstairs, and she could hear loud conversation through the door. She knocked sharply to let them know that she was there, and then turned the knob to let herself in.
“Hi Mom, Hi Dad!” she called, as her mother appeared from the other side of the hall.
“Hi honey,” she said with a smile. “Have you eaten?” Mel laughed, because her mom was always trying to feed her. “Yup. And I’m stuffed, and I’m leaving first thing in the morning. And where is dad?”
“Your father is in the kitchen, mixing up some strange concoction in the blender.” Mel looked at her suspiciously. “Strange concoctions like a health food mix, or strange like new mixed drink?”
“Your grandmother is here.”
“Ah. Enough said. I’ll go say hello.”
“What are you doing here on a Friday night?” Mel’s grandmother asked her when she walked into the kitchen in search of her father.
“I can’t come over and visit my loving family?” she grinned as she leaned to kiss her grandmother cheeks.
“You should be out on a date,” Gran Jameson offered. “You’re young. How are you going to find a husband if you spend every Friday night with your family especially your father? You good looks won’t last forever, you know,” she added, waving her martini in the air.
Oh Gran if only you knew where I had been before coming here, Mel thought to herself. “My sparkling personality will continue to win me attention, Gran.” Mel assured her.
“Hi Daddy,” Mel grinned. “What are you making?” Mel asked, settling herself down next to her Gran.
“A lemon drop martini. Ask your grandmother,” he added when Mel just looked at him questioningly.
“I read about it on a magazine,” Gran stated. “It sounded delicious, so I asked your father to make it for me.”
“Well, I’ll in favour. Can I taste-test?” she asked, reaching for a glass. Too late, she realised that she hadn’t moved her ring back over to her right hand. And Gran was looking right at it.
“Melrose?”
“Yes, Granny?”
“Don’t call me Granny. You know I hate it. And don’t try to distract me. Is that a ring on your finger?”
Yeah goes nothing. Mel sighed. “Why yes, Grandmother. It is.”
“Don’t ‘Grandmother’ me either. Why is there a ring on your finger?’
“Because you’re always hounding me to put one there?”
“Do not tease your Gran,” she rebutted. “I’m too old and may drop dead at any moment or after this martini. Tell me why you have a ring. Have you met a gentleman?” looking over at her father, she realised that he was also staring at the ring. And for the love of God, so was her mother. All three of them, silent as clams, just staring at her finger.
“Mom. Dad. Dearly beloved Gran....I’m afraid that I’ve got some news. Pin drop silent moment.
“Oh for God’s sake. I’m married. There, it’s out. He’s a nice young man, we’ll be very happy together. To Mel’s surprised, all three of them burst out laughing.
“Ha!” her father said with delight. “Nice try Mel. Next Friday night, stay home with your ‘husband’-it will be more realistic.”
“Oh Mel. Don’t let your Grandmother make you too crazy about marriage. It would come. And she only hounds you because she loves you, you know,” her mother said.
Mel just looked at her family members in disbelief. She had managed to get the news out in a backhanded way, and nobody believed her. Now what? Sit here the night before her flight to LA, arguing her parents into believing that she’d married a man they had never met? Or did she go home, pack, get herself on a plane in the morning, and deal with this when she got back?
After a quick kiss to each beloved family member, Mel was back in her car, breathing heavily and nearly sobbing. Not sure if it was with relief or frustration. What a day, she thought. What a long and absolutely insane day. She was feeling deep relief that she was hopping on a plane in the morning. She would deal with Mom and dad and Gran Jameson soon enough.