Page 18 of The Homemaker
He rests the open book face down on his chest and slides his aviator sunglasses to the tip of his nose. “Blair and Vera went shopping. And Hunter took one of his cars for a joyride.”
I open the towel bin. “And you didn’t get invited on his joyride?”
“He invited me, but I passed because he smokes cigars on his joyrides, and even in a convertible, I end up eating half the smoke.”
I crank up the sun umbrella over one of the tables. “Is there anything I can get you? A drink? Music? Sunscreen?”
“Hunter has a turntable in his study with an impressive vinyl collection,” he says.
I blink several times before nodding. “I’m aware. But I don’t think he’d want me bringing it out here by the pool for you.”
Murphy deflates because I don’t take the bait.
I lace my fingers behind my back. “Anything else?”
“Do you play pickleball?”
I glance toward the court. “I have played. I’m not that good.”
“No?” He cocks his head to the side. “You seem like the type of person who is good at a lot of things.”
“Why do you say that?” I squint against the sun, using my hand on my forehead as a visor.
“You cook, clean, sew, garden, arrange flowers. And make the perfect steak. Need I say more? Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Plenty.”
He stares at me as if I’ll change my answer. When Idon’t, he pushes his glasses back up his nose. “Are you originally from Minnesota?”
“Wisconsin.”
“What brought you to Minneapolis?”
My facade is precarious at best.Hebrought me to Minneapolis.
“Urban amenities.”
He shifts his attention to the water and the lone orange pool float in the middle. “Are you married?”
“Why? Do you need advice before you say your vows?”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Do you have advice before I take my vows?”
“My mom would say, don’t think you can change her. Blair will change, because people do. But she’ll become who she needs to be, not who you want her to be.”
“I shouldn’t expect her to be a homemaker if that’s not who she is now?”
I smile and pick up a few dead flower petals before they blow into the pool. “Exactly,” I say with a tiny laugh while walking away.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he calls.
I stop without turning.
“Are you married?”
I continue walking.
Chapter Nine
