“And what about you, Miriam?” I ask when Joseph finishes. “Tell me about your life.”
“My life was dedicated to my family,” she says, eyes lasered on mine. “And it still is.”
I do not have the same warm fuzzies for Miriam. She eyes me as suspiciously as she might a Honey Baked Ham at Seder, making subtle digs hidden as compliments.
Our meals come, and Miriam orders a second bottle of wine.
“Leo drove,” she says to me. “We’re staying with him for a few days. Did you know?”
“That’s so nice,” I say, not taking the bait. “Isn’t it exciting about his new career? Early ratings have been stellar, haven’t they, Leo?”
I reach across and touch Leo’s arm, and I can see Miriam recoil.
“They have,” he says. “Thanks to you, Sid.”
“It’s such an incredible opportunity,” she says, reaching over to grasp his other arm.
“I feel like a wishbone,” Leo jokes.
“Make a wish,” Miriam says, tugging on his arm.
“I did,” Leo says, touching my hand with his. “And it already came true.”
“Aww,” Joseph says.
Miriam’s eyes narrow as Louis brings our meals.
As we eat, a few Palm Springs locals approach our table to say hello to me.
“You know a lot of people in the desert?” Miriam asks, the question coming out as more pointed than casual.
“I’ve lived in the desert nearly as long as I lived in Chicago,” I say.
“Two separate lives,” Miriam says. She takes a bite of her chopped salad and studies me. “Have you been in a long-term relationship in Palm Springs?”
“I’ve actually never really dated anyone before Leo.”
Miriam places her knife and fork on her plate and clasps her hands together on the table in front of her.
“And why is that, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“You just asked, Mom,” Leo says. “You don’t have to answer that, Sid. My mother can be very, shall we say, inquisitive.”
“That’s a polite word for nosy,” she says with a wink. Miriam lifts her hands in the air. “You don’t have to answer, Sid, of course. Just a curious mom.”
I focus on my plate for much too long, cutting my eggs royale into way too many tiny pieces.
“I don’t think I ever loved myself enough to love anotherperson.” I force myself to look up from my plate at her. “It’s taken a long time. Your son made me see—and love—myself for the first time.”
Joseph claps his hands together.
“That is just the most beautiful answer, son,” he says to me, though I’m older than he is.
Miriam nods. “Yes, it is. Quite revealing.” She smiles at me, but it is more Cheshire cat than mother next door. “You two haven’t dated that long, though, correct?”
“New subject!” Leo interjects with an awkward laugh. “I think this will be a great afternoon to lounge by the pool, don’t you think?”
When we finish our meals, Louis returns with dessert menus. We order four coffees, the “24 Carrot” cake and a chocolate pot de crème with homemade cookies to share.
