Page 27 of Text Appeal

Martha clucks her tongue. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“I’m not dead yet and I’m not related to him either,” says Noor, working on her cross-stitch as she speaks. “It’s like the potter Beatrice Wood said. The secret to long life is chocolate, art books, and young men. Or something like that. I can’t remember the quote exactly.”

Martha does not appear convinced.

“He is very handsome,” I admit. Something tells me anything other than the truth won’t work. These three are too canny. “But he’s other things too. I don’t know. It just feels good being around him.”

“How do you mean, Riley?” asks Joyce.

A bead of perspiration runs down the side of my glass. I track its path with the tip of my finger. “He asks me what I’m thinking and he listens when I speak. That’s a low bar, but in all honesty, not many others have made it. And I’m comfortable with him, pretty much have been right from the start. I think it’s because he has this honest, genuine quality about him, and it makes me feel like I can be completely myself with him too. He knows who he is and is comfortable within himself. And he loves his family. The funny stories he told me about Lulu when she was little were so cute. How he used to babysit her. And I love his curiosity. The way he wants to talk about all sorts of things. His mind is open and his heart is large and…I really like him. Like a scary amount.”

Joyce arches her brows. “You say that like it surprises you. That you’re comfortable with him.”

“Yeah. I guess it does. He seemed so serious and moody at first, but he’s actually really funny and interesting and he has this great smile. It makes my tummy do weird loops. Though just the sight of him does that. The thought of him too.”

“He took you home to meet his family,” says Noor. “That’s a good sign.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“Alright,” says Martha in a far less friendly tone of voice. “You said you weren’t looking for a relationship. What changed?”

Joyce shrugs. “She met him, of course.”

“Sometimes that’s all it takes.” Noor gently pulls on her needle and thread. “I stopped dating years ago. As Whoopi Goldberg said, I don’t want somebody in my house. But I wish you all the best, darling.”

I smile. “Thank you.”

Martha watches me in silence. The first time Connor and I met, he said something about his grandmother mentioning it was a pity we weren’t together. How it might solve some of his problems. He swore he wouldn’t tell anyone about our agreement. But I do wonder what she’s guessed about us.

“Did he invite you to his fifteen-year reunion dance at the high school this Saturday?” asks Joyce.

“No. But we have plans for tonight.” I don’t mention what they are on the off chance he’s changed his mind about us showing our faces at the welcome home party. “I don’t suppose anyone’s seen Ava?”

“Her parents went to pick her up from the airport yesterday,” says Joyce. “They stayed in Seattle last night for a familydinner. Her older sister lives there with her children. But they should be home today on the afternoon ferry.”

“That explains why she sent me a photo of the Needle.”

“You two still texting?” asks Martha.

“Not really. It’s more along the lines of passive-aggressive warfare. She sends me pictures of landmarks letting me know she’s getting closer and closer.”

“How ominous,” says Noor.

Joyce nods. “She’s coming to steal your man, Riley.”

“That’s up to Connor.” I shrug. “But going by the things he’s said and done…I highly doubt he’s interested.”

Martha sighs. “Old habits can be hard to break.”

“What do you think, Martha?” asks Noor. “Do you approve of your grandson’s new girlfriend?”

“I know it seems sudden. But I like the idea of them together,” says Joyce, wielding her knitting needles with expert ease. “Of course, I only knew my first husband Fred for a week before we got hitched and that worked out just fine.”

Noor tips her chin. “He died a couple of years after you met him.”

“Yes, but we got along well together when he was alive.”

“You two certainly weren’t backwards about making babies. I’ll give you that.”

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