“Oh, no, it was wonderful!” Betty said. “No, that’s not it. Besides, I do want to get to know your family rituals if I’m going to join the family.”
Behind them, Anne and James burst into snickers. “Now’s the best time there’ll ever be to tell her, Rob,” Anne said.
“Not when we’re on our way to brunch!” Rob protested.
“I think that’s as good a time as any,” James said. “But suit yourself.”
“What are you talking about?” Betty asked. “Something I wouldn’t want to hear while I’m eating?”
“I’m not sure if you’d ever want to hear it,” Rob said.
“Betty, I’m sorry,” Anne said as she settled herself in the front seat. “I raised all three of my kids to be open-minded, but both of the boys are a little on the prudish side. Now, their sister is another story.”
“Yeah, Meagan takes after them a lot more than Nick or I do,” Rob agreed. “I think you’ll like her, Betty, but she’s…not like us.”
“I’m sure I’ll like her fine, but what’s that got to do with whatever you don’t want to tell me?”
“I…can’t explain.”
Betty shook her head and grinned at Anne, who was looking back at them from the front seat as James pulled the van out onto the road. Anne looked like she wanted to spill the beans, but all she would say was, “Sorry, Betty, it’s not my place to tell you. But Rob, you’re going to have to tell her one of these days.”
“Or I could just stop going, you know,” Rob said.
“Going where?” Betty asked.
“That’s what he won’t tell you,” Anne said. “Rob, that’s your choice, but I think you owe it to Betty to at least let her know about it.”
Betty had given up any hope of getting a straight answer about anything, and turned to Nick, who as usual hadn’t said much of anything. He gave her a wan smile and asked, “Is it true Janice is joining us?”
“Yes, and she was very happy to be invited,” Betty said, grateful to be able to talk about something that did make sense.
“I think Nick’s got the hots for her,” Rob announced.
“I do not!” Nick turned his face to the window and said nothing else. But Betty thought she saw a trace of a smile on his lips all the same.
On their arrival at Marty’s Place, Betty was delighted to see Janice had worn a dress for the occasion. “Just in case,” she whispered to Betty after saying her hellos to Rob and his family. “I didn’t want you to be the only overdressed one.”
“Thank you!” Betty gave her friend’s hand an affectionate squeeze. “I’ll have a few choice words for Audra when I get home!”
“Don’t give her the satisfaction, that’s my advice,” Janice said. “Tell her Rob loved your outfit.”
“I do!” Rob interjected. “You’re looking beautiful, really.”
“I think so too.” Nick almost whispered it as he sidled up beside Janice. “Janice, nice to see you again.”
“You too!” Still feeling flattered at what Betty had told her the day before, she gave him her most flirtatious grin. “I really enjoyed that day at the park. How long did we talk for?”
“I never looked at my watch,” Nick said. “I love it when that happens, don’t you?”
They were once again lost in conversation before the hostess even showed them to their table, where Nick fearlessly helped himself to a seat next to Janice. “But he doesn’t have the hots for her, not at all!” Rob whispered in Betty’s ear, and they laughed together.
By the time the meal was over with, Betty had all but forgotten her earlier angst. For good measure, Janice and Nick were lost in conversation at their end of the table and she was delighted for them. But she still wanted to know just what Rob had been avoiding telling her. When they were finished and the conversation was dying down, she couldn’t control her curiosity any longer. “All right, Rob,” she said. “We’re done eating. What’s the news?”
Rob looked more uncomfortable than ever. “Oh, well, gee, Betty…”
“Oh, enough is enough,” Anne said. “Betty, our family has a tradition Rob’s been too shy to tell you about.”
“Mom, c’mon…” Rob said.
“You’re more than welcome to say no with no hard feelings,” Anne went on, ignoring her son, “But you’ve got a right to know before you marry into the family. Every fourteenth of July -”
“Enough!” Rob snapped, standing up. “Mom, Betty’s not like you, and she won’t be interested!”
“Not like her how?” Betty asked. “And how do you know I wouldn’t be interested? Rob, it’s not like you to assume like that. What’s gotten into you?”
“You’d understand if you knew,” Rob said.
“If I knew what?! Just what kind of delicate flower do you think I am?”
“It’s not that! It’s just…no. Mom, Dad, I’m not going to discuss this in front of you.”
“You are engaged, Robert,” James pointed out. “You’re entitled to your privacy, but we’re not naive here.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Rob said. “I mean, Look, Betty, you’re modest, and that’s fine, but…”
“Modest?!” Betty shook her head. “Didn’t I tell you these clothes were Audra’s idea?”
“It’s not just that! It’s…yeah, look, I know you, and I love you, and I don’t want to jeopardize that with anything that’d make you uncomfortable.”
“What’s making me uncomfortable is you won’t give me a straight answer about what you’re talking about!”
“That’s because I’m afraid a straight answer wouldn’t go over well with you!”
“I can make up my own mind about that, if you’d just tell me.” On that note, Betty stood up. “Maybe Audra was right. Men don’t communicate!”
“Betty, wait,” Rob said.
But she didn’t. She pulled a $20 bill out of her purse and threw it down on the table. “Janice, I’ll see you at home. Anne, James, I’m sorry!” And she was off without another word or a look back at the table.
“Thanks a lot,” Rob growled at his parents.
“You had all the time in the world to tell her, dear,” Anne said.
“And you shouldn’t assume she’d be such a prude,” James added.
“Betty a prude?” Janice said. “She’s not, she’s just shy! May I ask just what it is about the fourteenth of July?”
“Want to go for a walk and I’ll explain everything?” Nick asked.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” his mother said. “I think your father and I need to have a heart to heart talk with Rob.”
As soon as they were outside, Nick said, “It was pretty low of Mom to put Rob on the spot like that. She doesn’t know anything about what he and Betty get up to in the bedroom. Neither do I, of course, and that’s just as it should be.”
“I do,” Janice confessed. “They haven’t gotten up to anything yet.”
“Really?” Nick was surprised.
“I’m surprised you didn’t know,” Janice said. “Isn’t Rob saving himself for marriage?”
“No!” Nick felt like laughing, but he didn’t dare upset his crush. Our parents always told us, wait until you’re old enough, but sex is a beautiful thing and it’s nothing to deny yourself just because you’re not married yet.”
“No kidding!” Janice was confused, but she kept that to herself. “I wonder why they haven’t done it, then? But they definitely haven’t, and that’s because Betty thinks he doesn’t want to do it before the wedding. But what’s that got to do with July fourteenth?”
Nick sighed. “All right, I’ll tell you that. But first, let me say, I know I’m shy around women, but…”
“Nick, I’m a woman!” Janice laughed and gave his arm a squeeze. “Haven’t you noticed?”