“The Christmas season, then.”
“Mom, Idowant to be alone,” Amy said, her voice barely controlled. “I need peace and quiet. I need time to myself.Awayfrom my family.”
“Oh, I know, I know,” her mother said eagerly, nodding. “That’s why Elaine said this was such a perfect solution for us both. Because there is a separate studio, so really, you don’t even need to see us until the evening.”
Amy’s expression suggested she was looking for a brick wall where she might plant her fist.
“But Elaine didnottell me about this fine young man,” her mother said, gesturing to Harrison. “And his friend.”
“You did not just say that,” Amy said.
“Say what?” her mother asked.
“Amy, I’m so glad you finally put a few pounds on,” said one of the women. “I thought you looked too thin during your divorce.”
Everyone looked at the thinnest of the Bossy-Posse-Girl’s-Trip women. She blinked green eyes around at them. “Well? She was skeleton thin.”
Amy sighed.
“You look great!” agreed another one of the women. She had come down the stairs to where Harrison and Hillary were silently watching everything unfold. She kicked a shoe off and stuck her toe in the pool. “Oh dear, it’s freezing. We’ll have to turn on the heat. Elaine told you how, didn’t she, Barb?”
“Melissa, you’ll get frostbite.” Amy’s mother came down the stairs, too. Now that she was a little closer, Harrison could see the resemblance. “Are you going to tell us who your friends are?” Barb asked as she gave Harrison a thorough once-over with her red-and-green blinking antlers.
“Harrison,” Amy said reluctantly. “Harrison Neely.”
“I certainly didn’t know you had a friend like Harrison Neely,” Amy’s mother said.
“He’s not my…There was a mix-up at booking, that’s all.”
He was not her friend? This was just a mix-up? He knew she was avoiding explanation, but this was not just a mix-up for him.
“Samantha had already listed this place on the apps, but Julie didn’t know she had. Sam booked Harrison for the same time Julie lent the place to me.”
“Well, that Sam was always the go-getter. What did you do about the double-booking?” Barb asked, looking over her shoulder at her daughter.
Amy shrugged in a manner that seemed a little guilty to Harrison. “We decided to split the place. Because it’s so big.”
Barb looked back at Harrison. “Well, well. Hello, Harrison. I’m Barb, Amy’s mother!” She extended her hand.
Harrison shook it because what else was he going to do? “Nice to meet you, Barb.” Except that it wasn’t nice to meet her. It might possibly be the worst thing in the world to happen right now.
“And this must be your daughter,” Barb said, shifting her gaze to Hillary.
“What? No, no,” Harrison said quickly. Hisdaughter? Did he look that old? How old was Hillary, anyway?
“I’m his strength conditioning coach,” Hillary said, and one of the women snorted so loudly it was probably heard across the lake. “Hillary Green.” She extended her hand to be shaken.
“Hello, Hillary,” Barb said. She returned her gaze to Harrison, her eyes slightly narrowed. As if she suspected him of nefarious conduct, something along the lines of robbing the cradle.
Harrison really wished she’d turn the antlers off. It was hard to think with them blinking at him. “Well,” Harrison said. “I guess the food-delivery mystery has been solved.”
“Oh good, it came!” Barb said. “Did you hear that, Carol? I told you not to worry.” She glanced back at Harrison. “She was concerned because we’ve never used that delivery service. You hear about people stealing food right off your porch all the time.”
That was not something Harrison had ever heard.
“Who’s ready for the pool?” June asked.
“That water is freezing,” Hillary said. “It will take forever to heat.”
