Page 39 of The Love We Make

“It’s lovely that you found each other.”

“Yeah.” I blink back a tear. “I really hope it works out between Jay and Austin. He might not be your first choice for a boyfriend for your son. He’s a lot, but he has a heart of gold.” And the attention span of a very horny goldfish, I don’t say out loud.

“Austin’s smart enough to make good choices,” Mimi says. I’ve heard her say plenty of things with much more conviction in her voice. “He’s made a few what I might call mistakes, but are they really mistakes if these men made him happy at the time? What’s a mistake, really?” She holds up her hand. “For the record, I don’t regard Juan as a mistake. I’ve really taken to him. So have the girls.” She pauses. “They keep nagging me about meeting you, by the way. But don’t worry. I won’t put you through that.”

“I can, you know? I can meet your daughters. If we’re going to be friends, maybe I should.”

“You don’t have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Not for my sake. Really.”

“You’re a very unlikely TV executive. You seem entirely too nice for your profession.”

“We come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities.”

“You look the part, which had a lot to do with my first reaction to you that day you crashed our table read. You’re all gloss and expensive clothes, which really suit you, by the way. But getting to know you, you’re nothing like the image you portray.”

Mimi wriggles around and smiles at me. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Also, how can someone like you belooking?”

Mimi bursts into a chuckle now. “For a friend, you’re awfully flirty, Nora.”

“Oh. Sorry. That’s not what I meant. I’m just trying to understand.” My never-ending quest for an explanation for every little thing is messing with my conversation skills again. I wasn’t deliberately flirting. I’m just incorrigibly curious.

“I had a long-term relationship end about two years ago. It takes a while to get over something like that. To find yourself again.”

“How long were you and this person together?”

“Nearly eight years.”

“That’s a long time.” I can’t even begin to imagine what that’s like.

“Given that I was married to a man for much longer, and had four kids along the way, it’s not that long, but yeah…” She squares her shoulders. “I guess what I’m really trying to say is, if it had been up to me, it would have lasted a lot longer.”

“Did she dump you?” I assume her ex is a woman.

“Dump?” Mimi scoffs. “I hate that word. As though I’m a piece of trash to be discarded after use.” She clears her throat. “I guess, technically, Cathy broke up with me, yes.”

From where I’m sitting, it’s hard to imagine why anyone in their right mind would break up with the likes of Mimi St James. Right now, she comes across as some unattainable goddess any human should be so lucky to be with. But I should really get a grip. I’m not going to throw away my desire to remain single even for Mimi, no matter how amazing, interesting, and lovely she is. I let her talk—let her be the judge of what she’s comfortable sharing.

“People change over time,” she says. “I’m not always the easiest to be around either. No one is.”

“Are you still in touch?”

Mimi shakes her head.

“I would like to meet your daughters.” If I can’t give Mimi anything else, apart from what I can offer in the friendship department, I’ll give her that. “I’ve met Austin and I’m curious to meet your other kids. I really am.”

“There comes my multiple mother-of-the-year award.” Mimi smiles from ear to ear. “Thank you so much. It will make them so very happy.” She holds up her hand. “I’m not kidding. They won’t just be happy. They will be beside themselves. There are no limits to how much these girls adore you. If you think Austin was something else, that’s nothing compared to how the girls will react.”

“In that case, are you sure you want me to meet them?” I can really only be a disappointment in the face of that level of fandom.

“Absolutely.”

“Bring them around this weekend. I’ll have Ricky, my chef, set up the grill by the pool. We’ll make an afternoon of it.”

“Are you sure?” Mimi sounds as incredulous as that time Stella and Kate told her how they met.

“Yeah. Juan and Imani will be here. It’ll be a proper St James pool party.” It’s easy enough to say. On the day itself, I might have to knock back a glass or two of wine to get through it, but as long as I don’t try to kiss Mimi again, things will be all right.

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