My father gives her a lopsided smile.“You were always my favorite wife.”He walks over and kisses her on the cheek.“Can’t blame a man for trying.Maybe next time.”
“I don’t think so.Once a leech always a leech.”
“You might be right, but maybe I can change for you, we’re about to be grandparents.”
“Goodbye, David.”
“We’ll talk.”He winks at my mother.“Nick, I’ll walk out with you.”
My mother told me to make sure I bring Cat to see her.I told her it’s not as though she’s never met her before, but that did not appease her.
My father asks me if Cat has any more sisters of childbearing years that could possibly get knocked up, because I need to stay far away from them if she does.
“Is she the woman to make you stay home at nights?”
“She’s the only woman.”
“Then when are you going to marry her?”
“Marry her?”
“Why not?As long as you have a signed prenup in your hand on the wedding day and a hard-on standing up with you at the altar, you’re good to go.”
“Is that all you require for marriage?”
“Yes, one without the other is no good, the marriage is going to be over before it starts.”
“How has that way of thinking worked out for you?”
“Still a work in progress.Maybe next time I’ll finally get it right.You never know, your mother could be lucky number four.”
“I think we can all agree once was enough.Let’s not get back on that ride.From what I remember, it left a casualty in its wake.”
“What casualty?You turned out fine.”
“I’ve never been able to sustain a functional relationship with a woman.I’m living with my pregnant girlfriend exactly four months to the day her sister miscarried my son.If you call that fine, then I’m fine, I’m the guy you’d proudly bring home to meet the parents.”
“Well, who doesn’t have their faults?Fuck it, you’re an Alexander.They can deal with it or get the fuck out of the way.”
Ahh, the unofficial Alexander family motto.At least I know where I get that attitude from.
Cat
“Cat, I love your bracelet, it’s fabulous,” Isabelle says to me.
“Thanks.”
“This must have set you back.It’s blinding me!My goodness how many diamonds are in this thing?”Chloe pulls my hand over the table and holds it up toward the light.“Ooh, aah, look at it sparkle.All this ice is what you would make in a year on your teacher’s salary.Are you tricking?”
“No!”I snatch my hand back and push my empty Caesar chicken salad plate away from me.
Isabelle takes my hand and looks at my bracelet.With awe in her voice she says, “This is way beyond fabulous, it’s sinful.I need my glasses, the diamonds are blinding me.”
“You have a sugar daddy and you’re not telling us?Does he have a brother or a friend?”Chloe asks.
“Yeah, I’m considering leaving my husband for one of those.”
“Isabelle, please, you’re not leaving Kevin for anyone,” I say to her.
