Page 5 of The Kiss Principle

With zero regard for the fact that I had to witness it, the two of them gave each other a tongue bath. When they finally separated, Mom moved over to a mirror and touched up her lipstick.

“My suitcases are so heavy,” I said.

Mom made a dismissive noise. “He likes having something to do. Honestly, it’s a bit refreshing; his mother raised him right. I wish my own children were more like Cannon.”

“Sure, those three darling children you raised yourself: Bookshelf, Doorknob, and Wonder Bread. Mom, what the fuck are we going to do?”

She gave me wide-eyed dismay. “Well, I don’t know.”

“Someone has to stay here and deal with this, and it’s not going to be me.”

“I can’t cancel my trip, Fernando. The reservations are non-refundable.”

“Who cares? I paid for it. I’m telling you that as soon as I can get an Uber, I’m going to the airport, and I’m going to see Augustus.”

“No, dear, Chuy is driving us.”

“Chuy is gone!” It was a whisper-shout, one I barely managed to tamp down. “And he left us a fucking baby!”

The baby fussed, and I started rocking her again.

Mom cooed a little and came over and touched the baby’s head. “See? You’re a natural.”

“No. No way. I haven’t had a vacation, a real vacation, in years, because I’ve spent every minute either getting Augustus to college or from college or keeping him alive while he was at college. And I deserve a break. I deserve some time to myself. I am not going to be saddled with this.” I held the baby out in demonstration.

“But you’re only going to see August again. And you can go see him anytime, and we got such a good deal at the Bellagio, and you don’t know how hard it is to get into this little spa I found. Why don’t you call human services?”

“What the fuck is human services?”

“Call the police then.”

“No, you are—”

“I don’t see why I should be the one who stays.”

In a strangled whisper, I managed, “Because you’re this child’s grandmother.”

“Fernando!” She glanced at the hallway. “Keep your voice down. And anyway, we don’t know that. Not for a fact.”

Cannon chose that moment to stagger out into the hall, only to immediately get jammed when he tried to roll two full-sizedsuitcases through the doorway at the same time. He tried again. And then he tried a third time, making straining noises.

A hint of a blush rose in Mom’s cheeks, and she murmured, “He’s a tad enthusiastic.”

“I heard him being enthusiastic at three in the fucking morning. Dumbass! One at a time!”

Sure enough, Cannon got one of the suitcases through the door. He laughed and said, “No way.”

“Either you call them and cancel,” I said, “or I will. I am not giving up my vacation.”

The first changes were so small that it was hard to name them: the softening around her mouth and eyes, a slackness in her cheeks. Then she blinked rapidly. Turned her head away. Her eyes shimmered.

“Not going to work,” I said. “Augustus is gone, and I’ve got zero fucks left to give. I’m sure boy toy will help you unpack.”

The boy toy in question had gotten himself jammed again in the hallway because, again, he was trying to wheel the suitcases side-by-side.

“All right,” Mom said. She caught a tear before it could fall and stared at it on her finger. “All right. You’re right.”

“You’re goddamn fucking right I am.”

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