Red bell peppers and pineapple chunks, Aunt Dorcas’ new potato salad had everything but ants. With a big wooden spoon, Helena stirred the unappetizering mess. Mom yelled at Sophie’s kids to stop leaving the back door open and letting out the good air. Embarrassed Helena’s eyes sought Colm’s. He was watching her with a smile looking over her PopPop’s head.

Somebody slammed the sliding glass door. Helena tucked her aunt’s salad beneath the store bought tray of cookies. She fingered her necklace, the latest gift from Colm. He told her he had made especially for her. Dad was trying to figure out the remote control. Tickling the baby with his head, Nicky was pretending to be a dinosaur.

The baby started crying. With nervous fingers, Helene struggled to get the plastic off the good plastic plates. She so wanted her loud, messy family to make a good first impression on Colm. Her hand lingered over the necklace, remembering how Colm’s hands felt on her skin. She couldn’t believe how he swept her off her feet, the attention, the gifts, she could barely get them to leave her apartment.

Dad and Sophie were arguing over the big screen. Grandma took the baby to be changed. Her girlfriends said things with Colm were moving hella fast. Sure he could be a little clingy but no one had ever made her feel so treasured. Catching his eye, hand on her throat, Helene gave Colm a devilish grin. Jumping in her face, Nicky grabbed at Helene’s nose. They play boxed and knocked over some of the pickle tray. Smacking Nicky away with her dishcloth, Mom fussed over the spread. Helene kicked the olives under the dining room table for old Buster to eat.

“Now let me tell you what I think about this so called January 6th insurrection…” PopPop said to Colm.

Helene’s new boyfriend’s eyebrows rose in alarm. Fast as a fawn, Helene stepped over the old family dog and ran to save Colm from PopPop’s political commentary. The big screen TV flashed to life.

“Police Chief Horne has announced a special task force to investigate the slaying of Paula Greene, the most recent victim of the Glenside Killer,” the newscaster said.

Looking at the happy, smiling photo on the screen, Helene stopped mid step. She never realized how much Paula looked like herself, right down to the necklace, two hands in a heart shape holding a moonstone. Sophie grabbed the remote from Dad and switched the channel to soccer. Swallowing hard, Helene didn’t want to look at her lover, her one good thing.

The world tilted. Suddenly Colm was in front of her. Whispering reassuring lies, he held her. His head pressed against the smooth slope of her shoulder. His powerful hands trapped her waist. Embarrassed Helene looked around. She didn’t want to make a scene, not in front of everyone.

Aunt Dorcas and Grandma came out with the baby, naked except for her diaper. Mom was screaming about who gave the dog olives. Dad muted, unmuted, and muted the tv again. Outside the window, Nicky was drinking a beer and spraying the kids with the garden hose. Quietly Colm led Helene to the sofa holding her hand tightly.

“Look at the love birds,” mom whispered to the dog. “Nicky stop letting out my good air!”