“When I was nine, my uncle Leo died. I didn’t know him that well, but my mom was devastated. Austin, Mom and I went to Santa Barbara and stayed with Aunt Lillian for the summer. It was magical. Her house is incredible. Huge and old, with secret passageways. Anyway, when we finally came home, my dad had bought the house my mom has now. We were all surprised. I remember running out onto the patio with Mom. She said the backyard was beautiful enough for a wedding. I told her I wanted to be married there, and she said she would make that happen.”
Harlow smiled. “It’s my destiny to marry Kip there.”
Enid laughed. “Then I sure hope your destiny doesn’t include rain.”
four
ROBYN HURRIED TO open her front door, then smiled at Jase.
“You made it.”
“Sorry I’m late.” He walked in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I got tied up with a patient.”
“Not a problem. Dinner can keep. Austin’s out with his friends, so it’s just us.”
She led the way to the kitchen, where she had ingredients for drinks on a tray. It only took a couple of minutes to mix up the martinis. Jase, a compact man about five-nine with a lean build, had taken his usual seat on the sofa. He smiled when she offered him a drink.
“Thanks,” he said, his brown eyes more tired than usual. “It’s been a day.”
She sat across from him, careful not to ask for specifics. Everyone had their quirks, and one of his was being asked about his day. Early in their dating relationship, he’d explained the question was a real hot button for him. It made him feel monitored and interrogated. Robyn didn’t understand his reasoning, but she’d respected his request she not ever ask the question.
“What’s happening with you?” he asked, his way of saying he wasn’t going to explain any more than he had.
“The usual,” she said with a smile. “Last night Austin negotiated to borrow the big TV.” Her smile widened. “He’s going to wash my car every week for the summer.”
Jase’s mouth turned down. “You think he’ll follow through?”
“Sure. Austin keeps his word.”
“I’m not saying he doesn’t. It’s just he’s kind of checked out from life. He’s coasting, with no ambition.”
“He’s working full-time. I’m not saying I’m happy he’s chosen to get a job with his dad, but it’s not like he’s spending the summer hanging out with his friends and playing video games.”
“He is when he’s not working.”
Robyn tried to temper her irritation. “If he’s finished with work, why shouldn’t he enjoy himself?”
“He’s eighteen. He needs goals.”
While she agreed, there was something about Jase’s tone. A condescension that made her want to throw something at his head.
“New topic,” she said. “Are the girls enjoying camp?”
Jase had twelve-and fifteen-year-old daughters who were in North Carolina at a very exclusive science and math camp.
“Settling in. Now we hear from them three times a day, not eight.”
“Improvement.”
He reached out, inviting her close. When she’d moved next to him, he laced his fingers with hers.
“I don’t want to fight,” he said. “It’s just Austin has so much potential. It’s hard to see it wasted.”
She knew what he meant, but somehow his words made her feel defensive. Or like a bad mother.
“I’m giving it some time. I’m hoping working for his dad isn’t the thrill he’s expecting. Austin can get stubborn, and I don’t want him making decisions because he feels trapped.”
“I get that.” He leaned back against the sofa. “Have you decided what to do about the house?”
“I’m still leaning toward selling. It’s too big and expensive. I haven’t talked to Harlow or Austin yet. I might start looking for something first. If I find a suitable replacement, then the idea of me moving will be less upsetting to them.”
Jase looked at her quizzically. “They’re adults with their own lives. Why do they get a say?”
“They don’t get a say, exactly. But Austin will be living with me for a while longer, and—”
Jase shifted away from her. “I thought he was moving out.”
“It’s just for the summer.”
“Since when?”
Since he’d told her yesterday, but she didn’t say that. “He’s not ready to be on his own permanently. He’ll be back in the fall.”
“You’re letting him move in and out? So, when he’s forty, he can move back? You’re letting him run your life?”
She put down her drink and told herself to stay calm. “He’s not running my life. He’s my kid, and I love him. If he wants to stay for a couple more years, that’s fine. He’s eighteen, not forty.”
“You’re making a mistake, letting him think you’ll always be his fallback plan.”
“Why do you have so much energy on the topic? It shouldn’t matter to you if Austin lives with me or not.”
“What does that mean?”
The sharp question surprised her. “I have my own place. Why do you care if my kids live with me? It doesn’t affect you.”
“I’m not ready for us to live together.”
The blunt statement caught her off guard. “We’ve never discussed living together. What does that have to do with anything?”
“I thought that’s what you were expecting.”
There was something in the way he said the words—a tone that implied a weakness on her part. Or maybe it was more about him judging.
“I wasn’t,” she said coolly. It had crossed her mind, but now she was firmly committed to getting her own house.
“I’m not ready for that,” he told her.
“So you’ve said.”
She told herself he wasn’t deliberately trying to be hurtful, implying she wanted more from the relationship than he did. She almost believed herself.
“Your expectations—” he began.
Okay. This had gone on long enough.
She cut him off by standing. “You’ve been in a mood since you walked in. I have no idea what’s going on with you. I’d ask, but then you’d feel interrogated. By the way, not liking when people ask about your day is dumb. Asking about someone’s day shows interest and affection.”
He started to speak, but she held up her hand. “I’m not done.”
“Perhaps I am.” He set down his drink and rose. “I’m not the only one in a mood. We should table this discussion.”
“Fine with me.”
She led the way to the front door and waited until he stepped onto the porch before closing it in his face. Childish? Maybe. But very, very satisfying.
She walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She’d made a healthy salad and had fish ready to grill.
“Not eating that tonight,” she murmured.
She scrolled through her phone, then pushed a button.
“Hi. I’d like to order a pizza, please. A large, all meat, extra cheese.”