little questions

Ruben didn't know what to say when Garvin told him, he was getting married. He gritted a smile and did his best to get on with their New Year's day dinner.

It was just a pizza party with Dorian's black-eye pea salsa. Ruben still hadn't tried it, but did this time, possibly out of not wanting to say anything about Garvin's rush to get married.

He almost choked on the salsa, yet still found the words to say, "You must have had a lot of time on your hands in Alaska, to think all this through. You just met Tess?"

"Yeah, there was lots of time, to think." Garvin nodded at that. "But we've known each other for quite a long time now. I mean, I know its not months or anything. But we talk a lot. Face Time, e-mails." He sighed. "I mean, I feel she..she really knows me." Garvin smiled. "Anyway, she was the one who asked me."

"What? You let her..ask you..to marry her?" Ruben winced, thinking that was crazy. He winced harder, wondering it this young woman was crazy. "How old is she?"

"She's twenty-six." Garvin's response was a little bitter now. After all, he'd be thirty-two in a few months. "Its not so easy finding..someone..who..you know..doesn't have a family, already..you know, you have to accept it.." He paused as if he hadn't meant to blunder. "Its just, it was meant to be. I think, and well, I want to marry her."

"Have you even had sex with her?" Ruben found himself asking. He looked around to see if his little one was near to hear him. He was still in the kitchen with Dorian, getting the salad ready.

Garvin looked at him, as if he had no business, asking such a question.