“I’m being a bitch.”
“She slept with your father while knowing he was married with children. She deserves no pity.”
“You cheated too.”
“Only after he did. And yes, I’m well aware that doesn’t make it right, but I’d have stayed true if not for him… So, Franklin and I, we went to Vegas over the Thanksgiving break?—”
Something in her tone has me shrieking, “Wait. You said he proposed but… you got married?!”
She giggles. It sounds oddly lighthearted and… Jesus.Happy.
“Yes, it was a spur of the moment thing. I loved it! It was tacky but so much fun.”
That dopey tone of hers has me wincing. “Whenever the boys describe him to me, they aren’t that complimentary, Mom.”
She tuts. “They wouldn’t be.”
“Why not?”
“Because when he’s in the house, there’s a break from their marshal rein and he’s in charge. They actually have to do their chores. It’s the first time in years that I didn’t mow the damn lawn myself. They only get their allowance if they put in the work.”
“Should you allow a relative stranger to be setting those kinds of boundaries?”
“Probably not, but he’s not a stranger now, is he?” She doesn’t see me pinch the bridge of my nose in exasperation. “Anyway, it was worth their while. Franklin’s allowances involve bonuses.”
“Bonuses?”
“Yup. Think a service charge for care and attention. Paul got an A in biology?—”
“No freakin’ way!”
“Yes!”
“Because Franklin bribed them?”
“Uh-huh. He might actually stop them from being heathens because God knows I can’t get them under control and your father’s no use. He’s the reason they ran wild with that whole BS about them being future hockey stars.” She grumbles ‘dipshit.’ “I like Franklin. He’s good to me. He cares. He doesn’t treat me like a maid or as if I’m getting oldand doesn’t make snide comments if I eat dessert. He buys me flowers and is spontaneous.
“He makes me smile, Denver. Is that such a bad thing?”
I slump. “No, Mom, it isn’t. Not at all. I’m happy for you. Really. I just… It seems kinda fast.” So fast I have whiplash!
“Oh, it is, but hell, I signed a prenup. No harm, no foul. Honestly, it’ll be worth it if he can make the boys half-human. I swear they were turning into such entitled assholes and I had no idea how to reverse it.”
“You’re crazy.”
“The best kind of crazy. I meant it, by the way.”
“Which bit in particular?”
“This picture… isn’t it a hate campaign? I’ll talk to Franklin about it.”
Call me petty but I don’t have it in me to say anything other than, “You can always ask.”
“Oh, yay!” she cries. “I was hoping you wouldn’t be a Goody Two-shoes!”
I snort. “Since when has that ever been me?”
“I don’t know. Your morals get in the way of a lot of things.” She clears her throat. “I know, Denny.”
