Page 75 of Karma
Chapter Twenty-Five
Griffin’s Beach
Zane
“Remind me why you didn’t want to eat at Theresa’s house again,” Anne says as she places their dinner plates in the sink.
“Her family is vegan. I’m cool with vegetarians, but I can’t get behind not eating cheese. Power to them for their conviction, but breakfast is about all I can handle,” Margaret says as she brings the last of the glasses to the counter.
Zane chuckles as he watches Anne taking charge in the kitchen like she belongs there. She spends every night she isn’t working with them and makes dinner. It’s become very comfortable to have her here.
“Vegan?” Zane asks. “What the fuck is that?”
“No animal or animal product,” she says. “Cheese comes from milk which comes from a cow, so it’s a no-go. No butter or eggs, either.”
His eyebrows lift as he thinks about everything he eats. Everything has an animal or animal product in it. “What the helldothey eat, then?”
“Cardboard, Dad. That’s what it tastes like. Salted cardboard. And don’t get me started on vegan butter. No thanks.”
Anne laughs as Margaret grabs her bag and stops in the doorway before taking off. “Got everything?”
“Yeah. Anne? Thank you for making dinner.”
She smiles brightly. “You’re very welcome.”
“You never thank me when I make dinner,” Zane says.
“Because you’re only good at takeout. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but the truth hurts sometimes.”
His jaw drops. “Um, excuse me? I’m excellent at making breakfast for dinner.”
“Which we had for an entire week straight because you burned everything else,” she says, adjusting the bag on her shoulder. “If I didn’t already have an eating disorder, that may have pushed me towards one.”
The humor disappears from Zane, and he glances at Anne who looks equally uncomfortable. He’s made it a point to watch how much Margaret eats, and he makes sure she doesn’t end up in the bathroom after meals. “That’s not funny, kid.”
“Come on, it’s a little funny,” she says. “If I can’t joke about it, it’s just sad. Lex would have laughed with me.”
If he hadn’t helped play a role in everything, maybe he could find humor like she does.
“Sorry to eat and run, but I have to meet Theresa at her house before seven. Her parents think being out past that time means you’re destined to become a drug user and a hooker,” Margaretsays. “And no, I’m not exaggerating. That girl’s going to be pregnant her first year of college. Mark my words.”
Anne snorts with laugher, and Margaret kisses them both on the cheek before leaving. She still looks just like her mother, but she has much more of an eclectic and alternative style. Lots of plaid and band tees.
“I swear, she’s more mature than I am,” Zane says.
“She’s got a good head on her shoulders,” Anne says with a smile. “Lane did a good job with her.”
The comment should hurt his feelings. Six months ago, it probably would have destroyed him, but he told her how much of the parenting fell on his wife’s shoulders. He’s learning on his feet, but he knows most of how Margaret turned out has to do with her mother, not him.
Zane stands and wraps his arms around Anne’s waist, kissing her neck as she leans back against his chest. “The dishes can wait.”
“Are you sure?”
Turning her to face him, he kisses her. “You’ve been amazing. And we have the house to ourselves tonight.”
“Do you want me to stay over?”
He nods and kisses her again before lifting her into his arms. They decided once she met Margaret to take their physical relationship back a few steps.
