Phyllis sits down across from me.“You’re right.It’s wonderful.And there’s plenty more where that came from, so don’t be shy.”
“I’ll cut thick slices,” I say and pick up the bread knife.While Phyllis pours milk into her coffee, I cut into the bread through the crunchy crust to the soft dough inside.I love bread.Cookies and cakes are fine, but nothing beats bread.
I slather a piece with jam and take a bite.“Holy moly, that’s good, Phyllis.”
“You bet your ass it is.”
I wash it down with a hefty swig of the coffee and follow up with another bite of the bread.“I had no idea how hungry I was,” I say.“Thank you so much for this.”
“No problem, honey.Actually, I asked you over here for a little more than bread and coffee.I wanted you to spill the T.”
I look down at my coffee cup.“Tea?”
“T.Information.I asked you totalk.”
CHAPTER 61
Emma
I choke on my bread and guzzle my coffee in an attempt to clear my throat.
Phyllis wants totalk.I know what she wants to talk about.I’m not an idiot.Finn and I have been bonking nonstop, and Summer knows all about it.There’s no way Summer’s managed to keep her mouth shut about it.
That kind of gossip is too good to keep to herself.
Even if the word is out, I can’t discuss it.That would be a betrayal of Finn.I think it’s up to him to decide when, how, or even if he’ll spill the beans to his family.
“Talk?”I ask and grab another slice of bread.“Did you see Jasmine’s art project?”
“She showed it to me when I took her to school this morning.Don’t change the subject.”
I slather jam on my bread.“Finn’s filly is doing great.She—”
“Emma.”Phyllis reaches across the table and covers my hand in both of hers.“I want to talk aboutyou.We really haven’t had a moment to talk aboutyou.”
“Me?”Meis singular, so that’s good.Maybe I’m wrong, and she doesn’t know a thing about Finn and me.
“About your childhood.”
“Again?You already know the important parts—foster kid who dropped out of school.”
Phyllis slides her hands away.She takes a sip of her coffee and eyes me over the rim of her cup.“I know it may seem like I’m being nosy, but I love talking to people and hearing their stories.”She leans forward and lowers her voice.“It’s always the same people here.No new faces.Until you.”
“And Victoria.”
“But she’s off on her honeymoon with Cal.So you’re it.”
“Maybe you should wait for Victoria to come back.She has to be a lot more interesting than me.”
Phyllis pours herself another cup of coffee.“In my experience it’s the ‘not interesting’ folks with the most interesting lives.Look at me—I’m dull as dishwater.I spend my days doing the same thing, day after day.I cook, clean, argue with Jamie, watch over Jasmine, and do my damndest to make sure the boys and Summer don’t kill themselves doing something stupid.I love all of them.But did you know that I wasn’t a MacLaine for long?”
“What does that mean?”
“Murray—that was Jamie’s brother—was my second husband.I’m a widow twice over.I didn’t marry Murray until later.”
“I never knew,” I say.“You seem such a part of the family.”
“I am!I was so lucky to marry Murray.Not only was he a wonderful man, but he came with a dream family.”
