Page 5 of Unconditionally With Me
“Oh. My. God. What did he do?”
“Well, Annie thought it was a game, so she kissed her first. As you can imagine, it was an interesting parent-teacher conference.” She launches into an involved story about boys and girls kissing and about it being a wonderful thing if boys like boys or girls like girls. “When it was done, I told Jonas to find out from Chelsea the number of her hairdresser. I might need it sooner rather than later to hide the gray.”
I burst out laughing. “Good job, Mom. What did they say?”
“I think they fell asleep in the middle of the discussion. But maybe subconsciously they heard me? Who knows.”
We chat a few more minutes before we both decide we’re hungry. But I don’t order the normal robust breakfast I do when we come to Shecan. The talk about boys liking boys reminds me of Erik and Will. Suddenly, the smell of frying grease makes me nauseous. What is Trina going to say about my relationship with Erik’s great-aunt? How is she going to feel about this inheritance?
Then I jump out of my stupor when the waitress snaps, “Hon? Are you not eating today?”
Almost without thinking, I order, “I’ll take a gyro omelet. Hash browns, seasoned. Toast and ham.”
Trina doubles over. “Are you sure Julian isn’t coming? Or are you channeling Jonas?”
“Why do you keep asking that?” I demand as I hand my menu back over with a “Thank you.”
“Because that’s exactly what I ordered for Jonas that first morning.”
Realizing I just ordered enough food for a family of four, I quickly turn to change my order. But it’s too late. I shrug. I’ve eaten Shecan’s leftovers before. Lord knows they taste great with wine which I’ll need if I’m going to try to figure this out.
* * *
Later that night,I have an email from the attorney in my inbox. While it’s stamped “UNOFFICIAL” on every page, I finally have a copy of Rachel’s will. And the letter she left me.
Eleanor,
I know much of this has come as a surprise to you. I know this has been a trying time for you, but we are here to help you.
Perhaps it would be best if you were able to journey to Seattle to settle the estate? This way, we could address any questions about the formalities in person, including if you choose to use the firm for dispatching the property, should you choose to sell it.
All the best,
Rob
After printing everything out,I go into the kitchen and open a bottle of Montepulciano to breathe when my cell rings. Glancing at the caller ID, I answer it quickly. “Hey.”
“Hey, babe. Just checking in.” Julian’s fingers are flying on the keyboard.
“I had off today, so I got to see Trina.” I reach for a wineglass and pour myself a healthy drink. I take it with me into the living room, temporarily sidetracked from the papers on my kitchen table. “What about you?”
“Late night. Early morning,” he grumbles.
“Was the new club decent?” Julian writes a column forCity Lightscalled Gossip Guy. He typically heads into some of the trendiest—and sleaziest—clubs of New York for the information he needs to fill his column inches.
“I’m tempted to call Jonas to use him as my negative thesaurus.”
I giggle. “That bad?”
“I was told it was casual. If you saw that, what would you think, Elle?”
“Jeans?” I venture.
“Which is what I had on. I didn’t realize that meant assless ones. Or that people would be walking around with crops in their hands.”
I grin. “Poor baby.”
“I’d ask you to come over and make it all better, but I feel like I need to sanitize first.”
