Page 42 of Beau Pair
“Fine,” she says. “What’s his name?”
Any other question but that one? No? You don’t want to change your mind? The line doesn’t want to go dead? You don’t want to lose reception?
Oh God.
Here it comes.
“Gordon,” I tell her.
“Isn’t that your boss’s name?” she asks.
I nod. She can’t see me, of course, but I still nod. My throat closes up, and I can’t articulate.
“Beaumont?” she raises her voice, and I find mine.
“Yes, Mama. Yes, my boss’s name is Gordon,” I mumble.
“What a coincidence,” she says.
“It’s not.”
A pause. Then…
“Beaumont! What have you done?”
I wince from how loud she shouts on the phone. Wincing doesn’t do anything to ease my nerves, though.
“Well, him, obviously,” I say, but mama doesn’t appreciate the joke.
“What on earth would you do that for?” she asks.
“Because.”
“Because what?”
“Because he asked me to?”
“What?” she shouts.
That doesn’t paint him in the best light.
“Because I wanted to?”
“Did he force you?” she asks.
“No,” I shout.
“Do you like him?”
That question, I did not expect.
“I do.”
“Is he taking advantage of you? Did he threaten you with something?”
“No, Mama. Why would he?”
“Well, excuse me, sweetpie, but you said he’s forty-seven. What am I supposed to think?”
