Page 99 of Terms + Conditions
“Your nose, too,” Michaela adds. “What does her mom look like?”
“She was cute from what I remember,” Finn says.
“You met her?” If Michaela’s head whipped around any faster, it might have twisted all the way around.
“Spring break twenty-ten was a good time.” Finn smirks, raising a knowing brow toward me, and I roll my eyes. My sister smacks his chest, and Finn chuckles, kissing her temple. “I can think of something a lot more fun, though.” He winks at her, and I have to resist the urge to gag.
“Well, as fun as this hasn’t been,” I say, clapping my hands down on the tops of my thighs and standing from the chair. “I have to go. Nina has requested our presence at her office.”
“It’s the day after Christmas,” Michaela protests.
“You know who we’re talking about, right?”
She rolls her eyes. “Well, bring back some pizza when you come home.”
“Just order it, MJ,” I say over my shoulder, walking into the kitchen as she says something about wanting it from the place near Columbus Circle. “I’m going to Corporate, not DV.”
“Oh good, then grab—” I don’t hear the rest of her request, picking up my pace to the door.
I have no idea what to expect walking into Villa Inc. The office is empty, as one would expect the day after Christmas, and it will stay that way until January 5thof next year, minus the occasional visit from the woman who called me here today. The woman never stops, I swear.
Turning the corner to walk down the hallway leading to the offices that belong to Nina and Kai, I see Mom step out of the restroom. She straightens out her dress and almost begins her way back down the hallway, but catches sight of me first.
“Oh, there you are, Joshua,” she huffs. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d make it at all.”
“I was helping Michaela with something. Lost track of time.” The truth was, I started walking and somehow ended up by the Empire State Building. When I realized I needed to get backdown to the Financial District, traffic was a shitshow. But she didn’t need to know that.
“So, you don’t tell your mother anything anymore?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, first you don’t tell me that you and Elizabeth have decided to stay together, and then I find out fromEileen,of all people, that you have a daughter.”
Why did she say Eileen’s name like that? Eileen has been nothing but nice to her.
“I suppose I should be happy because you and Elizabeth haven’t been very gracious in the grandchildren department, have you? I’ll take what I can get.” Mom shakes her head. “Not sure how I’m going to explain this back home, though.”
“Tell those busybodies to mind their own damn business.”
“Watch your mouth, Josh. I am still your mother.”
“And you’ve been a disappointing one at that,” Elizabeth says, interrupting our conversation as she walks down the hallway.
“What’s the supposed to mean?” Mom scoffs.
“I know all about your conversations with Josh over the past ten years.” Elizabeth loops her arm through mine when she reaches us, squeezing my hand gently. “Telling him that he’s not good enough, not worthy of me or this life. I would have expected something like that from Brina, but never you, Jenny.”
“You two may not like the way I’ve handled things, but without meandBrina, this little union would’ve never happened.”
“I think we would’ve figured it out eventually.”
While I’d like to agree with my wife, I don’t know if I can. Before this arrangement, neither of us had ever looked at each other as anything more than an annoyance that came with being within the radius of Nina and Michaela. But I suppose strangerthings have happened, and if something is meant to be, it will always find a way…Right?
“Does Brina know you’ve decided to stay together?” Mom asks, straightening her shoulders. “I’m sure she’d love to know.”
“I couldn’t care less what that bitch thinks.” Elizabeth practically laughs. “She single-handedly almost dismantled the only family I have left. She can rot alone in that SoHo apartment for all I care.”
“Shame.” Mom glances at me, then Elizabeth, and back at me. “Don’t mess it up this time, Josh.” She turns on her heel and walks down the hallway to Nina’s office.
