“You can’t do that.” Lori practically slammed her fork down and looked at Rosie, her expression serious. “It took you too long to extricate yourself from that situation to go back now… You’re not considering it, are you?”
Rosie rubbed her forehead and blew out a long breath. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. She and Aunt Sheila are the only family I have left. I can’t just wash my hands of her.” She paused, unsure whether she could say what she was really thinking. But if she couldn’t tell Lori, she couldn’t tell anyone. “You probably can’t begin to understand, but I sometimes wish that I could do exactly that and forget she even exists. What kind of a callous monster does that make me?”
Lori placed her hand over Rosie’s and squeezed gently. “You’re not a monster for thinking that. You’re human. That woman has done nothing for you except give you life, and she only did that because she wanted to escape her own mother.” She smiled. “And they’re not the only family you have; my mom and dad adopted you years ago. I’ve had a great childhood, yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can’t empathize with what you’re feeling. I think that if I’d had the same experience as you, I would’ve cut my mom out of my life long ago. Perhaps that’s easy for me to saybecauseI’ve got great parents. But I do understand, and please don’t ever think that you should censor or dilute your feelings for me. I’m your best friend, Rosie. I won’t ever judge you.”
Rosie inhaled deeply and nodded slowly. If she tried to speak now, the words would never make it out before her tears fell. And the building’s main receptionist had just come out onto the terrace and was heading toward them.
“Rosie! It’s so good to see you,” Sarah said.
She held out her arms as she walked, clearly expecting a reunion hug, which was strange since they’d shared the briefest of conversations and zero physical contact during Rosie’s three years in this building. Rosie rose reluctantly and managed to keep the embrace short and distant. She introduced Lori and retook her seat without extending an invitation to join them.
“Take care, Rosie. It was lovely to meet you, Lori,” Sarah said and left to join a male companion whom she greeted with an X-rated kiss.
“She seemed nice,” Lori said.
“She’s a terrible gossip. Before lunch is over, everyone in this building will have been told I’m having a secret affair with a married woman.”
Lori laughed. “Why would she think I’m married?”
Rosie tapped Lori’s naked ring finger. “Tan line.”
“Ah…” Lori clasped her right hand over her left to cover it. “I’ll be more discreet and wear makeup next time,” she said and winked. “Anyway, back to family stuff. Has your mom been in touch with her sister?”
“Aunt Sheila said she hasn’t heard from Mom since Thursday, like me, though her phone call was at a more reasonable time of day, and Mom didn’t say anything about kidney disease or medication.”
“Whatdidshe tell her?”
“That she was going to Mexico to get married to Keith.”
“Isn’t she still married to the last guy?” Lori asked.
“That’s what Aunt Sheila asked too. Mom said that one didn’t count because it was in Canada.”
Lori spluttered her wine back into her glass. “Does she reallybelieve that?”
“God knows, but?—”
“Now you don’t know which story is true.”
Rosie tapped her nose. “Exactly. With my mom, it could be both, and I can’t ask to find out because her phone is switched off and goes directly to a recorded message.”
“Then all you can do is wait. Which is exactly what she wants you to do so she can make a grand re-entrance… I’m so sorry, Rosie.”
She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “That’s why I’m keeping as busy as possible to fill the hours. This way, I have less time to spin my wheels and worry about her. So let’s talk about something else.”
“No problem.” Lori wiggled her eyebrows. “Are you filling your hours with Shay too?”
“Mm, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but no. I haven’t seen her since the debacle on Saturday.”
“Haven’t you spoken to her at all?”
Rosie narrowed her eyes. “Why do you look so disappointed?”
Lori scooped a piece of poached egg onto her fork and grinned. “I might have a romantic notion of two best friends getting their happily-ever-afters with twootherbest friends.”
“I’d be okay with happy-for-now, but wow, you’re five days in, and you already know it’s forever?” Rosie laughed. “That’s impressive. Is the U-Haul rental imminent?”
Lori waved the notion away and ate her food. “Definitely not. Shay said the same thing to Gabe, and I think it freaked her out. We’re taking it slow.”
