Aftertaste - Meredith Mileti [104]
Ruth is right. Today is a milestone. A year ago Jake and I were still together. He’d held my hand, fed me ice chips, and rubbed my back as I labored to bring our baby into the world. His anguish over my pain had been real, as had his joy at Chloe’s birth. I never would have imagined back then that a year later he wouldn’t even make the guest list.
Ruth comes in, brushing crumbs from her blouse, and asks, “Was Fiona a snake charmer in another life?”
“Not that she’s mentioned. Why?”
“She’s got Carlos on her lap, and she’s feeding him grapes. He hates grapes!”
“She does have a way with kids. Chloe loves her,” I tell Ruth, realizing that it’s true.
“So, do I look okay?” Ruth asks, nervously turning a full circle in front of me.
“Better than okay, actually. Your hair looks fabulous.” Ruth has had her hair blown dry, and it looks full and pretty. She is wearing a long silk tunic and a pair of designer jeans she’s clearly taken to the dry cleaner—the creases look sharp enough to slice steak.
“Want me to finish that while you go change?” Ruth offers.
“I am changed,” I laugh. I’m wearing my Gap jeans and an oversized button-down shirt that had once belonged to Jake. “Besides, I’m the cook. I need to be comfortable.” Ruth takes the knife from my hand and orders me upstairs to change my clothes. “At least put on a sweater or something. You’re going to be looking at these pictures for the rest of your life.”
I keep the jeans, but swap the oversized shirt for a blue sweater. I let my hair down and brush it. When I come downstairs, Neil and Eli are standing in the front hall. Richard handles the introductions, while Ruth sucks at her punch. Everyone turns to look at me.
“Neil, Eli, welcome! Neil and Eli are our friends from Gymboree class,” I tell everyone. Neil bends down to help Eli out of his coat, no easy task since Eli refuses to relinquish the large, brightly wrapped package he’s holding.
“Go on,” Neil whispers in Eli’s ear. “You know what to do with that, don’t you, Eli?” We all watch as Eli approaches Chloe, who is sitting on the living room rug, pulling at the party hat Fiona has placed on her almost bald head.
“How precious,” coos Fiona, setting Carlos down and picking up the camera. “The package is almost as big as he is,” she says, snapping a picture. We all watch as Eli makes his way laboriously to the middle of the room. He’s within drooling distance when suddenly he’s intercepted by Carlos, who tackles him, causing the corner of the package to poke Eli in the eye.
“Carlos!” shrieks Ruth, rushing to intervene, just as Neil scoops up Eli, who is, for a second, too stunned to cry. Ruth picks up Carlos and whisks him off to the kitchen mumbling ominously about “time-outs,” just as Eli begins to wail.
“How about some ice?” Fiona says to Neil, who is trying to get a look at Eli’s eye.
“I’ll get it,” I tell her, hurrying into the kitchen to check on Ruth. She’s in the pantry, trying to gain control of a hysterical Carlos, who is writhing mightily in a kitchen chair.
“I give up,” Ruth says miserably.
“Forget about it. Calm him down and get back out there. Eli’s fine,” I tell her.
I fill a plastic bag with ice and wrap it in a dish towel for Eli, although by the time I return, he’s stopped crying. He’s sitting on Neil’s lap watching transfixed as my father entertains him with his one and only magic trick—the separating thumb.
Mercifully, the rest of the party proceeds uneventfully. When it’s time to open the presents, I sit Chloe on my lap while Dad mans the video camera. Fiona has gotten Chloe a pink plastic purse, complete with a play cell phone, a large key ring of brightly colored keys, and a dozen sparkly bangle bracelets. “Thanks, Fiona,” I tell her.
“I figured since she’s always digging in mine, she should have her own,” Fiona says, bending down to give Chloe a hug. Neil and