And I immediately buzz my admin assistant and have her call my parents’ house phone for me.
Mom answers. “How are you, sweetie?”
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “I just got off the phone with Stella.”
“Oh.” She sighs. “Do I even want to know?”
“Don’t be shocked if she calls you and demands you tell her who I’m dating.”
“You’re… dating someone?”
“Yeah, my point exactly. She’s been trying to fix me up and won’t take a hint. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, Mom, but who I date is my private business. Our relationship isn’t at a point where they want to be known as having dated the president, in case it doesn’t work out. They have a right to privacy. It’s not that they don’t want to meet you but for now it’s better to keep things quiet.”
So far, neither Stella nor Mom seem to have picked up on my deliberate word choices. At least I have a slightly clearer conscience that I didn’t technically lie to Mom about anything.
I mean, I kinda did, because Leo would totally be fine with the media firestorm, but it’s not as huge a lie as telling them I’m dating a woman when I’m not.
“Well, you are right about that, I suppose,” she says. “Your father and I can’t go to town without one of those agents with us to fend people off. It’s horrible. I guess they’re good for that.”
More guilt on my plate, not that she meant it like that. “I know. I’m sorry about that.”
“I wouldn’t wish that on someone else if I could help it. Not even on Stella and Ellis.” From the way her voice changes I know she’s smiling. “Well, maybe on them. Just a little.”
I laugh. “Yeah, exactly. But I wanted you to know what’s going on for when Stella calls you to complain.” There are times I’m glad my parents are farmers and not sophisticated political operatives, and this is absolutely one of them.
“It’s a shame you two can’t get along better,but,” she quickly adds before I can protest, “I know she’s not the easiest person to get along with. Neither is Ellis.” Sheharumphs. “I guess those two are perfect for each other like that.”
“Thanks for understanding, Mom.” I decide to go a step farther. “Stella’s not beloved among my staff, either.” I gloss over the ruckus between Stella, Jordan, and Casey-Marie last Easter but give Mom enough deets she gets the picture.
“That sounds like your sister. Always trying to run things her way instead of just getting along.”
“That’s accurate.”
“Although I don’t think we’re her favorite people right now, either.”
That’s news to me. “What? Why?”
“Oh, I think she’s still irritated at us because we refuse to go down to Florida with them on Christmas.”
This is the first I’m hearing of it. “What?”
“Yes. Last week she asked if we’d come down there. I told her no, of course, because we already told you we were coming for Christmas. And I thought that she and Ellis were supposed to be there.”
“Uh, they are.”
“She’s talking like they’re flying down first thing Christmas Eve morning.”
Well, maybe I won’t have to put up with them for Christmas after all.
It’s a Christmas miracle! “Stella didn’t say anything to me about that when we talked just now.” Then again I didn’t give her much of a chance to.
Kind of mypoint. I wanted to get off the phone as quickly as possible. Hit and run. Now I’m pissed off again because I wonder if Stella planned to snipe Mom and Dad from me for the holidays so she can use them as a PR stunt.
“Maybe she just wants to pout.” Mom’s tone darkens. “Or maybe Ellis is changing things around.”
“That could be, too.”
“If I tell you something do you promise not to say anything to anyone else?”
