“Thank you, and here.” I hand her a list of the storefronts she’s going to see today. “Becks will meet you here at four, and then the two of you will meet Barbara, the realtor, at the first location. These were my favorite three I’ve seen so far. If youdon’t like any of them, we still have time to keep looking, but I want your opinion first.”
Her face drops, and she nods without any words. I know this is painful for her, and if I could, I would sell my right kidney for her to keep the bakery.
The intercom buzzes, distracting us. I press the button. “I’ll be right down.”
“No, let me up,” Harrison demands.
“I told you I’d meet you outside.”
“And I told you to let me up, Juliette. I’m not having you carry down your bags,” he practically growls, and Mom sniggers, reaching over me to press the button that unlocks the downstairs door.
Fuck’s sake, I don’t want him to come up here right now. The place is a disaster.
I open the door when I hear the elevator ping.
He walks over to Mom and kisses her hello first, then wraps his arm around my shoulders and holds his lips to my forehead. At the same time, he looks around the place.
What must he think? Our whole apartment is the size of his kitchen.
“It’s homey.” He smiles, and I roll my eyes.
“Oh, shut it, it’s small, and you look like a freaking giant in this room.”
“Hey, don’t talk about my precious home like that, Juliette,” Mom scolds me, and I shrink back, forgetting she was here.
“Sorry,” I mumble.
Harrison picks up my bags. “As much as I would love to stay and chat, Inès, we’re on a tight schedule.”
“Of course, you two have fun.”
Before I forget… “Mom, I meant to tell you. I overheard Aunt Liza coming out of the bakery earlier, and she was saying suchlovely things about you. I’m sorry I misjudged her. You should have dinner with her one night while I’m gone.”
“Oh. Okay.” My mom’s face lights up, but she says nothing else. She’s not one to take compliments easily.
Just as we leave, she pulls Harrison back and whispers in his ear.
“What did she say?” I ask the second we’re out the door.
He lifts one side of his lips. “That she’s happy I finally got my act together.”
“Oh god.” I cover my face. “She didn’t.”
“Good afternoon, Juliette.”
“Oh, Robert,” I say, surprised. “How are you? I’m sorry, I thought Harrison was driving, so I wasn’t expecting you.”
“He’s only driving us to the airport, not the Hamptons,” Harrison answers for him.
“The airport?” I ask, puzzled. What is he talking about? “I thought we were driving straight from here.”
“I don’t want to waste a minute more in the city. I’m itching to get you away, so we’re flying.”
“What?” I squeal. “Seriously? I’ve never been in a helicopter.”
“Well, then, I’ll make sure to take you in one next time. This time, we’re taking a private jet.”
I stop and look him in the square in the eye to see if he’s telling the truth. “Are you serious right now?”
