little talks during the long winter

"Oh, I didn't want anyone around for the longest time." Betty told her grandson Brick, about her scare with the flu that turned out to be a cold. She didn't want Brick's mother getting sick nor his new Dad, Gordy.

She poured hot milk over the cocoa powder. It was still so darn cold outside, even if the sun was out.

Brick stirred the cocoa in his cup as the steam hit him in the face.

"So, you have yourself a good Valentines day?" She smiled as she handed over the big box of valentine candy.

"I guess." He shrugged.

"You guess?" She looked at him serious, wondering what going on with him and Lily. "It coudn't have been as bad as your Uncle Dewey's."

"What happened?" Brick perked up.

"He got dumped." Betty nodded.

"Dumped?" Brick winced. "But he and what's her name have been going out, forever." He took a sip of his hot cocoa.

"I know, it seems that way." Betty said Dewey wasn't eating. He'd cried for seven days straight.

Brick shook his head. "Well, did you get anything for Valentines day?" He got into the candy and nibbled on a carmel. He pushed the box toward Betty who took a coconut chocolate.

"Me? Why, I was sick." She reminded him.

"Well, that Ed guy could have gotten takeout or something." Brick shrugged.

"He was sick, too." Betty shrugged back, as she took another candy from the Valentine box Brick brought her.

"He wasn't the one who got you sick, was he?" Brick questioned.

"Cut it out?" Betty squinted, as she went to warm her coffee. "Why is everybody thinking that?"

"Everybody?" He sipped again on the hot chocolate.

"Ollie asked me that too, and so did Doris?" She shook her head, straight lipped.

"Look, I know you're sleeping with him." Brick told her Dewey knew, but he hadn't mentioned his breakup with Angie when he called about the news.

Betty stared at Brick wondering what he was thinking.

"As long as he doesn't snore too much." Brick sighed. "Of course, who could sleep with someone like you? You're like sleeping with an elephant."

"Well, thanks a lot." She took a sip of her coffee.

"See, I don't ever intend on sleeping with no one, until I get married." He informed her.

"I'll keep that in mind, if I ever catch you, sleeping around." She stared him down.

"Whatever." He smirked, looking away. She watched him sip his hot drink.

Betty remembered when she told her own grandmother the very same thing. It felt like a hundred years ago. Still, it felt good sleeping with someone, again.