Page 50 of Perfect Harmony

For the first time she could hear anger inhis voice. Her mother smiled blandly at him. “Gideon, dearest, you don’t rememberthis, but occasionally our Grace had a tendency to exaggerate when she wasyounger.”

Her father laughed. “That she did.Remember the time when she was eight and she swore she had a broken arm aftershe fell off her bike?”

“It was broken,” Gracie said. “Fracturedulna, remember? I was in a cast for six weeks.”

Her father cocked his head, a surprised lookcrossing his face. “Was it? I don’t remember it being fractured. Andrea,honey, do you remember that?”

“I don’t. But you know how my memory is.”Her mother changed the subject. “Going anywhere this summer, Gideon?”

“No,” he said. “Yourself?”

“Actually,” her mother took her father’s handand squeezed it, “Rick and I are going to Europe for the month of September. Don’tworry, Grace, Mrs. Wilson next door is going to look after Sassy, so you don’thave to stop in and aggravate your little allergy.”

“We can’t wait.” Her father kissed hermother’s hand. “We’ve wanted to go for years to Europe but when you have a child,it’s so difficult to get away and spend time with each other.”

Her mother gave Gideon a serious look. “Whenyou get married, Gideon, you must always remember to make time for your spouseonce you have children. It can’t just be all about the children. All right?”

“I’ll remember that.” Gideon’s voice was thinand his grip on her hand tightened.

Grace used her other hand to rub the top ofhis hand. He glanced at her before loosening his grip.

“We’re also taking a little mini-get away atthe beginning of next month,” her mother said. “Your father is taking me up toNew York City for the July long weekend. Doesn’t that sound like fun? It’sbeen so long since I’ve been there. I can’t wait to visit all the museums andsoak in the atmosphere.”

“The July long weekend,” Gideon said.

“Yes,” Andrea said. “We leave the morningof the third and don’t come back until the evening of the seventh. It’ll bethe most marvelous trip. Just me and the man I love, in the city that calls tomy artistic soul.”

“Gracie’s birthday is July third,” Gideonsaid.

“Oh, shoot, that’s right.” Andrea smiledat Grace. “Sorry, sweetheart. But I know you don’t mind. You know howdifficult it is for your father and me to get away.”

“You could leave later in the day.” Gideon’svoice was too loud. “You could at least have lunch with her.”

“We would, but our flight’s already booked,”her mother said. “We’ll do dinner when we get back, just the three of us. Allright?”

“Sure,” Grace said. She knew it wouldn’thappen. Her mother was always scheduling dinner with her and always cancellingat the last minute.

Gideon’s face was red, and he was on theedge of losing his temper. She squeezed his hand and pushed lightly on hisshoulder with hers. “We need to get going. It was good to see you, Mom and Dad.”

“You too, sweetheart,” her mother said. “Don’tbe a stranger. Our schedule is crazy this month but give me a call when we’reback from our New York trip. We’ll fit you in for a coffee or dessert orsomething. All right?”

Gideon’s nostrils flared. He opened hismouth and Grace said hurriedly, “That sounds good. Gideon, let’s go.”

She squeezed his hand hard before dropping it.His face still red, he slid out of the booth, gave her parents a stiff smile, thenstalked away. She kissed her mother’s cheek and hurried after him.

He walked down the street, his long strideeating up the distance, his back ramrod straight.

“Gideon,” she said, “wait up a minute.”

He slowed and she caught up to him, trying tocatch her breath as they walked toward her car.

“Your parents are shitheads,” he said.

“They’re not. They’re nice people who are reallyself-absorbed.”

“I have never met two people more selfish inmy life,” he said. “The fact that you came from them is goddamn astonishing.”

They were at her car now and he leaned againstit, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at her. “They don’t even careabout your birthday.”

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