Page 9 of The Love We Make

“That’s the impression I get.”

Jennifer reaches for her niece, and I pass her my granddaughter so I can get on with preparing brunch.

“Is she nice?” Jennifer asks.

“Very nice,” Austin says. “And gorgeous and fabulous and to top it all off, she has the most amazing friends.” He gives Lauren’s shoulders one last squeeze. “One of whom yours truly is going on a date with tomorrow night.”

“No way.” Lauren’s eyes go wide. “Wait. How old is he?”

Austin puts his hands back on her shoulders and gives her a light shake. “Old enough,” is all he says.

Just as I’ve learned to not express my opinion on my son’s dating life, I also know when to stay out of a conversation between my kids.

“In his sixties?” Lauren asks.

Austin rolls his eyes, although Lauren can’t see. “His name’s Juan and he’s forty-four,” he says, after a beat.

“Only forty-four?” Jennifer says. “Are you okay, bro? Do we need to take you in for an emergency check-up?”

“Ha ha. Very funny.” Austin’s used to digs from all his sisters about this topic. “Wait until you meet Juan. He’s just so charming. Don’t you think, Mom?”

“Very,” I concur. I hold my tongue and don’t add that they haven’t even been on a date yet, and speculation about Juan meeting his siblings is a lot of wishful thinking on his part.

I only catch snatches of their conversation as Bobby and I lay the table. From what I gather, the girls appear more interested in Nora Levine than in Austin’s possible new love interest.

“Seriously, though, Mom,” Jennifer says after we’ve all sat and my granddaughter is dozing in her crib. “Are you going to be working closely with Nora?”

“That’s the idea. But she’s not the only one working on that show. How about Stella Flack?”

“Stella Flack wasn’t on TV all the time when we were growing up,” Heather says while cutting up some eggs for her youngest boy. “Nora Levine is this huge icon from our youth.”

“But you do likeUnbreak My Heart?”

“Honestly, Mom,” Lauren says, “I haven’t had time to watch.”

“There are two seasons for you to stream whenever you want.” I glance at Lauren and am taken aback by the dark circles underneath her eyes. Maybe she should have taken that power nap instead of her husband.

“I love it,” Austin says. “Nora and Stella are great together on screen.” He bats his lashes. “And in real life, of course.”

“God,” Heather says on an exaggerated sigh. “How are you not some gossip journalist, sordidly detailing the intimate lives of Hollywood stars?”

“My mother would never have allowed it,” Austin deadpans. He’s a civil engineer, just like his father—albeit a bit more camp.

Even though they grew up in Los Angeles with a TV exec as their mother, none of my children have gone into showbiz. Jennifer invented an app for menstrual health. Lauren co-owns a boutique on Rodeo Drive. And Heather’s currently a stay-at-home mom—by far the hardest thing for me to accept about any of my children.

“I always said you could and should become anything you wanted,” I play along.

“Even a paparazzo?” Heather asks. “Or a die-hard lover of sugar daddies?”

“Jesus,” Austin hisses. “That spiraled out of control quickly.”

“I’m still processing that you spent time with Nora Levine,” Heather says on a sigh. “I told Bobby on our very first date that she’s my free pass and always will be.”

Bobby nods in that laconic way he has—this particular son-in-law is not easily perturbed by anything. “She’s mine as well, so maybe you shouldn’t invite her over after all, Mimi.”

“What’s a free pass?” Heather’s oldest, Wyatt, asks.

“It’s a grown-up thing, baby,” Heather says.

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