“Women live longer than men,” he says for the fiftieth time.“We’re basically the same age.”
I snort.
“Vanessa, tell me that my mom didn’t get in your head.I told you meeting her was a terrible idea.”
“You did.”
“You’re perfect for me.”
“You seem to think that.”
“Because it’s true.”He grunts.“Now, repeat after me.”
“Repeat after me.”
“Good girl.‘Jack is perfect for me.’”
I laugh.
“You stopped repeating.Bad girl.”
“Bad girl.”
“You’re very annoying.”
“You’re very annoying.”
“This was a bad idea.”
I agree.“This was a bad idea.”It is pretty funny, in a Trina-esque kind of way.
“Stop being juvenile, tell me you know we’re great together, and then march over to Trisha’s place, and ask her—no,begher—to move back in with you.She can’t have moved much.What did you take to the new place?A tub full of crackers, a box of shoes, and a vase?”
I snicker.“Close.”
“I’ll come by later and haul it all back.”
“But the kids were going to get their own rooms.”
“The boys don’t mind sharing.They love their grandma.”
“I should ask them first.”
“They’re not the boss,” he says.“You are.You should be happy, and having her with you makes you happy, so go back and make it happen.”
I laugh.
But then I do what he said, except I drive.It’s close, but it’s notthatclose.My house is the farthest from the barn on the property, and it’s past the barn to get to the gardener’s cottage.It’s almost a five-minute walk—the downside to a massive estate.I’m also not a very fast walker, so...I opted to just drive my non-smart car.
“Vanessa?”I’ve barely killed the engine before Trish has appeared outside.“Did we talk about you coming back?Are we going shopping?”She frowns.“Oh, dear.Am I forgetting things again?”
I laugh.“Calm down, it’s nothing like that.”
“Then...”She tilts her head.
“You’re not naked.”
She laughs.“Not yet, anyway.”
