Natalie can’t help her smile.“Well, she’s excited that it’s nearing completion earlier than we thought, but every time I make a joke about what happens when it’s done, she turns bright red.I’d say she’s excited and nervous about Richard.I actually kind of love it.”
“You’re so mean,” I say.
Natalie shrugs.“One of life’s greatest joys, needling the people you love to watch them blush.”
“Agree to disagree,” I say.
“Oh, I think you could do with a little more of that with Trish.”Natalie folds her arms.“If she rearranges the flowers I put on the entry table of the big houseone more time, I might lose my mind.So I’m guessing she’s been doing some little things that bug you, living in the same tiny house.If I had to live with my former mother-in-law, I’d probably be in prison, staring down homicide charges.”
I chuckle.“Trish is fine,” I say.“We’re getting along just fine.”
“You sure?”Natalie arches one eyebrow.
I hate when she’s right, so I doggedly insist that she’s not bothering me at all.“I do have a meeting this morning that I’m not looking forward to.I hate that we have to raise funds for every single thing the GAA does.”
“Don’t they have sponsors?”Natalie frowns.“Maybe we could just donate money, take it as a business write-off, and call it good.”
I groan.“I wish.I think these women actually like doing these fundraisers.”
“I bet they do,” Natalie says.“The PTO moms took a lot of pride in doing a great job at all the projects.It was also their chance to socialize.”
“Yeah, well, that might be fun if any of them liked me.”
“Kind of your fault for stealing the super-hot coach.”
“Shut up.”But I’m smiling so she knows I’m kidding.
“What’s the upcoming fundraiser?A silent auction?Another carwash?I could make rolls or pies for the next bake sale.”
“It’s a pumpkin patch, of all things.Apparently these are gaining in popularity in Ireland.”I sigh.“We’re all on rotations to make sure the pumpkin vines get watered, because Ireland has decided to have the first dry fall on record...ever, apparently.”
“I mean, I did hear that September’s usually the driest month of the year.”
“Yeah, but here, dry means five inches a month instead of nothing,” I say.“And besides, it’s almost October, so it can rain again any time now.”
Natalie points at me.“You take that back.We’re just happy to have a break in the rain, and if Samantha hears you wishing it would rain more, she might kick you.”
I know it’s hard to manage the constant influx of water from the sky with horse hooves being what they are.“Well, anyway, I’m stuck going over today to move the sprinklers, and that’s after I suffer through that dumb meeting we’re having just to decide how much we’ll charge and how we’ll split the rotations for selling them or whatever.And they’re talking about trying to do a haunted house as well, because a pumpkin patch alone isn’t enough.I’m not even sure a producing diamond mine would make enough for the GAA.You can guess whose idea it was to do yet another fundraiser.”
“I’m sure Naomi will settle down.She sounds like she was hot for teacher, so she’s probably just nursing her disappointment.”
“I don’t think she even knows,” I say.“I mean, we aren’t hiding it from the kids, but we aren’t exactly advertising it, either.I told Jack to tone down his defense of everything American and specifically of me.It won’t help the boys to get along if everyone knows, and it won’t help Naomi like me either.”
Natalie stands.“Well, be careful with that.The only thing worse than their jealousy will be their anger that you hid it, even though you’re not doing anything wrong.”
I stand too, gathering all my paperwork.“I guess so, but the idea of announcing it to them makes me want to cry.”
“Maybe you just have Jack hold your hand tonight or something.Casual.Easy.Like it’s no big deal.”
I shudder.
“Is he that gross?”Natalie’s smiling.“Because I feel like you might almostenjoyholding his hand.”
I swat her shoulder.“Shut up.Or if you insist on yapping, you can tell me whyyouhaven’t been out with Cillian yet.”
“Well, let’s walk and talk, if you want to know.I promised Sam I’d come check out the new footing she got.”
“Did she finally get that sand she wanted?”
