Page 46 of The Love We Make

“No. I’m sorry. I’m leaving now. Yeah?”

“Yeah. Okay. Bye, Mimi.”

* * *

I’m still processing everything that happened yesterday when Austin arrives.

“Stop whatever you’re doing right now,” my son says. “I’m taking you out to lunch.”

“I wasn’t doing much of anything.” After yesterday’s last-minute pool party, most kids have other plans today than come to Sunday brunch at their mother’s. Not Austin, though.

“Juan’s volunteering, and I don’t know what to do with myself after yesterday.” Austin pretends to shake it all off. I kind of know how he feels. “Did you stay long after we left?”

“A while, until I got a call from Cathy.”

“Say what?” His eyes nearly pop out of his lovely head.

“She and her girlfriend broke up. She got drunk and couldn’t think of anyone better to call than me.” I sigh. “I went to meet her and took her home.”

“Oh, my god, Mom. After what she put you through? You did that for her? After all this time?” He shakes his head. “I should really teach you how to be more selfish. You don’t owe Cathy anything, okay? Not after how she treated you.”

Even though I tried to hide it from my kids as best I could, my separation from Cathy was painful and upsetting—and children always know, Austin most of all.

“Why didn’t you tell her to go eff herself? It’s what she deserves.”

“Darling, calm down. It’s okay. I made it perfectly clear how I felt about the whole thing.”

“But you went to meet her? That says so much more than all the words in the world.”

“I had to go. I couldn’t just leave her in some sketchy bar in Hollywood on her own. You know I wouldn’t do that.”

“You’re such a mom, Mom.” He flashes me a smile. “And you were still at Nora’s when she called? You left Nora’s exquisite palace of a house to go pick up your drunken ex?” He clicks his tongue in disapproval.

“Yeah. My bad, really.” Nora and I were having a lovely, relaxed, friendly time together. And what about that shoulder massage? Once I got past how incredibly taut and full of pent-up tension Nora’s shoulders felt, it was equal parts treat and challenge to touch her skin like that, to drive my fingers into her flesh over and over again. And that shoulder line, my god. To look at it is one thing, but to have your hands all over it is another thing entirely. During that massage, I felt much more than friendly toward Nora, but that’ll be my secret. I’m not telling anyone. Not my son, and certainly not Nora.

“Can you believe yesterday, Mom? To have Nora host a party like that for us. You and her must be pretty tight?” He holds up his hand. “And before you implicate Juan in this. I know he didn’t have anything to do with it. He’s way too protective of Nora for that.”

“They have an interesting relationship, that’s for sure.”

Austin slants his head and stares at me for an instant. “Did you just avoid my question?”

“What question, darling?” Surprisingly, playing dumb often works with my kids.

“You and Nora? You’re friends? Which wouldn’t be so weird if it were anyone else, but I have it on good authority that Nora doesn’t make new friends that easily.”

“Yes. I think we are friends. Getting there, at least.”

“You do realize how unique that is? She must really like you then.”

“What’s so special about someone liking me? I’ll have you know I’m a very likable person.” I bat my lashes at him, feeling rather silly.

“You don’t have to tell me. You’re my favorite woman in the whole wide world.”

“Thank you, darling. Now where are you taking me?”

“The Tasting Room.” Austin puts his hands on his hips.

“How did you swing that?”

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