Free Apples Should Be Red by Penny Watson

you naked,” Tom said.
    If possible, Karen’s face became paler.
    “Tom, stop that!” Mrs. Anderson giggled.
    John and Karen had been married for five years, and never, not once, had he heard Mrs. Anderson giggle. Not even close.
    John shook his head. “That’s it. We’re out of here.” He led Karen right out the door to the front porch. She staggered outside. “Dad! We’ll wait in the car until you’re ready for us.” He held Karen’s hand and steered her to the back of the Volkswagen.
    “Hon.”
    Karen nodded. She seemed incapable of speech.
    “It’s not that bad.”
    “Really? It’s not? I’m thinking this heralds the commencement of the zombie apocalypse or something.”
    John kissed her cheek. “Did you see them snuggled up together? They looked happy. My dad’s been lonely for a long time. Your mom…she deserves some fun.”
    She slowly nodded her head. “I agree with both of those things. Your dad is lonely, but he also pushes people away. In spectacular fashion. My mom…I just can’t believe she had fun ”—she cringed when she said the word and John snorted against his will—“with your dad.”
    He coughed. “You know what I noticed?”
    “What?” She plunked her head down on his shoulder and sighed. “What did you notice? That the entire world just tipped on its axis and we’ve entered a rip in the space-time continuum?”
    “God, I love being married to a sci-fi geek. That really turns me on, babe.”
    She laughed and punched him in the arm.
    “No, that’s not what I noticed. What I noticed was they were both smiling. In their sleep.”
    She raised her head and looked at him. “They were.”
    “Uh-huh. Smiling.” He struggled to avoid another round of laughter.
    “Oh my God!”
    Karen was convinced.
    It was a rip in the space-time continuum.
    She watched in complete amazement as her mother chopped apples—gold and green apples, no less—and put them in a bowl. Her mom wore faded jeans, one of Tom’s old T-shirts, and not a speck of make-up. Or jewelry. The pearls were missing in action. Her fingernails were no longer daggers.
    Tom kissed the back of her mom’s neck and Bev closed her eyes. In a sweet, relaxed moment of bliss. She couldn’t hide it.
    Holy crap on a cracker, her mom was falling in love with Tom Jenkins.
    If a comet filled with aliens exploded directly into the kitchen, Karen would not be more surprised.
    Bev picked up a cube of apple and popped it into Tom’s mouth. He looked at her with complete focus and intensity, his bright blue eyes blazing. And then he leaned down and gave her a kiss right on the lips. A hot kiss.
    Karen’s mom blushed and kissed him back.
    “Karen? You’ve been washing that head of lettuce for about ten minutes. I’m pretty sure it’s clean by now.” John gently removed the greens from her hands and set them on the counter. “You okay, hon?”
    She nodded.
    “You sure? How about a glass of wine?”
    She nodded harder.
    “I’ll get you the wine. Babe?”
    Karen turned to John and tried to ignore the parental drama in the background.
    “It’s gonna be okay.”
    She faced her husband, who wasn’t even trying to hide the smirk on his face. “If you say so.”
    “Karen, can I help you with the salad?” Her mom suddenly materialized next to her. “I am so embarrassed Thanksgiving dinner isn’t ready. Forgive me?”
    Her mother looked so nervous it broke Karen’s heart.
    “Mom, I don’t care about the dinner. It’s no big deal. We have plenty of food.”
    “Tom said you’d feel that way. I…” Her mom pursed her lips. “I felt like I had to produce a perfect dinner, just the way we used to have with your dad. I don’t want you to think that since your father has died I’m some sort of slacker or something.”
    Karen shook her head in disbelief. “God, I wish you’d be a slacker for a while. There’s no reason to spend so much time creating a decorator showcase house and garden and meals. Just relax.” She