Maia has some news for me as soon as we wake up the following day.
Maia: I’m not going to Henford with you and Tami today. But I’ll still try to make it to Mase’s wedding tomorrow.
Wade: What do you mean? Why not? Everyone is looking forward to seeing you.
Maia: And I’d love to see them too, but I can’t leave my father alone in an unfamiliar house for two days.
She has a point, but today is her birthday, and I was looking forward to taking her somewhere fun to celebrate back home in Henford.
Wade: I was hoping we could do something special today.
Maia: I’ll celebrate here with my father. It’ll still be a special.
I briefly consider bringing Clyde with us, but he’d probably complain the entire time and ruin the trip.
Wade: Okay. You’re right; staying here with him will probably be for the best. But Ma will be very disappointed. I’m sure she was looking forward to spoiling her new daughter.
Maia: Please send her my regrets and love.
Not even an hour later, I can see why Maia needs to stay here with Clyde. I go outside to pick our money fruit just as Clyde strolls into our backyard with no shoes on. Did he forget to put them on, or has he lost all his marbles? I walk over and try to bring it up without putting him on the defensive.
Wade: Hey there, Clyde! Everything okay with you this morning?
He comes over and shakes my hand.
Clyde: Yeah, I’m doing okay.
Wade: It’s a little wet out here. Aren’t your feet cold?
Clyde looks down, and I can see his expression change to confusion toward his bare feet. Like any prideful man, he tries to play it off.
Clyde: Cold, smold! What better way to toughen up the feet than a little barefoot walking?
Is he trying to convince himself or me? I go along with it to avoid embarrassing him further.
Wade: Oh, right! Yeah, I do a lot of bare feet running on my treadmill. We’re just about to eat breakfast. Care to join us?
Maia is putting the finishing touches on her eggs when I enter the kitchen with Clyde.
Clyde: All these damn stairs! I would have stayed in my old place if I knew you all were trying to kill me.
Maia expertly dismisses Clyde’s complaints.
Maia: Good morning, Father. Breakfast will be ready in a minute—have a seat.
I want to give Maia the heads up on Clyde’s forgotten shoes, but he’s following right behind me, and I don’t want to shame him. I’ll whisper it in her ear before Tami and I leave.
Clyde sits down at the table with Tami, and Maia serves him a plate of piping hot eggs, bacon, and toast.
I’m back home in Henford-on-Bagley several hours later with my baby girl. Tami oohs and ahs at the expansive house and land, just like Maia did the first time she visited.
As usual, Ma’s is the first face we see as soon as we enter.
Melisa: Dubbie! You made it.
I guess I’ll never outgrow that nickname. Ma pulls me into her warm embrace and doesn’t miss a beat before kneeling to do the same with Tami.
She stands and opens her arms for a third hug, but looks around and sees that the potential object of her affection is missing.
Melisa: Where’s Maia?
Wade: I’m so sorry, Ma. She couldn’t make it. But she sends her love and regards. She’ll be here tomorrow for Mase’s wedding.
Melisa: What happened? Is everything okay?
Wade: It’s her father. We had to move him in next door because he’s been having issues with his memory lately. She was afraid to leave him alone for too long.
Melisa: I can understand. Getting old is not for the faint of heart. We just lost my brother Jalin to a heart attack.
Ma’s eyes darken and fill with tears.
Wade: I’m so sorry, Ma.
Ma brushes the grief away like an annoying spiderweb as she looks down at Tami.
Melisa: But Gran is glad to see her sweet baby! You’ve gotten so big, and you’re just as pretty as you can be.
Tambara: I know.
Time stops as Ma waits for the words that typically follow a compliment. Ma looks directly at me when they don’t come, as if I’m the offender. I open my mouth to defend myself, but Ma’s shocked expression freezes the words in my mouth.
Melisa: It’s terrific that you know that, but you should say ‘thank you’ because good manners make you even prettier.
Tambara: Prettier?!
Melisa: Yes
Tambara: Thank you!
Melisa: That’s much better.
Now that that’s taken care of, I excuse myself and walk over to Mase, where it’s safer.
The greetings and hugs can go on for thirty minutes whenever I arrive at my parents’ house. That’s how long it typically takes for everyone to enter the room, pull you into their arms, and tell you how much they’ve missed you. It’s the best feeling in the world, and I never know how much I’ve missed it until I return after being away for a long time.
Once the hugging has stopped and everyone has confirmed that everyone else is doing well, Dad leads Tami outside to give her a tour of the farm, starting with the duck pond.
Tambara: Are there frogs in there? My mommy loves frogs.
Kai: Oh yeah, I’ve spotted a frog or two from time to time.
Tami looks up at the treehouse and makes a beeline for it.
Tambara: Can I go up there?
Kai: That’s what it’s here for. The treehouse has been lonely since your dad and uncles grew up.
Tami climbs the ladder and looks around the tiny house that’s just the right size for her and her big imagination. But she doesn’t stay up long because there’s so much more to see on the farm.
Tami runs around the farm, greeting the mini sheep, goats, and Cocoa Puffs, the now elderly cow. Eventually, she finds me, Dad, and Mason’s fiancé, Zoe, standing near the chicken coop. Tami hurries to greet all the chickens while Zoe calls me over.
Zoe: *to Wade* Can I talk to you for a minute?
Wade: Sure
Zoe: Drake and some of your cousins wanted to surprise Mase with a bachelor party tonight, but they need some help to plan it.
Wade: I’m sure I can help with that. What do they need me to do?
Zoe fills me in on what she knows, which is strange because I didn’t think the bride was even supposed to know about the groom’s bachelor party.
Once I do my part to help put the final touches on Mase’s party, Zoe walks away, and Ma takes her place.
Melisa: *To Tami* Your Pop-Pop and I have a birthday surprise for you!
Tambara: You do? What is it?
Melisa: A little birdie told me how much you love castles.
Tambara: Really? The birds in my backyard don’t talk. Are you sure you’re not losing it like my other grandpa? I think you might be the same amount of old.
My heart sinks as my past parenting mistakes slap me in the face. My child has just insulted Ma. Unlike all the people she’s done this to in the past, Ma has done nothing to deserve it. I couldn’t be more embarrassed. Again, Ma looks right at me.
Wade: I’m sorry, Ma.
Her eyes are silently questioning my parental skills. I have to play it off to save face.
Wade: *to Tami* Remember what I told you about saying things like that? It’s not nice.
Tambara: You never said that before.
She’s right, but I don’t need her saying that in front of Ma, making me feel and look worse. We’re going to have to discuss the snitching ASAP.
Wade: Well, I’m saying it now. Apologize to your Gran or you won’t get a birthday surprise.
Tambara: I’m sorry, Gran.
Ma takes a minute or two to compose herself before telling Tami about the birthday plans that she and Dad made.
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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