Page 59 of The Charming Checklist
“It always is,” Valerie said.
Mrs. Villanueva was next and as Valerie slunk lower and lower in her chair, Ava listened to a sexy poem about how sex hadn’t ended at seventy. It was filled with alliteration, which was kind of cool.
“Jeez,” Valerie said, covering her face.
“I think that’s beautiful.”
“You might feel differently if that was yourmotherup there,” Valerie said.
Ava didn’t think so. She clung to the idea of her parents being in love after all this time. It gave her hope. Though they’d never been particularly demonstrative, they were intensely private people. By the fourth poem, recited by the group’s founder, Etta May, extolling the virtues of antibacterial soap, Ava was cringing. Her mother, who attended the ballet and symphony in her spare time, would laugh at these amateur poets. She believed artistsshouldbe snobs. Were entitled to be snobs. Then again, she’d purchased a tie-dyed tee from the boutique in town, so maybe Mom was changing. In a good way.
People could change in their sixties, right? Sure, they could. Her mother was close to a retirement she and Dad had planned forever. She was simply opening up to new and interesting possibilities, that’s all. Opening up to where they’d travel when they retired.
Susannah and Lois concluded the evening, Susannah with a rhyming poem about Doodle, and Lois with a sweet poem about second chances. Afterward there was tea, coffee—fair enough quality—and cookies.
“Thank you for your sweet poem,” her mother said to Susannah. “I love how you think Doodle can sometimes read your mind.”
They said their goodbyes after a few more minutes, and on the drive home, Mom didn’t say a nasty or derisive word about the evening.
“Mom, thanks for being so understanding,” Ava said. “I know this isn’t for everyone. Valerie cringes at her grandmother’s poems. But she misses her late husband and I think they’re nice tributes to him. I’m sure you can relate. You and Dad have been in love for so long, after all.”
Her mother snorted. “The man in Patsy’s poems sounds like a true romantic. Far from your father, who thinks it’sromanticto schedule sex.”
“Mom!Please!”
“A little too much information? Well, you asked.”
“Are you and Daddy still fighting? Over me? Do you wantmeto talk to him?”
“No, honey, that’s sweet. You may as well know now, I’m thinking of divorcing your father.”
Ava nearly drove off the road. A car behind her honked.
“Watch where you’re going!” Mom chided.
Ava pulled off the road, breathing hard. “Are you...are you kidding me?”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just sprung this on you.”
“You think?”
“It was bound to happen.”
“Why was itboundto happen? This...tell me it’s not about me. Tell me you’re not divorcing because he’s suddenly supporting my choices.”
“No. That’s not the problem.”
“But why? What went wrong? Did he cheat on you?”
Please, God, no!Not her wonderful father.
“Of course not. Your father has far too much integrity for that sort of thing. We both do.”
“Then what is it? If you think you’ve fallen out of love, I hear that can be fixed, too. Maybe a little therapy. I mean, why not?”
“Oh please. Like your father would ever do couples therapy. He’s toobusy.”
“He’ll make time when you tell him how desperately you feel!”
