Darlene’s Peach Pie
That Saturday, my brothers arrived before I did.
Grandma was upstairs getting ready when I walked in.
There was fresh coffee in the kitchen, and I could hear someone moving around back there.
I assumed one of my brothers had left the faucet running.
We were discussing dinner plans when the doorbell rang.
I answered it.
Darlene stood on the porch holding a peach pie.
She was around Grandma’s age, always carefully dressed, and had a talent for making insults sound like friendly advice.
“I saw your cars,” she said. “Thought I’d share some good news.”
I didn’t want to invite her in, but Grandma had raised us to be polite.
Darlene stepped into the hallway.
“Where’s your grandmother?”
“Getting ready.”
“For what?”
Before I could answer, Grandma appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was wearing the blue dress.
It fit beautifully.
Her hair was styled, and she had a little makeup on.
But what struck me wasn’t how different she looked.
It was how comfortable she seemed.
She came downstairs smiling.
Darlene stared.
“Well. You’ve certainly been making an effort.”
Grandma smiled.
“Won’t you come in?”
“I can’t stay. Arthur’s taking me dancing tonight.”
Darlene glanced at us, clearly enjoying having an audience.
“At our age, it’s lovely to know a man still chooses you. You understand, don’t you?”
I looked at Grandma.
Six months earlier, those words would’ve crushed her.
Now she looked almost amused.
“That’s nice, Darlene.”
Darlene frowned.
She hadn’t gotten the reaction she wanted.
Then footsteps sounded behind us.
A man stepped out of the kitchen carrying a woman’s coat and handbag.
Darlene looked past Grandma.
Her fingers tightened around the pie dish.
It was Arthur.
“Oh, hello, Darlene,” he said. “Didn’t realize you were stopping by.”
“Arthur?”
He walked to Grandma and handed her the handbag.
“Found it, sweetheart. Right where you said.”
Then he slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.
Darlene stared at Arthur’s hand.
“What are you doing here?”
“Spending time with my date.”
“But you’re taking me dancing tonight.”
Arthur looked confused.
“Darlene, I said I’d give you a ride. I didn’t say we were going together.”
Arthur turned toward Grandma.
“You about ready, sweetheart?”
She nodded.
Then he looked back at Darlene.
“You don’t mind sitting in the back, do you? My date gets carsick.”
The peach pie hit the floor.
One second, Darlene was holding it.
The next, peach filling was spreading across Grandma’s entryway.
My youngest brother turned toward the wall, his shoulders shaking.
My middle brother suddenly became fascinated by the ceiling.
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.
Arthur looked horrified.
“Oh, goodness. Let me get something to clean that up.”
Darlene didn’t move.
She was staring at Grandma.
“Your date?”
Grandma took Arthur’s hand.
“Yes.”
“Since when?”
Grandma tilted her head.
“Oh, it’s been a few months now.”
I almost choked.
Arthur looked between Grandma and the three of us.
“Did I miss something?”
Grandma laughed.
“Apparently, I forgot to tell my grandsons I’ve been seeing someone.”
Arthur wasn’t just taking Grandma dancing.
He was her boyfriend.
Darlene’s face turned bright red.
She started explaining that Arthur had agreed to pick her up, and she’d assumed they were going together.
Arthur returned with paper towels.
“I told you I was already going with someone,” he said gently.
Darlene opened her mouth, then closed it.
That was when I realized she hadn’t simply misunderstood the ride.
Arthur had told her he had a date.
She’d apparently never considered that his date could be Grandma.
We helped clean up the pie while Darlene stood awkwardly near the door.
Arthur offered to drive her as promised.
May you like
She declined.
Then she left so quickly that she forgot her empty pie dish.
