Page 71 of Broken Grump

It’s still so funny for me to see her as a mom. Well, funny and endearing. She fits the role like a glove.

“So, where is the Flores girls’ ice cream shop of choice?”

She glances over at me with exposed teeth. “I was hoping you could offer some guidance there. My go-to as a kid was Kip’s, but it was a sad awakening for me the other day when I passed by and saw that it was all closed down.”

“Oh, yeah. That place has been gone forever. But man, did we have some good times there.”

She grins. “That we did.”

“Let’s see.” When it comes to ice cream in L.A., it’s kind of hard because most places try to out “bougee” themselves. Meaning, there are fancy Persian places, all-organic places, and places where they’d laugh in your face if you asked for a simple vanilla cone with sprinkles. “Oh, I’ve got it. Although, it’s in Inglewood. Is that going to be a problem?”

“Nah, we’ve got time. Are you up for a bit of an adventure, Luna?”

“Yep.”

“Well, there you have it.”

***

So, there we are. The newest Three Amigos sitting at a round, metal table and surrounded by bright green and pink paint.

“Good?” I ask both mother and daughter.

“Very!” Addie went for a waffle cone and piled hers with chocolate and nuggets, which I remember now were always her favorite. And I can hear the hard chunks gnashing against her strong teeth.

I’m a simpler man and just got chocolate with a fudge drizzle.

“So . . .” Addie starts again when Luna is almost finished.

Throughout this entire experience, she’s remained surprisingly taciturn.

“Fine! Allison made fun of me today because I can’t swim. Okay? Are you happy?”

Addie’s body visibly deflates, and I remember that she and her family were in a horrible boating accident when she was a kid.

That’s right. She’s been horrified by water ever since.

“Listen, if I may be so bold—I’d be happy to teach you how to swim.”

Both their light eyes jolt up at me.

“Seriously?” they ask together.

“Of course. My pool is heated, and we can start this weekend. What do you say?”

“Yay!” With that, Luna’s childhood wonderment seems to be restored.

But her mother doesn’t seem so thrilled. After dropping me off on the land we’re hoping to own very soon, she hops out and leads me to the side by the arm.

“Please don’t do that. Not to Luna.”

I’m incredibly confused. “Do what?”

“Make promises to her that you can’t keep.”

Oh.“You mean about the swimming this weekend?”

“Yes. It’s really hard on children when you make commitments and then break them.”

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