“Last Minute BBQ and 4th of July fireworks at my house. Thirty people. Burgers and hot dogs are provided. Bring a side. BYOB,” read Jeff’s text on July 3rd at 9:30 pm.
Jeff and I have been friends for over forty years dating back to high school. His house is across the street from Oak Valley Lake and Park, the site of the annual fireworks show. Sitting on his front lawn we have perfect seats to view the pyrotechnics. Back when he was married, he and his wife would have an annual BBQ in the backyard for close to fifty family and friends. That ended when he divorced. This would be the first BBQ in about twelve years.
**
I rolled up to Jeff’s house on my beach cruiser at 6:15 pm. I had my beer and side dish in my backpack for the short one-mile trek. As I entered the backyard, I saw the usual cast of characters: Jeff’s siblings, cousins, neighbors, co-workers, and friends. After putting my beers in the ice chest, I went to the buffet table and set down my dish of hot and spicy chicken wings. Everyone loves my wings.
As I sipped my first beer, I mingled through the group catching up with those whom I do not see on a regular basis. I had been there about forty minutes when I heard someone call out, “Hi Sheryl!”
My head snapped to the right to see my ex-wife Sheryl walking in. Thinking to myself, “What the fuck is she doing here?”
Our eyes met and we both smiled. Sheryl and I have been divorced for three years and get along well, much to the surprise of a lot of our family and friends. I walked toward her and opened up my arms for a hug.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered in her ear as we embraced.
Laughing, “Right?” she said. “I saw the gate was open and the cocktail flag was flying, so I figured I’d come in and say hello to everyone.” She went on to tell me that she was with a group of women from her service club walking to the lake for the fireworks.
Jeff came walking up and said, “Hi Sheryl, how are you, sweetheart? Let’s get you a margarita.” Jeff pulled her away and headed toward the bar. As she mingled, I noticed she kept looking in my direction and smiling.
After thirty minutes I asked her quietly, “How long are you planning on staying?”
“Jeff said I could stay for dinner and the fireworks. I already texted my girls and told them I’d be staying here,” she told me. “Is that OK?”
“Yeah, it’s fine with me,” I said. I paused a few seconds, “By the way, I wanted to say you look great. Cute new haircut and highlights, and it looks like you’ve lost a little weight.”
Sheryl was one of the prettiest girls when we were in high school, but we didn’t date back then. Like many women, she didn’t lose some of the weight after having kids, putting her on more of the curvy side, or a small BBW. She stood five-seven tall and was probably a size ten or twelve now, and thankfully she did not lose any weight up top from her 36D boobs. She had light brown hair with golden highlights and dark brown bedroom eyes. Sheryl was dressed for the occasion in an above-the-knee navy golf skirt and a red and white striped sleeveless polo shirt. For fifty-five she looked far better than ninety percent of women her age.
During the next hour plus everyone ate dinner, mingled, talked, and had more cocktails. Sheryl seemed to be at the bar often, but that’s not my business anymore. I suspected that Pauly, Jeff’s cousin, was pouring double shots of tequila into all of the margaritas.
It was just getting dark, and Jeff announced that we should grab our chairs and move out to the front lawn as the fireworks should be starting soon. I carried out several chairs and returned to the backyard on my way to the mudroom bathroom. When I arrived, the door was closed, and I could hear the fan so I guessed it was occupied.