Page 10 of Thanks for the Memories
These are a bit extreme, so I finally type my response.
Sunday works for me. Looking forward to it.
Now I just have to make it until Sunday. I mean, I’ve waited this long, so what’s a few more days?
I practically dance into the house. Neither Gabby nor Lila are home yet, so I change for Pilates and grab a bottle of water. Lila and I usually do morning classes, but our favorite instructor, Carlos, switched his to the evening.
When I sit down and scroll through my emails, I can’t help but think about how my conversation with Amanda ended so abruptly. I know there was something else she wanted to say.
All of a sudden my phone rings, making me jump. It’s Kennedy, so that means she must be on her way home from work.
“Hey.”
“I’m going to give you some advice, and you need to promise me you’ll listen.”
I groan. She’s going to give me it whether I want it or not. “What’s your advice?”
“When you fall in love with the man of your dreams, make sure you get to know his mother.”
Here we go again. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this from my sister. Kennedy and her mother-in-law have a love-hate relationship. I think there’s a saying that men marry a new, updated version of their mothers—and in Evan’s case it’s absolutely true. Kennedy and her mother-in-law, Barbara, are basically the same person.
The thing is—I actually like Barbara. She’s always been nice to me. She’s just very involved in her children’s lives, and that drives Kennedy crazy.
“What now?” I ask, not hiding my disinterest.
“She’s coming down here,” she wails. “And staying for ten days.”
I let out a little giggle.
“Why is this funny to you?”
“It’s not.”
“You’re laughing,” she shouts.
“Okay, sorry. Let’s just think about this for a minute.” I pause. “Barbara’s going to come down here and organize your pantry, take you shopping, and make dinner. What’s the big deal?”
“Ten days, Reagan. Ten,” she shrieks. “She’s never stayed that long.”
She might have a point. Kennedy hanging out with a version of herself for ten days is a lot.
“I told Evan he has to talk to her,” she says. “I can do five, maybe seven, but that’s pushing it.”
Yikes. I’m sure that didn’t go over well with him. He and Kennedy rarely fight, except when it comes to Barbara.
“If you can handle seven days, three more shouldn’t make a difference.”
I smile to myself. Sometimes I love pushing my sister’s buttons.
“It sure does,” she snaps. “I’ll just stay with you for those last few days.”
My smile fades. I had a feeling she’d make that suggestion.
“Are you sure about that? Don’t you think it’ll be obvious when you leave?” I ask. “She’s not stupid.”
“No, I’ll just tell her you’re having a crisis and need me,” she says. “She’s always asking if you’re okay anyway.”
And by okay, she means still single. This isn’t my first rodeo with Barbara and her questions about my personal life.
