“Who was that?” Owen asked.
“That was your brother,” she said. “He’s running late. But he’ll make it later tonight.”
If it were up to Owen, he would have kept his family out of the whole thing. It was Luna who’d insisted that he call his mother, and Vera who’d insisted on calling Griff. Vera would sometimes go months or years not speaking to Griff, but they seemed to have been in communication more recently. Owen wasn’t sure what had changed. Maybe Vera had forgotten the original cause of their rift. If she had, Owen could see her forgiving Griff’s other filial misdemeanors. Whatever the reason, Owen was grateful to have Griff back on Mom duty. Vera was on the decline. Owen didn’t want to shoulder that responsibility alone.
While Owen was at the mortuary with his mother, Luna swung by a liquor store and purchased jumbo bottles of vodka, bourbon, and gin. She also picked up paper plates, disposable cups, and a couple of bags of ice. After dropping off the wake provisions, Luna returned home. She found Sam upstairs, packing a suitcase.
“Going somewhere?” Luna said.
“Driving down to Philly tonight.”
“You just saw your mom.”
“She broke her wrist, Luna.”
“Two weeks ago. And she’s fine.”
“Normal people see their parents more than once every two years.”
As Luna was deciding how to respond, Sam said, “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to be a dick.”
“I understand. But the wake is tonight. Can it wait?”
“The wake is a bunch of your friends standing around Owen’s house, drinking, in the vicinity of Irene’s ashes. There’s nothing ceremonial about it. It’s a sad party with only your friends in attendance. I think I can miss that without anyone noticing. You don’t need me, right?” Sam said.
It was more of a challenge than a question. And he was right. His absence wouldn’t be felt. Then again, Sam’s mother wouldn’t have felt his absence either. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s five years past and hadn’t recognized Sam in two.
“Mason and Casey will be here this evening. Did you—” Luna said.
“Yes. I cleared out the guest room,” said Sam.
The only person who might notice that Sam was gone was Casey. Luna figured she would demand an explanation. But an explanation was easier than having Sam stay at home. With him gone, they wouldn’t have to sleep in the same bed. Luna assumed that possibility was at least one factor in his decision.
“See you when you get back,” Luna said.
“We should—”
“I know,” said Luna.
* * *
—
Luna’s doorbell rang just after four o’clock. Such sounds had always irked her, but this time she felt a tiny rush of adrenaline, followed by a deeper wave of guilt. Despite the tragic circumstances, Luna couldn’t deny that she was really happy to see the two people on the other side of the door.
Luna hugged Casey first. She was always surprised by how aggressive her friend’s hugs were. They lasted longer than most people’s. Then Mason stepped in and gently kissed Luna on the cheek. He touched her shoulders lightly and vaguely leaned in.
Luna often wondered how Casey and Mason’s mismatched affection worked in a marriage going on ten years, but they seemed to have sorted it out.
“It’s really good to see you guys,” Luna said, picking up a random piece of luggage and leading the way past the kitchen to the office/guest room on the first floor.
The bed was made with military corners, Sam’s belongings tucked away in some mysterious location.
“Let me know if you need anything,” Luna said, exiting the guest room.
Casey dropped her bag by the bed, riffled through her purse, withdrew a pack of almonds, and handed them to her husband. “Mason here is going to eat these nuts and take a nap. I will have an adult beverage,” Casey said on her way out of the room.
“Maybe I want an adult beverage,” said Mason.
“After your nap,” said Casey, closing the door behind her.
The dynamic of Mason and Casey’s marriage offended Owen’s strong notions of autonomy in relationships. It seemed mothering and decidedly unsexy. Luna argued that it was simply a preemptive effort to keep their relationship copacetic. She had, in fact, seen how Mason could unravel when he was overtired and his blood sugar plummeted.
In the kitchen, Luna mixed a negroni for Casey without inquiring what she wanted. She poured herself the dregs of a mid-shelf bourbon bottle.