Page 139 of Ice Cold Chemistry
“Two-twenty-five.” She sits back. “Winnie, how do you even—” She stops. Waves her hand. “Never mind.”
Nobody moves.
“Carol,” Gary says.
“I’m just observing. He’s a large person.” She picks up her fork like she didn’t just detonate something at the dinner table. “You’re very handsome too. I’m sure people tell you that constantly.”
They do not tell me that constantly. I become very interested in my plate.
“Mom, oh my God—”
“What? Gary, isn’t he handsome?”
Gary looks like he’s considering faking a medical emergency. He’s not the only one. I’m pretty sure I forget how to chew.
“I’m just making conversation,” Carol says pleasantly. “Can I just say something?”
“Mom—”
“I’m just going to say it.” She looks at me, then at Winnie, then back at me. “You two are going to make very beautiful babies.”
Winnie puts her fork down.
“Carol,” Gary warns again.
“I’m serious. Look at him.” She gestures at melike I’m a feature at an open house. “It would be a shame to waste those genes.”
I have no response to this, so I pick up my water glass and chug it. The whole thing.
“The only concern,” Carol continues, tilting her head, “is the size.”
“The size,” Winnie repeats flatly, eyes widening.
“Well, sweetheart. He’s very…” She waves her hand in my general direction. “A lot. And you’re not exactly—” Another wave, this time at Winnie. “So that’s just something to think about. For the future. Medically speaking.”
The table is very quiet.
“I’m in the medical field,” Carol adds, as if that explains it.
“You’re a dental hygienist,” Winnie says.
She picks up her fork, unbothered. “I just want to say—epidurals have come a long way. So there’s that.”
I look at Gary. Gary looks at the wall. There is absolutely no help coming from that direction.
Winnie turns to me. Her face is a color I haven’t seen before.
“I’m so sorry,” she says.
“Don’t apologize for me,” Carol says. “I’m coming from a place of love.” She pats my hand. “You’ll be a wonderful father. You have very kind eyes.”
I open my mouth. Close it.
“Thank you,” I manage, even though my voice sounds strangled.
She beams and passes me the rolls. Gary makesa sound into his napkin that he quickly covers with a cough. And Winnie is staring at her plate with the focused intensity of a woman who is considering a new identity in a different city.
I nudge her foot under the table.
