Page 79 of My Wife
“No,” I say, stretching again and loosening my neck.
“Okay. I understand. He changed his mind. I can still get some miles out of Shy Eye.” She smiles at her car, homely compared to the other shiny vehicles on the lot.
Bypassing the suggestions the saleswoman made for a replacement, I stride over to the luxury section, including Nissan’s Infiniti model SUVs.
Pointing, I say, “I was thinking of something more like this.”
She tries to argue, but the saleswoman, seeing a better commission, goes all in, convincing her it’s one of their top-rated options.
Jessica finally relents and declares, “Well, the blue-gray color of this one does match Liam’s eyes.”
I roll mine.
While we wait at the finance desk for the loan officer to return from his lunch break, I rock back in the chair and drape my arm over the back of hers.
She doesn’t move a muscle.
Perhaps she doesn’t notice.
However, we both startle when Larry Hamilton enters the room.
“The one. The only! It’s Liam Ellis! It’s lovely to meet you as well, Mrs. Ellis.” We both try to correct him but the man plows on. “I cannot tell you what a pleasure and honor it is to do business with you today. I’m a big fan. Huge. Go, Knights!”
When I’m finally able to get a word in, I tell Larry, “Despite car shopping seeming very domestic, we’re not?—”
He’s already moved on to trade-in value and percentage points.
Jessica and I are not a couple, but do I want to be?
21
LIAM
I half expectedJessica to shed a tear when she parted ways with Shy Eye Good Guy, or bake a cake to celebrate, but she remained surprisingly cool during the transaction.
We head back to Cobbiton, her in the Infiniti’s driver seat, maneuvering carefully like she’s handling a baby foal and not a vehicle built with four-wheel drive. Not only is it a safer option during inclement weather, but it could also handle some off-roading.
While she focuses, I can’t stop asking myself why I didn’t tell Larry the loan guy that Jessica is just my assistant.
But perhaps she’s more than that.
I guess.
Maybe.
She clears her throat and says, “I’m going to line up KJ’s appointments. There might be a few you’ll want to come to, but if you’re at work, I can bring Grandma Dolly.”
“The kid loves her.” Even though I’ve had a rough start to fatherhood, I can no longer deny my affection for my son. It’s been hard to know how to show it without coming off as a total dweeb, not that KJ would care, but still. My memories of my father are good with few exceptions, but he was often gone playing hockey and kind of obsessed with my brother and me making progress in the sport when he was around. It worked out well, but what kind of father do I want to be to the kid?
“I’m guessing they got into plenty of trouble today. But, um, I’m guessing the specialists are going to have some questions about his background.”
“We can have my primary care and sports physicians send my history over if necessary. They’ll see that I’m quite the specimen.”
The corners of Jessica’s lips curve in a private smile but then fall as she turns onto Main Street. Maybe she needs more coffee. “It would also be helpful to have information about KJ’s mother.”
Except for the increasingly chaotic and somewhat threatening texts she’s been sending, when I think about that role, Jessica is the only person who fits the profile.
“In addition to health history, there might need to be some documents signed, sometimes custody comes into play,” Jessica speaks carefully, almost nervously.
