Just what in the ham sandwich has Romanthe snitchbeen sharing with Juliette? She is like a dog with a bone today.
“Uh, no, he can’t. Just like I can’t help him with his business.”
“You have a new important client, right?”
Unbelievable.
“Did Roman tell you what I had for breakfast too?”
Juliette laughs. “Instant oatmeal with bananas?”
“Oh, my God! Since when have you two been best buds and having all these brief chats about me?”
“It’s not like we talk about you all the time. Just a few times.”
“All the time when?” I ask, totally confused.
“When he comes by for dinner.”
I swallow the lump in my throat.
“He comes for dinner a lot?”
My aunt shifts her feet uncomfortably because she clearly thought I knew.
“Well, he hasn’t been lately.”
Now I’m embarrassed that it’s obvious that I don’t know where Roman is half of the time. I thought perhaps he’d been at the club with the Kings since he recently returned to work, but now it seems as if he’s been going by to see Juliette and Joseph too. It almost seems like he wants to be anywhere but here.
“Elizabeth, understand, I’ve never seen Roman act like this about anyone ever. He only comes to talk to me out of concern. Loving you and Knox is very new for him, just like it is for you. He had you all to himself for a good while and now he has to share you. He just wants to protect and love you both the best way he knows how.”
The chasm between Roman and I is a little more complicated than what my aunt just described, but it’s not something I want to discuss with her. I have too much on my plate and with this possible university contract on the horizon; I need to keep my energy high and focused.
“Did Roman really make plans for tonight, because he’s going to be very disappointed if he can’t change them. I have an important meeting tonight and it’s probably going to run late because of the time difference with some participants.”
“He definitely had something planned, but I truly don’t know what it is. I’m just here to watch Knox while you two do whatever it is you end up doing. Those were my instructions when he came by for—”
My aunt stops mid-sentence.
“Came by for what?”
“Pot pie.”
Jerk.
He didn’t even bring me any leftovers.
“And Elizabeth,” Juliette continues, “before you two wander completely off course, I’d cut the man some slack and reconsider taking part in whatever he has planned. It seems to me like you both need it.”
My smart watch alarm dings just in the nick of time. I’m totally over this conversation. I guess I really had no idea that everyone in my life was going to have such strong opinions on how I mother my child, run my business, and manage my relationship. I’m through explaining myself to everyone in my life about why I do what I do, especially Roman. Not to mention that date night has always been Friday nights, not Thursdays.
Gah!
“Oh, crap, I forgot all about the call that I need to take before my meeting. It’s a good thing you’re here. The sitter isn’t coming until six.”
“Cancel the sitter. I’m here for the entire day and I can’t wait to have my little grandbaby bean all to myself.”
Knox calmly lays his head on Aunt Juliette’s breast and starts playing with one of her gold earrings. He looks utterly content and it makes me think my little boy has a thing for boobs with or without milk, just like his daddy.
