Different Circles

Once back at the Granada Hills house, Jake and Joey went out to the patio to enjoy a few glasses of Jim Beam on the rocks (Joey seemed to be developing a taste for the bourbon thanks to Obie) and a couple of Cuban cigars. Chase and Grace took the opportunity for one last swim in the pool and were splashing around happily as the two men puffed on their stogies.

“I just want to tell you one more time how much we all appreciate all this, Jake,” Joey told him. “This really has been the best vacation our family has ever had.”

“We were happy to have you,” Jake told him, speaking truthfully. “It was good to get to know everyone a little better. And I am so happy that Laura has some actual family now that she can talk to and get together with.”

“We’re happy to have her in our lives too,” Joey said. “The kids actually have someone they can call ‘uncle’ and ‘aunt’ now. They’ve never had that before.”

Jake nodded. “And I have a new brother and sister-in-law,” he said. “And nieces and a nephew that I didn’t have before. I still don’t have a mother-in-law or a father-in-law, but ... hey, is that such a bad thing?”

Joey chuckled. “I don’t think it is,” he said. He, after all, did not really have to deal with a mother-in-law or a father-in-law either.

“Laura and I were talking last night,” he said. “We would like to come out to Idaho and visit you all again if that’s all right. Maybe over the first few days of the Christmas break?”

“We’d like that,” Joey said. “Sarah and I were actually talking about the same thing.”

“Little Ziggy should be about six weeks old then,” Jake said. “As long as she and Laura are healthy, we’re up for it.”

“Let’s pencil her in then,” Joey said.

“Agreed,” Jake said. “But ... uh ... there is something that I’d like to talk about regarding the Christmas visit.”

“What’s that?”

Jake took a deep breath and then released it. “I don’t want you to get me wrong here, Joey,” he said. “We enjoyed your hospitality on our last visit and Laura explained to me that it is traditional that family stay with family when visiting. I understand that. I really do.”

Joey’s gaze darkened a bit. “Are you saying you don’t want to stay with us when you visit?” he asked slowly.

“Well ... not because we don’t like staying with you,” Jake said. “We had a good time. But I felt terrible that Laura and I displaced Chase and Grace from their room while we were there and they had to sleep on the couch.”

“It’s a minor inconvenience to them,” Joey said firmly. “They understand that they have to give up their room when family visits.”

“Uh ... yeah,” Jake said, “but it’s still an inconvenience to them, to you, to everyone. And it’s an inconvenience that is not necessary. We are perfectly capable of staying in a hotel room when we visit. It won’t hurt us financially even a little bit. I would like the girls to be able to stay in their room and everyone else to not have to fuss over us.”

Joey was shaking his head. “I won’t hear of it,” he said firmly. “Family stays with family. That’s the way it’s always been.”

“Uh ... yeah,” Jake said again. It was time to play his trump card. “You see, the thing is, the girls being inconvenienced is not the only issue at hand here.”

“It’s not? What do you mean?”

“You’re a man of the world, aren’t you, Joey?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well ... to be brutally straightforward, a man likes to have frequent ... you know... relations with his wife. You picking up what I’m laying down here?”

Joey stared at him for a moment and then slowly nodded. “I am,” he said.

“And the fact of the matter is,” Jake explained, “that Laura ... and myself ... cannot bring ourselves to have those relations while staying in our nieces’ bedroom. And around Christmas vacation we will just be getting to the point where we will be able to resume said relations after a long period without them due to Ziggy and her birth. I would prefer not to delay the resumption of relations because we are in an environment that prohibits it.”

Understanding dawned on Joey’s face as this explanation sank in. “Ohhh,” he said at last. “I get it.”

“I was hoping you would,” Jake said.

“In that case,” Joey said, “I would recommend the Lancaster Hotel downtown. It’s pricey, but probably the best place in Pocatello.”

Everyone said goodbye when the limousine arrived to pick up the Best family at 8:00 AM. They had a first-class flight from LAX back to Salt Lake City that would board at 9:35 and take off at 10:05. They spent the better part of fifteen minutes giving hugs (the females and the females and the females and males could hug each other) and handshakes (the males could only do this, except for Everett, who got hugs and kisses from both Jake and Laura). Finally, they all piled inside and the long white car drove off down the street and disappeared from view.

Jake and Laura watched it go and then turned back toward the house.

“I already miss them,” Laura said as they walked back to the front door.

“It was a nice visit,” Jake agreed. “Your family is all right.”