The day after Christmas, Boxing Day in England, we were driving east, Karen at the wheel of her Prius. Karen is meeting up with her adult daughter, Becky and her old school friend Shannon, both traveling half-way across the country for a bit of a new year catch-up -- we suspect news of wedding bells from Becky, so Karen is excited at the potential for a grandchild.
Karen's going to drop me off to visit my nephew, Jay, and his wife, Amy, whom I've never met. Jay's 45, long and lean as opposed to my small on top, really big on bottom body. Must come from his father's side of the family. His mom, my sister, looks more like me. Jay and Amy are college librarians, and reportedly have worked together for years, only marrying in a quiet courthouse ceremony a few months back.
Karen and I are business partners in a clothing store, K & E Gals. We're also best friends, and, in the past year, have become quite open and intimate with one another and other members of Karen's family. A surprising but pleasing later-life development: I'm 60, Karen's 50 ... both about to celebrate birthdays.
"Is David going to be OK without you for ten days?" I asked.
"He'll be fine," replied Karen, eyes on the road ahead. "Susan and Sean are still there, for a couple of days, and he can always have Mum."
"I wasn't really worried about that side of things," I said. "More will he be able to cook and clean for himself, and get to work?"
"David's pretty self-sufficient," smiled Karen. "And, speaking of work, I appreciate your agreeing to close the store for the first couple of weeks this year, so we can make this trip."
"We're always dead in the weeks after Christmas," I said. "Better to take this time to relax, see family, and start the new year refreshed."
"Well, thanks anyway, Evie," said Karen. "I love you."
"I love you, too," I replied, smiling.
"So, we've got a day of driving together, and a night together, before I head out on my own," said Karen. "What do you want to talk about? Or should I just play music or an audiobook?"
"How about we talk for a while, then listen to a book?" I suggested. "And I'm so pleased about our time together, just you and me."
"Me, too, sweetie," said Karen. "I'm so eager I can taste it!"
"You really like those double-entendres, don't you?" I laughed. "I expect we might both get a taste, if we like. But we should keep it quiet, in Jay's guestroom."
"I can be quiet, I won't embarrass you. And I have a fun Georgette Heyer book we can listen to, when we're ready," said Karen. "Anything in particular you want to talk about?"
"So, I need some advice about Jay, before we get to his place," I said.
"What's up?" asked Karen. "Does he have some problem?"
"Not exactly," I replied. "I'm just antsy about meeting his wife, when Jay has always been a bit smitten with me."
"Smitten!" laughed Karen. "Cute word choice. How does he evidence this smitten-ness?"
"Since he was a young man, he's always been cautiously flirty with me," I said. "Hugs held a little longer than necessary, staring, little extra touches."
"Just a youthful crush," said Karen. "And, since you are built like his Mom, totally understandable."
"But he still does it, Karen," I said. "When I saw him two years ago, he was behaving the same way with me. And he's in his forties, now. Plus, I've never noticed any particular touchy-feely business between him and his Mom. We're built the same." My sister, Brenda, Jay's mother, is three years older than me, also big-bottomed.
"Still, that doesn't seem like any real cause for concern, Evie," said Karen.
"And there's the underwear thing," I said.
"Underwear thing?"
"He borrows my used panties from the laundry, I know he does," I said.
"Ha!" said Karen. "Your pervy nephew!"
"He's done that since he was a teenager, too," I said. "And there's Amy."
"What about Amy? You haven't even met her, yet," said Karen.
"Jay emailed a photo a couple of weeks ago, of them, so I know what she looks like, at least," I said.
"And what does she look like?" asked Karen.
"Like me," I said. "Small on top, big on the bottom."
"Well, I like that, so I'm not surprised that Jay does, too," said Karen. "So, you and Amy could be twins?"
"She's shorter than me, and has a lot more hair," I said, rubbing my hand over my short-cropped, gray-haired head.
"That's hard to believe, and what kind of a photo was this, anyway?" asked Karen.
"On her head!" I said. "A lot more hair on her head."
"Oh. OK, then," smiled Karen. "I'll meet them both this evening, and I'll let you know what I think."
We arrived at Jay's in the early evening ... we'd said we'd be there for supper. The Georgette Heyer story wasn't finished, and was suspenseful.
"I'll save the rest to listen to with you when we head home," said Karen. "I've got other things I can listen to for the rest of my drive."
"I'm sorry we won't be together," I said, as we got out of the car and grabbed our soft-sided travel bags from the backseat.
"I'll be back soon enough, and hopefully with news of wedding bells!" said Karen. "It'll be great to see Becky, and I haven't seen Shannon in years."
"They've been friends since college, is that right?" I asked.
"Yup," said Karen. "I've always liked Shannon. She's forward, and I'd say she's flirty, but I know she likes guys."
"Be careful there!" I laughed.
We walked up the path to Jay's craftsman home, and the door popped open before we could ring the bell.
"Hello, hello!" said Jay, giving me a big, lingering hug. Releasing me, he took Karen's hand, saying, "Great to meet you! You must be Karen. Any friend of Auntie Evie's is always welcome here!"
We stepped into the warm house, and quickly understood how Jay could be comfortable in gym shorts, a t-shit, and bare feet.
"Take off your coats," said Jay. "You can hang them there, by the door. Amy! Honey! They're here!" he called back into the house.
"It's warm in here," said Karen.
"Cold outside, warm inside, just how we like it," said Jay.
A short, pear-shaped woman with very long, dark hair, big eyes behind glasses, and a small mouth entered the front room. She was similarly attired to Jay.
"That's why I can be wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the middle of winter," she said. "Hi, I'm Amy." She quickly gripped hands with Evie, then Karen. "It's so great to meet you."
"Where are your glasses, Auntie Evie?" asked Jay, who himself wore glasses.
"I only wear readers," I said. "And only when I need them."
"Amy doesn't really need her glasses, either," said Jay.
"Well, I sure see better with them on," said Amy.
"But you don't really NEED them, do you, honey? Like Auntie Evie doesn't need hers," said Jay.
"I've got mine right here," I said, putting down my bag and reaching into my purse. "I think I'll wear them, now."
"Great!" said Karen. "Now that's settled, where should we put our stuff?"
"We've got Auntie Evie in our guestroom, and you on the sofa in the TV room, Karen, if that's OK," said Jay.
"We'll stay together in the guestroom," I said.