Page 70 of The Love We Make

She turns to me and amps up the wattage in her smile. “I’m happy, too,” she says.

* * *

Bobby and Gus have been educated well. They’re always the ones who help me clear the table. The girls flock around Nora. I have to trust I raised them well enough to behave—besides, they’re adults. But famous people can have a weird effect on even the most level-headed person.

As I clean food off the plates, it hits me—not for the first time—that I’ve barely seen Nora put any food in her mouth. The only times I’ve seen her eat with any gusto and intention is after her morning workout. If any of my kids ate and exercised like Nora, I’d be having a serious conversation with them. But Nora’s not my kid. She’s my… girlfriend? Partner? I’ve gotten to know her body intimately over the past few weeks. As far as I can tell, she’s in excellent physical condition, all her body parts functioning optimally.

“You and Nora, huh,” Bobby says. “I didn’t see that one coming, Mimi. But good for you.”

“Thanks.” What else can I say? I didn’t really see it coming either, but here we are.

As usual, Gus is quieter and more pensive. He’s always been a man of few words. Juan joins us. He’s the opposite of Gus. When Juan’s in your space, the space is all his.

“Hey, Mama. Let me do that.” He all but snatches the plate I’m scraping off from my hands. “What is it with these kids of yours that you cook them a meal and then they pretend that washing up doesn’t exist?”

“That’s why she has sons-in-law,” Bobby says.

We all chuckle, then I say, “It’s my bad as a mother. I should have been stricter when it came to chores.”

“No way.” Juan’s not having any of it. “Listen up, St Jameses!” He clanks a spoon against a dirty pan. “Mama Mimi is going to put her feet up and we are going to make this kitchen look spic and span.” Is he including Nora in this admonition? I highly doubt it.

“But the cleaner’s coming tomorrow,” Jennifer says.

“How dare you, child.” Juan beckons them over. “Everyone likes a tidy kitchen after a meal.” I wonder who cleans up Juan’s kitchen after he’s made dinner. Come to think of it, I wonder who pays his bills. As far as I know, he volunteers a lot at the LGBT Center and he spends a lot of time with Nora. “Come on.”

Nora sits there grinning. Her special skill is arranging for her staff to make her house look perfect while she’s not there. I’ve only met Ricky and Chad—and Marcy, of course.

Juan holds out his hand to me. “Let’s get you out of here, Mama.”

“Jesus, Mom,” Heather protests. “Is it going to be like this all the time from now on?”

“Control your man, Austin!” Lauren adds. “I have a one-year-old. This is the only time I get to put my feet up.”

“Everybody into the lounge.” I make sure my voice is heard above the hubbub. “Out you go, all of you. That includes you, Juan.” His intentions are good, but I run my house how I see fit.

“Only trying to help.” He’s not the kind to take offense easily—he’s probably been through so much worse.

Nora stays behind with me. Instead of helping, she sinks onto a stool at the kitchen island.

“You were really great with them.” I stop what I’m doing and take her hands in mine.

“They love me already, so it’s really easy.”

“Do you maybe… want to stay here tonight? Spend the night?”

Nora’s eyes go wide, as though I just popped a very different question. “I’ve got Marcy tomorrow morning. Or shall I ask her to come here?” She paints on a grin.

“Please, don’t ever do that.” I rub my thumb along Nora’s palm. “Would it be completely inconceivable for you to skip one workout?”

“Yes.” Her tone is curt. “I don’t skip workouts. That’s simply not something I do.”

“Nora.” I try to make my voice sound as sultry as possible. “Maybe things are a little different now.” I squeeze her hand.

“Yeah, but, um… But still.” She sighs. “Skipping my Monday morning workout is going to throw off my entire week.”

“Is it really?” I’m only pushing slightly, only nudging at the edges of her boundaries—and only because I think Nora needs a little push from time to time.

“Yes.” She pulls her hand away. “I don’t expect you to understand, but that’s how it is for me.”

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