All My Life

Chapter 52

Meryl was sitting in the private Huse room at the historical St. Elmo Steakhouse with her sisters-in-law, Don's cousin Stacey, Liz and Larry's sister Annie; the ladies were on their first round of drinks while sharing Shrimp Cocktail for an appetizer. The ladies were laughing so hard they were crying as they enjoyed catching up. Dick's wife Shirley looked at Meryl and shook her head. "I don't know how you do it; how do you get younger and younger looking?"

"Oh, please." Meryl giggled as she took another drink from her Elmo Cola. "WOW! That is strong."

Sherry, Bill's wife, laughed. "When's the last time you've had a night of drinking?"

"A year ago." Meryl giggled. "Don and I did drink wine one night after my little brother went off his rocker; but I pumped so I could just like tonight."

Stacey shook her head at her cousin's wife. "Really, Meryl. Your babies aren't even 3 months old."

"You have been basically living at the hospital." Annie pointed out. "Not only are you taking care of infant twins; but you are nursing."

Liz nodded her head. "And you are absolutely glowing."

"You all are going to give me a big head." Meryl said lifting up the bottom half of her hair that wasn't clipped up to get some air to her neck. "I'm just a lucky woman."

Stacey started giggling as she pointed to a mark on Meryl's neck. "You're a lucky woman; or you got lucky?"

"What?" Meryl narrowed her eyes as a laughing Liz got a compact mirror out of her purse and handed it to Meryl; Meryl ran her fingers over the mark and wondered to herself. "Which time last night did he do that?"

Annie about spit out her drink. "Which TIME?"

"You do know that you've been married for like ever, right?" Sherry teased her sister-in-law. "Most married couples don't have the appetite like you and Don."

Shirley agreed. "I mean, twins in your 60s?"

"Good for you!" Stacey held up her glass to Meryl. "You know half of Ben Davis High School wanted to end up with my cousin."

Liz agreed. "You know you make them all crazy jealous when you hang on Don on the red carpet, right?"

"Good; they all lost out on their chances." Meryl laughed as their food was delivered. She decided to try to change the subject. "This shrimp  crab alfredo looks amazing."

Annie laughed at the woman who was like a sister to her. "Come on, Mer, spill; there's not reporters around and none of us are going to spill anything. What is the secret to your long marriage? I mean all these kids, incredibly demanding and successful careers, large extended families and the looks the cameras always catch you two sharing cause most people to go jump in the shower. You two think you're in empty nest life and then you're surprised with twins; and you two seem closer and more in love with each other and your children than ever. What's the secret?"

"Oh, I don't know." Meryl said dismissively. "You just have to find a great guy from Indiana."

Stacey shook her head. "Uh uh, that answer isn't going to work on us. We all have great guys from Indiana. I love my cousin, but he can't be the easiest person to live with when he gets in his artistic zone; I've seen him. We'll ask again; what's the secret?"

"And we don't want the talk show answer." Juliel teased her sister-in-law. "We want the REAL answer; and it looks like you're getting another drink just in time."

Meryl smiled sweetly at the waitress as she delivered Meryl another Elmo Cola. "Thank you."

"Drink up." Annie laughed. "Now tell us the real truth."