A Catered Wedding by Isis Crawford

contrite. “She’s a nice lady.”
    â€œYes, she is,” Bernie replied. “What am I going to tell Rob?”
    â€œTell your boyfriend the truth. He’ll understand.”
    â€œI’m not sure he will.” Bernie took a deep breath and folded her arms across her chest. It was weird but she felt like the parent. “Now what are you doing here?”
    Sean looked his daughter straight in the eyes and lied.
    â€œI came to make sure you girls were okay. Your dad was worried about you.”
    â€œReally?”
    Sean looked in Clyde’s direction. “Isn’t that so?”
    â€œSure is, Cap.”
    Sean decided that Bernie looked unimpressed. When Bernie put her hands on her hips and leaned towards him he realized he should have tried something else.
    â€œThat is a load of BS, and you know it,” she told him. “At least if you’re going to lie put some effort into it. You’re Irish for heaven’s sake. You ought to be able to do better than this.”
    â€œNow you’re maligning your ancestors.” Sometimes doing indignant worked, but Sean could see from the expression on Bernie’s face that it was having no effect on her, either. Not that he was surprised. Of the three women in his life, she was the one who was hardest to fake out, the one least likely to defer to him, the one—unfortunately—most like him.
    â€œDon’t try and change the subject,” she told him.
    â€œI’m not.”
    â€œOh yes, you are. You always do.”
    â€œHow can you say that?” Sean protested.
    â€œBecause it’s true. If you didn’t want to have lunch with Ina that badly why didn’t you tell Libby or me when we made the arrangements?”
    Sean decided he’d rather have his teeth pulled without Novocain than continue with this discussion.
    â€œLook,” he said. “I thought that you’d be glad I finally got out of the house, but if you want me to go back home . . . .”
    Bernie lifted her hands in the air and dropped them. “Don’t do your poor me, humble pie act with me,” she told him.”
    Sean turned and appealed to his eldest. “Libby,” he said.
    Libby sighed and went over and planted a kiss on his forehead. Sean grinned. Libby could never stay mad at him for long. Just like his wife. “So tell me what’s going on?”
    Bernie glared at him, but Sean could tell she was thawing.
    â€œCome on,” he told her. “You know that you want to.”
    Bernie wavered for another second, but it was obvious to Sean that was just for show.
    â€œFine,” Bernie said and she and Libby filled him in.
    â€œAlex Fisher?” Sean said when Libby and Bernie were through with their recital.
    â€œYou mean Officer Fisher?” Bernie asked.
    Sean nodded. He and Clyde exchanged glances.
    â€œWhat about him?” Bernie said.
    Clyde stroked his chin. “Let’s just say he’s not real fond of your dad.”
    Libby looked towards the living room. She really had to get another pot of coffee going so she could refill the coffee urn. “Why’s that?” she asked.
    â€œBecause your dad ticketed him for indecent exposure.”
    â€œHe was taking a leak outside of R.J.’s,” Sean said, chuckling as he recalled the incident. “As he’d just given your uncle a speeding ticket in West Vale, I decided to return the favor.”
    Bernie tapped her ring against her teeth. “Well, that explains a lot,” she said.
    â€œIt certainly does,” Sean agreed. Things, he decided, were on the upturn.
    â€œDad,” Bernie began, “as long as you’re here, I was thinking. . .”
    Never a good sign, Sean knew. “Yes?” he said in a cautious voice.
    â€œI was just thinking that you might want to see the arms room and kinda check things out.”
    â€œDon’t listen to her,” Libby told him. “You