Packed and Ready to Go Read Free

me through the day. “There will be no television tonight. We’re going out to dinner in your new car and I hope my parents don’t piss in the back seat.”
    The stricken look on his face let me know I’d hit my target.
    My parents weren’t incontinent, but getting back at him for the diet comment rumbled through me like a child well past nap time.
    “ Fine, Tracy. Where are we going?”
    “ We talked about this, Walter. Don’t you remember?”
    “ I’ve got a lot on my mind. You know, with work and all.” He shoved his hand in his pocket.
    “ I made reservations at Ruth’s Chris at the Baltimore Inner Harbor.”
    “ That means I have to pick up the tab for your parents, your friends and Crystal and Max?” He punctuated each word. “Damn! Why did you pick such an expensive restaurant?” I expected him to stomp his foot like a child.
    “ Walter, please, not today. This is supposed to be a happy day. Where do you think we should celebrate—McDonald’s? You weren’t thinking about money when you bought your car. Besides, you made it clear we don’t have to consult each other on expenditures. Right?”
    He clenched his jaw.
    “ Fine.” His curt tone and rigid stance indicated he wasn’t fine.
    His right eye twitched, a telltale sign that my position chaffed him. We needed quality time, and soon. When we’re in sync little things like this didn’t ruffle us.
    Walter towered over me by a foot. Even at forty-two, his stomach remained flat and his thighs were as solid as iron rods. His salt and pepper hair gave him a distinguished appearance. More than twenty years of marriage and I still adored him. But we were out of rhythm and I was out of solutions. Other women gave him long hot looks. He didn’t think I noticed, but I noticed everything. Everything.
    Crystal rounded the corner of the brick building, her gown flowing behind her and her arm linked in Max’s. The huge grin on her face made me smile, too. Even the corners of Walter’s mouth tugged upwards.
    After a few photographs, Crystal and Max dashed off to take more pictures with friends. Walter retrieved the car and huddled us in. The drive to the Inner Harbor started out quiet.
    “ Well, Walter, you must be very proud today. Your baby girl graduated from college with honors, she’s getting married to a fine young man and you’re married to a beautiful woman. Life has been good to you.” My father’s slow southern drawl pierced the silence. From the back seat, he laughed and slapped Walter on the shoulder.
    “ I’m real proud, Carl,” Walter replied without expression.
    My father chuckled. I wondered if he detected the sarcasm in Walter’s words.
    “ This sure is a nice car. You got all the bells and whistles I see. Nothing beats the smell of a new car. How much did it set you back?”
    I jerked around in my seat. Perspiration dotted my father’s forehead. “Dad, you don’t ask people that question,” I admonished him.
    “ Carl, you know better,” my mother chimed in with a disapproving look.
    “ Oh, I didn’t mean no harm. You ain’t mad are you, Walter?” My father rubbed his stubby index finger along the plush leather seat.
    “ It’s alright Carl, don’t worry about it.”
    “ I don’t believe you,” my mother hissed.
    “ Aw Frances, if Walter ain’t mad, don’t get your knickers in a knot.” He patted my mother on the knee. “You gonna tell me what you paid, Walter?”
    “ Not in front of Tracy. She’s already having a fit about this car.”
    “ She don’t like it?”
    “ It’s a fine car, Dad,” I said. “Now let’s change the subject.” The last thing I wanted to talk about was this expensive vehicle and the problem it’d unleashed.
    My father sat back in his seat, content to be quiet now that he had caused a sufficient stir.
    “ Dad, you’re sweating, do you want me to turn up the air conditioner?”
    “ No, honey, I’m fine.” He pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket and mopped his