Charthur: Part II

When she spoke up, Susan brushed her hand aside.

”Aw, why not? He’s so cute! Rover, Rover, over here!” She called, patting her knees. Rover didn’t move and insisted on sniffing Chardonnay, even after he was pushed aside by her sudden movement. He barked, and looked at her with beady eyes. Susan frowned when she was not headed. ”Rover! Here, boy!” She whistled and that got his attention.

Rover trotted towards Susan and barked excitedly, and she scooped him up into her arms. ”That’s fine, but I’ll be sure to save you a piece so you can take it home! It looks so good, there’s no way I’ll let you go without a slice of your own pie!” She smiled. Arthur glanced at Susan, then over at Chardonnay. He wished they could go back to that moment they’d made the pie. Shit was so much easier, then.

”Yeah, save her a piece. It’s her family’s traditional pie.” He said. Susan’s eyes perked up.

”Oooh, how nice! Is it your father’s recipe?” She asked. Adelaide’s attention was obtained at the discussion of pie, and she perked up. Pickles was now pawing at his toy in the middle of the living room, running around in excitement. He tripped over the toy, made an ‘ooft’ noise, then got back up and barked at it.

Arthur glanced back at Chardonnay, shrugging at her little look. Susan lit up at the notion of a family recipe and, when Chardonnay explained fully, she gasped.

”Oh my Gosh! That’s exactly why we started cooking mom’s recipes. Her turkey on Thanksgiving, and her beef stew on her and dad’s birthdays! That’s such a lovely tradition – our families values are actually quite similar! I’m touched by it,” She said. Her eyes were moist with emotion as she looked at Chardonnay. ”I’m touched you brought such a lovely part of your family tradition to ours. I imagine your grandmother was a wonderful chef, just like your whole family! Ah, I would have loved to meet her!” Susan hummed.

”I wanna try the pie! Can we have ice cream with it?!” Adelaide was clearly more focused on the food aspect of the story now, and had stood up. Pickles and Rover were playing together by the TV. While they did that, Arthur maneuvered himself across the room and stood beside Chardonnay’s chair, his thumbs hooked into his belt loop.

”Oh, I’m sure we’ll cut into it soon, Addy! Don’t rush – and don’t go into it without the family!” As Susan spoke, Adelaide got up to move towards the kitchen.

”Ugh! I am just getting a drink, mom,” She said. Susan shook her head. Kids! She focused back on Chardonnay.

”I would love to keep some leftovers, however, you are taking a piece home! I am not budging on this, Ms. Nicholas!” Susan said, in an authoritative yet joking voice.

”You have to have a piece. You know. So I can tell you how I’m not a bad cook and remind you that I helped make it.” Arthur said, giving Chardonnay a look. Susan laughed and got up to get the plates ready.

”Addy – ADDY! Get the plates ready!” In the kitchen, Adelaide yelled happily as she started to get the plates, chanting for pie. Susan and Arthur both grinned at that. ”Like I said, she’s been thinking about the dessert all day!” Susan said.

Susan was back in the kitchen with Adelaide now. The rooms weren’t so far apart they couldn’t still hear each other, but specifics were hard to decipher. Arthur could hear the mumbled voices of the two women as they got the pie prepared in the kitchen.

He leaned against the back of Chardonnay’s chair, his elbows pressed against the cloth material. He looked down at her, shaking his head. ”I did a lot of work for the pie. I cleaned, too,” he pointed out, and his sister laughed at him. He glared at her in the kitchen, but there was no real fire behind it.

He went to look back at Chardonnay but she’d looked away, and was now focusing on the floor. From this angle he could see the slight bulge to her stomach and tried not to be distracted by it. ”Hey. That wasn’t emotional. If she starts crying, then that’s Susan being emotional. You should’ve seen her when I graduated College, she was a mess.” Then again, she had always viewed him more as a son than a brother in moments like those. He exhaled. He wondered what his parents may have reacted like, had they been able to go. He would have liked to see it. ”She wasn’t so much getting emotional as she was... appreciating the tradition. Susan likes traditions a lot. She’s a family-based person; we all are. We want to appreciate family while we have it, anyway. And recipes are all we have left of some, so it’s a big deal to her, is all.”

Pickles and Rover barked into the kitchen and Adelaide’s figure appeared at the gate, leaning over to pet them. She cooed words with little meaning at them, scratching their ears as she did so. ”C’mere,” she kissed each one on the forehead, as her mother appeared behind her. Susan looked at Arthur and Chardonnay with a smile.

”Pie’s all cut! I have ice cream to have with it, too. You’re more than welcome to join us in the kitchen if you’d like to, Chardonnay!” Susan said, beckoning her brother over. ”Artie, get over here! You have no say, you’re having a piece of pie!”

”Yeah, yeah.” Arthur rolled his eyes at her, but he didn’t have any malice behind his tone. He glanced towards Chardonnay. He wasn’t sure if she’d want to stay in here with the dogs, or go and sit with the family. He turned his back on her and gently moved the dogs aside, stepping over the gate. They whined and tried to sniff his butt as he moved, whining again when he was out of reach. Arthur moved to wash his hands and Susan placed his plate on the table. The good thing about Susan’s kitchen was the open concept – the living room was still visible through the window. Adelaide bounced over to her pie, but her mother chastised her and told her to wash her hands before she could have a slice. Adelaide pouted, but did as she was told.

Arthur took the pie from Susan and sat down, the two making a small bit of conversation as Adelaide scurried over to the pie. They left Chardonnay to her own devices to pick up the gate, and didn’t notice the struggle until the puppies scurried out of the gate and into the kitchen.

Immediately their nails clacked on the floor as they scurried towards Adelaide and Arthur. ”Pickles no!” Adelaide said, when Pickles tried to jump on the table. Arthur got up from his chair as Rover slid under the table, getting down on his knees to find the dog.

”Don’t worry about it, Chardonnay – the gates are so easy for the dogs to shimmy through when they’re right in your way!” Susan said. She was glad Chardonnay had opted to join them! As Arthur tried to grab Rover, she laughed and kicked his butt gently. ”Arthur! Get off your knees! You’ll get your nice clothes all dirty!”

”You’re the one getting my ass dirty with your shoe, Susan!” He snapped back, and there was a small yelp as he grabbed Rover. He slid out of the table, his hair somewhat messy, but Rover safe in his arms. ”Where’s the other – “ He saw Adelaide playing with Pickles and walked over, scooping the other dog up into his arms. With both dogs in his arms, they started trying to lick his face fiercely. He crunched his face up. ”Stop – stop! Someone hold the gate open for me,” he glanced towards Chardonnay why was closest. The dogs eyed her eagerly. ”Just – just set the gate up, and I’ll put the dogs on the other side.”

Arthur held the squirming puppies as Chardonnay unlatched the gate, the two animals already aware they weren’t going to be allowed to remain in the kitchen. They squirmed roughly against him, trying to hop onto the floor to remain in the kitchen. One tried to get Chardonnay’s attention.

”Jesus Christ, let me walk!” Arthur complained when Chardonnay snapped at him. He crossed into the living room and put the dogs down by their toys. And immediately they whined and started towards the gate again. Arthur quickly ran over to make sure that neither puppy could get through while Chardonnay was still fastening the clasps. ”Just close the gate, I’ll step over it when I come back.” He said.

Susan had demanded Adelaide wash her hands again, since she’d touched the puppies when they ran inside the kitchen, and smiled at the other two. ”Thank you, Chardonnay! Now come, sit down! Would you like me to grab you a dish of ice cream or milk? I know you said you didn’t want pie, but something lighter’s always available!”

Susan nodded and sat down at her pie and Arthur went to wash himself off. The puppies were whining for attention. The conversation was pretty light -- Susan finally turned the conversation away from Chardonnay and Arthur and onto Adelaide. She was asked how school was going, and gave a riveting account of her time at the science fair last week when Annabelle almost knocked a display over. She was doing well in school but hated it, she’d much rather spend her time doing something else, and being an adult already.

Adelaide loved the pie so much she demanded seconds, practically scarfing it down and wearing it as a little mustache. Arthur liked the pie but kept to one slice, which he didn’t quite finish. Susan herself had two slices as well though she ate them much slower than Adelaide had. She laughed at her overzealousness.

It was 8 PM by the time festivities were over. Susan insisted on the family playing an iPhone game – Heads Up – for the last few hours. Chardonnay was offered to participate if she wanted to, and Adelaide and Arthur joined Susan in the silly little game. Susan usually liked to drink wine with this portion of the dinner but prior to the arrangements, Arthur told her not to for Chardonnay’s sake. She missed alcohol, he knew. By the time the game ended Arthur was tired and craved a cigarette, but knew he wouldn’t be able to sneak out for one until he was home.

Susan pulled him into a tight hug goodbye, holding the hug for a little longer than usual. After that, Adelaide ran to Arthur to say goodbye to him while Susan turned towards Chardonnay. She gave her a light hug, and a gentle pat on the back. ”Thank you for coming today; it was a pleasure having you! I hope you feel better.”

Arthur turned towards Chardonnay and then waved once more at his sister and niece. He led the way out the door, holding it for Chardonnay as he looked once more at the living room.

The drive back to his apartment was short, and when he pulled into his parking spot and locked his car, he turned towards Chardonnay. ”It’s been a long day, you can stay over if you want to.” But he really didn’t want her to drive all the way back to her condo when she’d had such a long day and was likely tired.

He led the way to his apartment and opened the door, holding it open for Chardonnay. Once they were both inside, he looked down at the floor. His mind was swimming with what happened that day. ”I... I’m sorry about not telling you about my parents.” He said, quietly. He put his hands into his pockets, because they were shaking from his need for a cigarette. ”I wanted to tell you before, but it’s hard for me to talk about. I never knew them. I just –“ He grit his teeth together, than sighed. ”I know that I said sorry there, but I still, just... you shouldn’t have had to find that out from Susan.”