“Whatever. Don’t risk your marriage and your family. He’s not worth it.”
“But I’m not doing it for him. I’m doing it for me.” She smiled dreamily. “At least let me see him naked.”
“See a therapist instead.”
Mindy assumed Robyn was kidding and burst out laughing. Robyn faked a smile, even as she told herself to stop trying to convince her friend of anything. Based on how her children were behaving lately, she had no skills at persuasion. Oh, for the days when she could bribe them with a Popsicle.
She excused herself to use the restroom. Halfway across the room, Madison Greene spotted her. The fiftysomething avid golfer’s favorite hobby was spreading bad news. The sight of her wave and quick approach caused Robyn to nearly stumble. What now?
“Robyn, darling. You look amazing. What are you doing these days? You never join me for a foursome.”
Robyn smiled as they exchanged an air-kiss, not bothering to point out that she didn’t golf.
“Always a pleasure, Madison,” she said, bracing herself.
“I heard Harlow’s engaged. You must be thrilled. My oldest refused to get married until she was nearly thirty. It was a nightmare. But she finally did the deed.”
Madison glanced around, as if checking that they were alone, which they weren’t. They were in a crowded dining room, not that Madison would care. She was here to share something awful, and the more people who heard it, the better.
“Is Cord’s relationship going to be a problem for you and Harlow? Boys will be boys, but it’s just so awkward.”
Robyn thought briefly about a quick, “We’re fine,” only she had no idea what Madison was talking about. And not knowing something about her ex-husband could be risky, especially if their daughter was involved.
Madison shook her head in faux sympathy. “You have no idea what I’m talking about. Oh, no. I shouldn’t have said a word.”
“But you did, didn’t you?”
Madison blinked at her. “Yes, well, it’s just I thought you should know. Cord is dating Zafina.”
Why did anyone think she was the least bit interested in who her ex-husband went out with? “I have no idea who that is.”
Thin eyebrows rose as much as the Botox would let them. “Your ex-husband is dating your daughter’s fiancé’s twin sister.”
Robyn stood there, trying to absorb the words. Cord was dating Harlow’s fiancé’s twin sister?
“I didn’t know Kip had a twin sister,” she said before she could stop herself. Crap! Double crap!
Madison offered a self-satisfied smile. “I wondered why you were so calm. I’m sorry to be the one to bring you such bad news.”
“Are you?” Robyn asked before she could stop herself. “It seems to me you’re delighted. It must be hard having such a small life.”
With that she turned away and continued her journey to the restroom. Once she was safely in the bathroom stall, she took a moment to decide if she was going to pee, as she’d originally planned, or just plain puke.
* * *
Robyn faked her way through lunch. She preferred to mull over Madison’s bombshell before talking about it. She alternated between disbelief and resignation. What had Cord been thinking? Dating his daughter’s fiancé’s twin sister? Really? Couldn’t he settle for someone only ten years younger who wasn’t related to Kip?
Once she was home, she quickly texted her ex, asking him to stop by that evening. Within seconds, he answered with, What did I do now?
She ignored the question.
Six works for me. See you then.
She thought about texting Harlow and asking her about her father dating Zafina, but decided that wasn’t a good idea. Based on her daughter’s silence on the subject, she would guess Harlow didn’t know. Better to find out if it was a weekend fling that could be ignored or something that was going to blow up in their faces.
“Dammit, Cord,” she muttered, wondering why, four years after their divorce, she was still dealing with his messes.
In the kitchen, she got out ingredients for a citrus marinade. Once she’d juiced the oranges and the limes, she chopped basil before turning her attention to the chicken pieces. She carefully removed the skin and any visible fat. While she’d always tried to provide healthy meals for her family, since she’d started dating Jase, she’d become even more aware of the food she prepared.
She put the chicken and marinade into a large resealable plastic bag. She’d just finished when Austin, her youngest, walked into the kitchen.
“Hey, Mom,” he said, stretching before slumping onto one of the bar stools by the large island. His dark blond hair fell into his eyes. He was tall and lean, with that too-skinny look teenaged boys had. Sometime in the next couple of years he would start to fill out.
“You’re home early.”
“It was only a six-hour fishing charter.”
“That’s why you were gone before sunrise.”
“I had to be on board by five thirty.”
“Pesky fish and their timetables.”
Austin flashed her a grin. “I blame the fishermen.”
“Them, too.”
Austin, barely eighteen and a recent high school graduate, eyed the plastic bag. “More chicken?”
“It’s healthy.”
“Did you have to start dating a cardiologist? All we ever have is chicken and fish.”
She held in a smile. “That’s not true. Last week I made vegetarian enchiladas.”
“I know, but I try not to think about it. Couldn’t you start seeing a guy who owns a rib place? That would be better for me.”
“It’s not bad for you to learn to eat healthy. You won’t be eighteen forever.”
“I’m figuring I’ll be eighteen for about a year.”
She laughed. “I think you’re right. You hungry?”
“Always.”
She cleaned up, then walked to the refrigerator. “Isn’t there leftover Thai?” A takeout dinner she and Austin had shared. Something they would only have when Jase wasn’t coming over.
“I had it for breakfast.”
“There’s still some of the poached salmon. I could heat that and put together a salad.”
Austin made a gagging noise in the back of his throat. “I want something good.”
His tone made him sound like he was eight instead of eighteen. If only that were true, she thought, remembering how easy things had been when he’d been younger. Austin was a go along to get along kid. He was even-tempered, thoughtful and affectionate. Unfortunately he was also stubborn, so when he’d said he wasn’t going to college and instead would work for his dad, no amount of chiding, persuading or threatening had changed his mind.
She inspected the refrigerator contents. “Grilled cheese and coleslaw?”
“Yes, please.”
“Even though dinner’s in two hours?”
“Like I won’t be hungry then, too.”
She collected three kinds of cheese, along with butter and bread. She’d made the coleslaw that morning. Jase wouldn’t approve, but she would grill vegetables along with the chicken so he could eat those and ignore the creamy goodness of her coleslaw.