“You set the rules. You set the terms, love. Tell me what to do.” Toni stared up at her. “You’re in charge, Addie. What do I need to do to try this for real? I love you, and I want to make this thing between us work.”
“Well, Addie,” a man’s voice came from the doorway. “Give the poor woman a break. She’s already married you once.”
“As if that matters,” another voice, a woman’s, said. “Marriage is a trap by the patriarchy to control women and—”
“Hi, Mom. Daddy.” Addie squeezed Toni’s hand. She whispered, “Get up, please.”
And Toni turned to meet Addie’s parents.
“Marlene. Lenny. This is my… this is Toni. She was just leaving.” Addie’s smile was brittle. “Toni, my parents.”
Toni stood, stepped forward, and held out a hand to Addie’s mother, who shook it, and then her father, who used it to pull her in for a hug.
“Don’t give up on her,” Lenny whispered.
Toni walked over to the bed and took Addie’s hand gently. “I love you, Adelaine. Let me know when you’re willing to talk.”
At first Addie said nothing, then she shook her head. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
Toni smiled. “Then I’ll wait until you do.”
Then Toni left in search of a taxi to a hotel where she could collapse and sleep. Addie was going to be fine, and Toni was going to find a way to makethemokay, too.
Chapter 49Addie
For the next two days, Toni emailed, sent flowers, had meals delivered, and stopped at the apartment. Several times, Addie was asleep, but whether she was awake or asleep, Toni was turned away at the door. Addie’s heart twinged each time, but she wasn’t going to let Toni in so she could hurt her again.
By Sunday morning, Addie’s father looked at Addie and asked, “Do you truly love her?”
Addie looked up at him. “Yes.”
“Then stop this.” Lenny sat casually on the opposite end of the sofa from Addie, watching her expectantly.
“She doesn’t want to love me,” Addie said. “I have plans, a life here, and… she only wants me because I was hurt. Then she’ll get scared again and push me away.”
“You had a fight, Addie. She obviouslydoeswant to love you. She’s emailed you how many times?”
“Four or so times each day,” Addie said.
“Are you done torturing her yet?” He gave her a look she’d seen him give her mother often. “I don’t always understand you, but I always love you, muffin. Right now, I see your mother in you—and not her good side. Maybe try to not be like your mom on this front? Us poor fools who fall in love with angry women can only suffer so much before we quit.”
“Do you ever want to quit?” Addie asked. This wasn’t a topic they really had ever discussed.
“Not for more than a stray moment. She makes me happy, but sometimes I’m slow on the uptake and she gets pissed off because I’m not there yet. Sounds like your Toni is more like your old man. We get there, but you have to pause and let us catch up. You and Marl? You always know what you want and where you’re going. Not everyone is like that.” Lenny smiled. “Doesn’t make my love any more shallow or incomplete. Slow moving, is all. Marl is like lightning. I’m the thunder. Little bit delayed, but just as real.”
Her mother came out then, as if summoned by some silent signal.
Eric made a hand gesture like he was smoking and pointed at Marlene, as if she couldn’t smell the proof that her mother had just had her pre–road trip joint.Some things never change.Addie repressed a laugh.
Marlene was staring at them with wet eyes, so Addie knew she hadn’t overheard Lenny. “Eric says I can’t legally make you come home.”
“Kidnapping. I think it’s a felony,” Addie said lightly.
“Calling every day?” Marlene countered.
“Misdemeanor in California.”
Marlene sighed like a deflating balloon. “You’re a horrible, selfish child, refusing to let me fuss over you.”
