Page 49 of Our Secret Summer

Murray, steady as always, returned his hand to Connor’s shoulder. “Don’t be a baby about this. It’s not helpful.”

“A baby?” Connor scoffed. “I’d like to see your reaction if your best friend told you she’d been sleeping with your mom.”

“Sandy’s straight,” Murray said matter-of-factly.

“Okay. Fine.” Connor took a breath. “What are you trying to say?” He glared at Raffo, his face stripped of its usual kindness—that gentle warmth he’d inherited from Dylan.

“At my house earlier, I felt it again—that deep joy of painting. For the first time since Big Bear. Because I was painting Dylan.”

“You can paint as many pictures of my mom as you like. As long as that’s all you do with her.”

“That’s not the point, Con,” Murray said. He looked at Raffo. “I’m so happy you’ve got your mojo back, Raff.”

“What do you want from me?” Connor’s voice rose. “My blessing to date my mom because she’s your muse now?” He huffed some air through his pursed lips. “I know you’ve been through a lot, Raff. And I’m super sympathetic. I’ll do anything to help, you know that. But you were a fantastic painter before your break-up, and you will be again. You don’t need my mom for that. You just need a little bit more time.”

“You’re right,” Raffo said, because it was true. Nevertheless, her stomach tightened.

“No he’s not,” Murray interjected. “For crying out loud, babe. They’re in love. That’s what Raffo’s trying to say.”

“They’re not in love.” Connor made a face as though someone had just told him his gallery had burned down. “I’m thirty-three years old and you know how many times I’ve known my mother to be in love with another woman in all that time?” He made a 0 with this thumb and index finger. “Zero times. And now, all of a sudden, she’s in love with my best friend?” He took a breath and rubbed his fingertips against his forehead. “I’m actually really worried about my mom. She’s not herself. First, she loses all that money, which is so unlike her and now…” He waved his hands about. “This.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about your mom,” Murray said.

“There could be something wrong with her. Something serious.” Connor sounded genuinely concerned.

“Whether you like it or not,” Raffo said. “I spent a lot of time with your mom and I second Murray. There’s nothing medically wrong with her. She made a mistake with the money and, in my opinion, she also made a mistake when she decided not to tell you and hide out in Big Bear. People make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with them.”

“But, Raff… what about you? I mean, come on. I’m no shrink, but you were so heartbroken when you left for Big Bear. That’s why I sent you. And my mom, she’s my mom. I know what she’s like. She’s all like, sit down, darling, I’ll make you some dinner, talk to me, here’s some wine, we can fix this together. I get it, okay? You’re right, I don’t like it, but what happened in Big Bear, from your perspective, I get it. You were hurt and my mom was there, even though she was supposed to be in fucking Europe. But has it not been enough, now? Seriously?”

“Con,” Murray said softly. “It’s just love. Think about it. Do you really want to be the one standing in the way of that?”

“Fuck, yeah. When it’s my mom and my best friend, I will damn well stand in the way of it.”

Raffo didn’t know how to fight for this—she didn’t even know if she wanted to. She was being torn right in half.

Raffo cleared her throat. “As I said earlier—” She sought Connor’s eyes, but he looked away. “It won’t happen again. I just wanted you to know.” She pushed back from the table and stood. Walking back to her house, she knew it was time to move out of Connor’s place for good.

CHAPTER 33

Dylan was researching the company where she had an upcoming job interview when the doorbell rang. With all her heart, she hoped it would be Raffo. She practically sprinted to the door.

“Hey Mama.” Murray stood in the doorway, holding a bunch of flowers.

“What’s that for?” Dylan asked, kissing his cheek as she ushered him inside.

“The other day was a little awkward, so I figured I’d break the ice with some fresh daisies and lilies.”

They settled at the backyard table with fresh coffee, the LA sun warming their shoulders.

“I haven’t heard from him, but Connor must be thrilled about your surprise visit.” Dylan forced warmth into her smile. When she’d tried to call her son yesterday as well as this morning, he hadn’t picked up, nor replied to the messages she’d sent inviting him and Murray to dinner.

“Raffo told him what happened and he’s not being a good sport about it,” Murray said.

“Understandably so.” Dylan sipped from her coffee. “How’s Raffo?”

“She’s been staying at her new place—camping out there until she gets furniture or reclaims her stuff from Mia’s. But she’s painting again, so that’s good.”

Dylan stopped herself from asking for Raffo’s new address. The last thing she should do is show up there.

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