Page 183 of Movers and Shakers

“Wasn’t she a surprise guest?”

“Yes.” I rubbed my face. “I can’t get it right with her, or anything else in my life, it seems.”

“Is there more going on?”

“Guitarist stuff.” At his worried expression, I shook my head. “Malia and Justice are on it. I’ll tell you when we’renotin public. I’m justsoworried, and Mom is making it worse.”

“Come here,” he said, pulling me into his arms again. I closed my eyes and leaned into him. “Why is she here anyway? I thought she stayed in her hometown.”

“Dad connected her with a therapist and she got on medication. She really was fine until just now.”

“How did your dad get through to her?”

“I have no idea, but she said he’s coming into town too.”

“Can he help her through this?”

“He’s already done so much,” I said. “I can’t add another thing.”

As I said it, my phone buzzed with a text from him.

Dad: Rosie, I just got into town and your mother is upset. I would love to meet for dinner, but I’d rather you relax and not worry about her like I know you’re doing. I’m going to meet her at your place and talk to her.

“He’s already handling it,” I said. “Who is this man?”

“What was he like before?”

“He’s always cared and answered when I called, but I felt like he had this whole other life to live and that I was an afterthought.”

“Maybe he got tired of that way of living.”

“I should talk to him.”

Barry shook his head, his hand grabbing mine. “You can later, but for now, he’s right. You do need to relax, and if you see your mom again, it might not end well.”

He wasn’t wrong. “Why is everyone doing all of this for me?”

“Because we care,” he replied. “Do we need another reason?”

“I . . . I guess not. This is why I should keep you around, Barry. You know exactly what to say.”

“Let’s enjoy dinner.”

“Do you think Ruth is mad that I made her wait?”

“I’m sure she’s already ordered an appetizer.” He smiled. He pulled me close again, his mouth right next to my ear. “She’s gonna have to be patient when we’re waiting for Lila Wilde.”

No one heard it, yet my face exploded in flame.

“They don’t have to be patient because of that.”

“Then we’ll be patient because it’syou.”

A few minutes ago, my life had felt like it was falling apart. But because of him, it now felt like it would turn out okay. How did he do that? How did he level me out?

“So,” I said as we walked to the table, “I hear one of you figured something out?”

Ruth was in fact digging into an appetizer, but she paused when she registered what I said. “Do you want me to pretend I don’t know? I can be a good liar.”

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