"You're too funny." She said dismissively. I don't really know exactly what I said except that it was slightly inappropriate. No, I am pretty sure it was wildly inappropriate. Perhaps if I had said it to Doug's wife it would have been only slightly bad but to say it to his daughter was positively offensive. I wish I could recall exactly what it was because it was good.
"I'm so sorry," I apologized. "I think I'm drunk."
"It's okay. Here..." she handed me the cat. "I need a soda." As she stood she leaned in close to me where I sat on the couch. We had retreated from the party, most of the people were outside. It was one of those high school graduation parties that are more for the parents than for the kids. Natalie was going on to Berkeley next year. "You don't need to stroke her too hard or anything, she likes it best if you just use one finger and move it around in little circles." The girl said to me.
I watched her move off, speechless.
Doug, my brother is one of those conventional types. He is an accountant who leases dependable transportation, takes full advantage of his 401k and limits himself to a single cup of coffee in the morning. Following the old adage that opposites attract, Doug had fallen in love with a woman who claimed to be a dealer in Vegas but who was obviously an exotic dancer. Natalie, his daughter, had always been more like her mother. It had driven my brother absolutely crazy and he was scared to death of her moving out in three months. I told him not to worry. She was a smart girl who had worked hard to get into a good school and she wasn't going to throw it all away. I don't think he believed me. I was a bit wild twenty years ago when I had gone to UC Davis but Natalie, I assured him, was more driven that I ever was.
"So long as she doesn't drop out sophomore year to marry a guitarist." He told me. It was one of those things he says we are not supposed to be offended by because he is only telling the truth. I could have corrected him. Tyler was a bassist. I didn't though. He would only go on to point out that Tyler was the first of three ex-husbands. I could have pointed out that I had fixed all that, was happily on my own for the first time, and had even opened a money market account but that would have been small consolation. Suggesting his daughter would take twenty years to grow up wouldn't help the situation. I had simply run away to sit inside. Natalie had found me on the couch and sat down. Her cat had leapt into her lap the minute he could.
That was it! She had said the party was stressing her out, so much talk of college and being a grown up. I had told her to just stroke a pussy, it always relaxed me. I don't know why I said pussy and not cat or kitten. I probably was just drunk. I had no idea how many glasses of wine I'd had. Mr. Kitty was warm on my lap and purred gently, his head resting against my chest. I didn't expect Natalie to return. I thought about escaping to the guest bedroom to lie down. I'd been flirting with a very attractive dad and had already determined he was divorced but when suddenly his girlfriend appeared to chase me off I had run away before I did any damage. I didn't really plan to mix or mingle anymore. I was just waiting for everyone to leave so I could go to bed, sleep off my wine, and be up early in the morning to drive home. I was surprised when my niece returned and sat back down.
I ignored the smell of vodka in her soda. I knew what she had done, drinking or pouring out just enough to sneak to the bar and refill the can with just a little booze. It made me smile. We talked about her boyfriend. We talked about her finals. She was really done. She had two tests but they were both in electives and neither would hurt her, even if she bombed them. We talked about Berkeley and the bay area and how jealous I was of her. She asked politely about my new boyfriend and I told her he was okay but that I didn't think it would go anywhere. She began to pet Mr. Kitty where he sat on my lap. It was awkward, her finger was scratching behind his ear where it rested on my chest. She was catching me, just barely, her gel tipped nail dragging against the thin rayon of my dress just below my nipple. I was happy the dress had padding built in.
"You don't have to sit with me." I told her.
"I want to."
"Won't your boyfriend be looking for you?"
"He had to take off. There are like four parties tonight. We are doing the divide and conquer thing."
"So you are off to other parties?"
"Yeah, in a while. I'll leave mom and dad to do their thing."
"You aren't driving are you?"
"You can tell?" She looked at me, a hint of fear in her eyes.
"Of course. It's a lie that you can't smell it."
"Crap."
"Eat something."
"You wont tell?"
"Fuck no." I said before thinking.
"That's why you are my favorite aunt," she said. He finger had moved just enough. I needed to stand up. I needed a glass of water or another glass of wine. I have poor decision making skills though. I didn't go get either. I just sat there.