Page 32 of Nora Goes Off Script

“It is. You get used to not thinking about money pretty quick. But, like they say, it won’t make you happy.”

“It’d make me happy,” says Mickey.

“That’s because you’re already happy.”

CHAPTER 12

On Monday my phone rings at about noon. We’re in the tea house, and it’s Ben. Leo and I stare at it for a few seconds. “Do you want to get it?” he asks.

“Do you?” I put the phone down and turn over. There’s no way I want to let Ben into this cocoon.

“I mean, could it be important? He doesn’t usually call, does he?”

I turn back to Leo, and the phone has mercifully stopped ringing. “He calls every few months. He says he wants to see the kids. I say ‘great!’ Then he says he’ll call back later in the week when he’s ‘nailed down a few deets.’ And then he never calls.”

“Never?”

“Never. The first time, I told the kids that he was coming, and they were all excited. But of course he didn’t come, sonow I don’t tell them. On the off chance he ever knocks on the door, it’ll just be a surprise.”

The phone’s ringing again. Leo says, “He’s calling back? Seriously, you should pick up.”

“He just doesn’t like being ignored,” I say, and I answer the call on speakerphone.

“Hi, Ben.”

“Hey there. How’s it going?”

“Great.” I smile at Leo, because it is going great, so great, beyond great in my wildest fantasies, if I’d ever taken the time to have any.

“Great. And how are the kids?”

“They’re good. I mean, their dad left and he never sees them. But otherwise they’re good.”

“Do you realize you say that every single time we talk?”

“I do.”

He lets out an exasperated breath. “So, I was thinking I’d come in two weeks. I just have to nail down a few deets, but is it okay if I come and take them for a weekend?”

“Sure.” Leo rolls his eyes, and I nod.

“Okay, thanks. So you’re good? You sound a little distracted. Working on another one of your corny romances?”

I smile at Leo. “I am. And this is the best, corniest one yet.”

“Ha. Ever finish the one you were writing about me?”

“I did.” Leo’s making big eyes at me.

“Hilarious,” Ben says, because he really has no idea what a jerk he is.

When I hang up, Leo pulls me in tight. “So there’s no chance he’s going to follow through and show up?”

“I would drop dead of shock if he knocked on the door. Let me put it this way: Ben always does what he wants to do. If he wants something, he buys it. If he wants to leave, he goes. If he wanted to see the kids, he would have been here months ago.”

“Just do me a favor. Let me answer the door if he ever knocks,” Leo says.

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