"Let's go," Mama insisted, even tugging at Daddy's arm.
"Well then, we're off." he said, and we left the house and all got into his Mercedes sedan.
It had been so long since we had gone anywhere as a family. When we were together like this. I felt safe. I felt like Ian's caterpillar, protected, hopeful.
On the way to the restaurant. Daddy talked more about our impending trip to the cabin on the lake. We were going there in a few days. He said he would spend the first two or three days with us and then promised he would return on weekends whenever possible.
Mama said little. She listened and kept her face forward. The only thing she said about our
preparations for leaving was we had to be sure we had what we needed first from Dr. Dell'Acqua.
"I have to be sure we have enough," she said.
I looked at Ian. He wasn't supposed to know.
"'What do we need from Dr. Dell'Acqua?" he asked, winking at me first.
Daddy and Mama looked at each other, and then Mama turned and said, "Something I need. Nothing to worry about, Ian,"
"Good," Ian said. He smiled to himself and looked out the window all the way to the restaurant.
At the restaurant, my parents gave me my present. It was a gold locket on a gold chain. Inside there was a picture of two babies. At first I thought it was Ian and I. but my mother surprised me by telling me it was her baby picture and Daddy's.
"We thought that would be something you might cherish,'" she said.
Ian inspected it and nodded his approval like a jewelry expert. Then he helped me put it on, fasten
ing the clasp. I ran my hand over it and smiled at how wonderful it made me feel to have both my parents close to my heart, always.
Our dinner was great fun. The chef tossed the food in the air and did wonders with his knives. He built a volcano out of onions and it puffed with a small explosion that brought cheers and applause. Afterward, the restaurant brought out a small birthday cake for me with seven candles, and everyone, including waiters and waitresses, sang "Happy Birthday" to me. Even Ian sang, and loudly, too. I thought it had been the best birthday party I had ever had. Maybe if Grandmother Emma had come, she would have been pleasantly surprised. I thought.
On the way home Daddy wanted to stop at his supermarket to check on the night floor manager. The market was open twenty-four hours and he had three floor managers now for three different shifts. We were going to wait in the car, but he took so long. Mama act out and went in to see what was happening. When she came out with him, she didn't look happy anymore.
They both got into the car without speaking.
"When did you hire her?" Mama asked as Daddy pulled away from the market.
"Just a few weeks ago," he said.
"What qualifies her to be the manager of a supermarket, Christopher?"
"She's had a great deal of experience in the business world. After she left Bethlehem, she ran a department store in Philadelphia for nearly a year."
"And why did she leave Philadelphia? Was she fired?"
"No, no. She hated living in the city. Why are you so disturbed about it?"
Mama looked at him, looked straight ahead and then out the side window. I didn't think she would say anything else. Both Ian and I were fixed on each and every word.
"You have to be kidding," she finally said.
Daddy was quiet until we drew closer to Grandmother Emma's house. Then he turned to Mama and said, "It's just business, nothing else. Caroline. Don't read anything into it."
"I don't care," Mama said. "Do what you want." She turned away, but I could see she was wiping some tears before they could make much of an appearance.
What had happened to make her cry?
Grandmother Emma was up in her bedroom by the time we arrived. The house was very quiet and Mama didn't look like she cared to say another word to anyone. We all went upstairs. Shortly afterward, Mama came in to wish me a happy birthday one more time. I was already in my pajamas and crawling into my bed, still thinking about how sad she had become after we had stopped at the supermarket.