“The portions are way too big here.” Lila added some of her pasta onto it.
“We should have split a steak,” Seraphina said to Delphine before they both cut off part of their steaks and sent them my way. I wanted to protest, but it was less embarrassing to not discuss it.
We ate and talked about other things for a while. Lila talked about how well Margot had adjusted to her new school and living with them. Gillian’s pregnancy, which was finally starting to show under her sweater. Seraphina’s latest work in progress. A new artist Delphine had discovered.
But underneath all of it, my mind kept circling back. To Grady. Wondering how it was going in L.A. Was he with his sister? What was she like. Would he be reminded of his former life and decide to go back to it?
My phone buzzed.
Grady
Thinking about you and the kids. How’s Madison?
I didn’t say anything, just stuck the phone into my purse. I’d text him later. But I was more than pleased that he’d texted with his concern about Madison. He was thinking about me, just as I was thinking about him.
10
GRADY
Mara’s Range Rover smelled like leather and money. She drove through Brentwood with one hand on the wheel, talking about Luci’s piano recital and Jordan’s new obsession with dinosaurs, her voice light and easy. I watched the neighborhood slide past the window.
It hadn’t changed since last Christmas. Same massive houses set back from the street behind gates and hedges. Same Teslas in driveways. A gardening crew working on a lawn that was greener in October than most places got in July. Sprinklers running in the middle of the day. A woman in yoga pants walking a tiny designer dog while talking on her phone.
I’d driven these streets a hundred times. They used to feel normal. Now they felt like another planet.
“Hank’s in post-production on the new one,” Mara was saying. “It’s going really well. He thinks it might be his best yet.”
“That’s great,” I said.
She glanced over at me. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just tired.”
“How was the flight?”
“Fine. Quick.” I’d spent most of it staring out the window thinking about Esme. Wondering if Madison was feeling better.If Robbie had told her what we’d talked about. If she’d slept at all last night.
“You sure you’re okay?” Mara asked again. “You’ve been quiet since I picked you up.”
“I’m sure.”
“I know tomorrow’s going to be hard. But I’m really glad you came. I’ve missed you.”
“I know. I should visit more.”
“You should move back,” she said lightly. “Come home.”
This wasn’t my home any longer. Being here told me that.
We pulled up to her gated community. Mara punched in the code and the gate swung open. The driveway curved up toward the enormous house.
My sister and Hank had lived here for over five years. I’d spent several Christmases with them, ate at their gigantic dining room table, played with the kids in the pool and slept in the guest room with a king bed and the view of the canyon. But this time, all I could think about was Esme’s apartment. Eight hundred square feet above a flower shop. Three people sharing one bathroom. A whiteboard calendar on the wall because there wasn’t room for anything else. Madison slept in what was essentially a closet in Esme’s room. Robbie’s bedroom was barely big enough for a desk and a bookshelf.
This is the kind of life Esme deserves.
Mara parked in front of the garage and turned off the engine. “Home sweet home. You remember where everything is?”
“Sure.” I grabbed my bag from the back.
