Uncle Vinny and I stay behind, still seated at the table in a comfortable silence. I listen in as Melanie and Aunt Maggie discuss how delicious dinner was, especially the pork. Melanie pries for the recipe but Aunt Maggie is tightlipped. I chuckle at their exchange and catch Uncle Vinny smiling. He grabs his plate and walks over to grab mine. As he bends down to grab it, he whispers, “I like her a lot son. Now, don’t muck it up this time.”
I laugh as he pats my shoulder and heads into the kitchen. Rolling out into the living room, I search for the remote and channel surf, trying to figure out what to watch. A few minutes later, Melanie walks in and points toward the back. “Uh, where’s the restroom?”
I point down the hall. “Sorry, it’s the second door on the right.”
“Thanks.” She smiles just before she turns. Aunt Maggie and Uncle Vinny sit down on the sofa, keeping me company as I wait for Melanie to return.
Aunt Maggie smiles as she takes my hand. “I’m so lucky to have you home with us. And I’m even luckier to have that wonderful woman come visit. She is a treasure Roman. No wonder you’re smitten.”
Worried that Melanie will hear, I signal for them to keep voices low. “Thanks Aunt Maggie. I’m glad you invited her.”
“Well, I know you didn’t have the guts to, so I had to do something.”
Uncle Vinny shakes his hea
d. “Matchmaker at her prime I see.”
She slaps his shoulder. “Of course. Someone’s got to put these two lovebirds together. Throughout the entire dinner, this one over here couldn’t keep his eyes off her. And there were a few times when I caught her looking at you.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t embarrass me, please.”
She scoffs. “Never.”
Continuing our chat, Aunt Maggie veers off about upcoming wedding cake orders and trying to create a better recipe. I listen as she goes on about consistency and sugar ratio until I glance around, noticing Melanie is still missing. Hmm, she can’t still be in the bathroom can she?
Wheeling toward the bathroom, I peek around. “Melanie?”
Her soft voice sounds from the guest bedroom. “In here.”
Following her voice, I find her sitting on the bed, looking at a few picture frames on the nightstand. Her eyes are filled with tears as she traces her finger along the glass frame.
She holds the frame up for me to see. “Is this your mom?”
Staring at the frame, I see it’s a picture of my mom and me at the zoo. Her arms are wrapped around me as we pose in front of a huge water fountain. My heart sinks as I try to remember that time, but it’s no use. “Yeah, that’s her.”
“Wow, she’s beautiful. How old were you in this picture?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Gosh, probably around three or four. My dad is the one behind the camera.”
She wipes the tear from her eye and I reach out to hold her hand. “Don’t be upset. What’s done is done.”
She sighs. “I know. I…I think if I’d gotten the chance to meet your mom, I would have liked her.”
My smile beams as she exposes her feelings. “I think she would have liked you too.”
We glance at the picture for a while longer until I place it back in its spot. “Come on, let’s get out of this funk before I turn into a sap.”
She follows me out and into the living room as we find Aunt Maggie and Uncle Vinny watching one of the Christmas movie classics. Melanie expresses her interest in the movie and scoots over to sit on the sectional. I block her, holding out my hand. “Let’s sit outside for a bit on the porch.”
Her eyes grow wide. “Outside? But it’s freezing!”
I scoff. “No, it’s not.”
Looking for another excuse she glances toward the window. “It’s snowing.”
I let out a low chuckle. “That’s the best part. I love the snow. Grab your coat. Let’s go.”
I guide her outside as she shuts the door and makes her way out to the porch. Staring out to the street, it’s completely covered in powdered snow. The sidewalks are blanketed in the white powder, freshly coated with a new layer. Footprints haven’t even left a trace yet. Thinking back to childhood, I remember that I always enjoyed playing in the snow with my father.