“Okay. I’ll talk to the bank tomorrow and call a realtor.”
Her jaw unhinges. “What? You don’t have to call the realtor. I can do that.”
“Just trying to help.”
Her eyes narrow. “I don’t need your help.”
I keep my face neutral. But those words kind of feel like a poke check in the gut. Also, she does need my help. When the back gate broke, she couldn’t fix it. I came and did it. When a bathroom faucet was dripping, I came to fix it. This is a nice house, but it’s old. There’s always something.
“Okay.”
We talk a bit about property values in the neighborhood and what she thinks she can get for the house.
“Any idea where you’ll move to?” I ask.
“I looked at a bunch of apartments in Jersey City online. Kind of halfway between work and Rachel’s place.”
“What about your parents?” They live in Newark and it’s not far from this place to theirs.
“Yeah, I’d be a little further from them, but not bad.”
And this reminds me of my quandary about her lying to her family.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said that night at that art gallery. About not telling your family we’re getting divorced.”
Her face freezes. “What about it?”
“Are you going to tell them?”
She sets down her coffee mug, her lips sinking into a sad curve. “Nonna called last night.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No. She asked if you’re coming. She wants to see you. She said it might be her last birthday.”
Fuck.“You have to tell her, Ayla.”
“I know!” She closes her eyes briefly. “My parents know. My sisters. And Rachel. It’s not like I’m hiding it from everyone.”
“Still…”
“I know I have to tell them at some point. I just don’t want to do it right now. Especially Nonna.”
“I understand that. But lying to your family is not right.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “It’s my family and I’ll lie to them if I want to.”
I bite back a smile. “Okay, yeah, it’s your family, but it’s not like they’re total strangers to me. I care about Gia, too.”
“Ithoughtyou did,” she says with a pointed edge.
Ouch.
“I do,” I insist.
“I couldn’t tell.”
Okay, yeah, she’s pissed.
