Page 101 of Afternoon Delight
“I’ll call PLF. See if Cameron’s available.”
We shared a snicker over that one. God, I was happy to be out of that place.
“You really like this guy, huh?”
“Zak? I do. But he’s the first and only person I’ve dated since the divorce, so I’m trying not to rush into anything. I miss him so much, though.” I was pining. Eating my heart out.
“How’d you meet him?”
“Bit of a funny story. You really want to know?”
“I do.”
She ordered another round, and I started spilling my tea.
Chapter 55
Meg
When I thought about what anchored me to Toronto, Roddie was it. Most of my real friends had been made when we were still in Montreal, when I’d been a young mom and Shelby had been starting play group. I kept in touch with them online, but I didn’t see them in person much anymore. I had a few friends in Toronto, but those connections had fallen stale through Dad’s illness and the divorce. None were so precious to me that I would take over their adult toy shop if they asked me to.
As I considered leaving, I made myself look at all my options. For instance, I could move to Calgary to be closer to Shelby. Roddie might like that, but the thing that drew me to Victoria was the familiarity. It had grown up and grown very busy through the years, but compared to Toronto, it felt quaint and laid-back. It felt like home.
I waited until Shelby came for Joel’s wedding before I told anyone that I was secretly shopping real estate in Victoria. Mom had taken me up on my offer to visit while her house was being shown, so she was with us when I took the kids out to dinner.
“This is fancy, Mom. What’s the occasion?” Shelby asked.
We were in the rotating restaurant atop the CN Tower with a window seat overlooking the city lights.
“The occasion is that I work ten minutes from this place and I’ve never been. There are a ton of things to do here and I never do them. That leads me to wonder why I live here. And now that I’ve got you all together, there’s something I wanted to tell you.”
Roddie slapped the menu closed. Shelby’s eyes widened. Mom picked up her drink and seemed to hold her breath.
Oof. I really had set some rough precedents.
“I’ve decided to move to Victoria.”
“You and Zak are getting back together?” Shelby clapped her hands in excitement.
“Spoiler alert, they never broke up,” Roddie said.
“Oh, I like Zak,” Mom said warmly. “Are you going to marry or?—”
“Mom. Everyone calm down.” I held up a hand. “I don’t know what will happen with Zak. I haven’t told him because I don’t want to put any pressure on him. This move is something I want to do. And hopefully Roddie? Do you still think you would come with me?”
“I told Bethany I might. She said, ‘What would you even do there?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. I can’t learn to fish ’cause I sold all of Grandpa’s gear.’ She laughed so hard, but she said she’d visit. And I’ll see her when I visit Dad. I can come back if I don’t like it. Right?”
“Exactly.”
“Then, yeah.” He shrugged and opened his menu again.
“I wish you’d said something before I listed the house,” Mom said with mild annoyance. “I’ll call in the morning, see if I can back out...”
“No. Mom. I love you and I want to be closer to you, but not that close. This is a fresh start for both of us.”
“I thought you were excited about the condo, Grandma?” Shelby asked.
“It will be convenient. Did your mother tell you I’ve started doing the window display for the pro shop at the golf course? Let me show you the photos. They’re paying me in store credit, but I buy enough there that it works out well for me.”
