I don’t want to leave.
This place is our home. Lav’s happy here. Even if I try to not take advantage of the extra help often, it’s as comforting as it is guilt-inducing to know that Mabel and Ginny and the rest of the crew are here if Idoneed help.
They’re my friends who’ve seen me at my lowest.
The people I know I can count on.
“I just—we’ve needed some time to find a new normal now that everything’s settled,” I tell Mabel.
She studies me, then nods. “Then let us help you while you’re in temporary need, if you don’t mind. And help us out a little too. Please. The apartment has industrial locks on the doors at both ends of the stairs and a separate entrance, and Cricket doesn’t strike me as the type to blare rock music at three a.m. You won’t even know she’s there.”
I stifle an urge to tell her she can move in instead.
That’s not how it works here.
And I don’t need to talk out all the details about how any one of the other women taking the efficiency apartment under my house would mean Cricket would be obviously staying in a room with someone else’s stuff.
Mabel’s right.
This is the best solution for everyone.
Mabel glances inside, then lowers her voice. “Is this about having anyone in your house, or is this specifically about you having an issue with Cricket?”
“I don’t have an issue with anyone.” That lie slides off my tongue about as easily as the first lie did.
“Everything aboutthis”—she waves a hand as if she’s capturing my aura—“says that there’s something wrong. If you’re mad about your eye, be mad at me. I was the breakdown in communication.”
“It’s not about my eye or about the kitchen.”
“Then what’s the issue?”
Well, Mabel, I don’t like the smell of the soap she uses and I don’t like the general vibe she gives off and I don’t like that my daughter’s seen her naked.“It would be uncomfortable for her. After this morning.”
Mabel snorts in amusement. “I’m pretty sure she’ll be barricading the door of any bedroom she uses, which I’d expect you’d expect too, so don’t even try that excuse with me.”
I huff out another breath and wish I had my own glass of wine.
Or whiskey.
Straight vodka.
All three at once.
None of which I’ll be having because I can’t let my guard down for even a second, or else Lavender will disappear into the vineyard or one of the buildings and I’ll get that sick feeling in my stomach like my in-laws will find out and try to take her from me again.
“Is this because you saw her naked andyou’reuncomfortable?” Mabel asks.
“I’ve seen literally hundreds of women naked.”
Including Pip.
She doesn’t like to wear clothes if she can help it, though she at least generally wears underwear or short skirts or shorts.
Maybe that’s my issue.
Maybe it’s because she’s the first woman who’s not a wrinkled prune that I’ve seen naked in years.
Mabel’s eyes suddenly go round.
