Page 91 of Patio Lanterns

“Thank God Mom and Dad are not here to see this,” Lark said. “I do not want to even think about what they would say.”

“Maybe they would’ve been happy for me,” Robin said.

“Happy?” shrilled Lark. “Why in the world would they be happy about their daughter hooking up with a… a… perv.”

“You take that back!” Robin yelped. “Rick’s been nothing but a gentleman in every way.”

Lark shook her head. “This is so like you, Robin. Stupid, reckless, and impulsive. When are you going to grow up?”

And there it was. Robin picked up her glass of whiskey and took a drink.

“Actually, staring into the sun trying to blind myself so that Mom and Dad would buy me a guide dog was stupid. Climbing the tree in front of Aidan’s cottage in the middle of the night was reckless. Shaving my head at seventeen was impulsive. But this,” Robin said, smiling at Rick as she gripped his hand, “this might be one of the most sensible, level-headed things I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Same here.” Rick smiled back at her.

Lark scowled at Rick. “I barely know you, but I expected that a man of your so-called stature would have enough scruples and common decency not to seduce a girl half your age with obvious daddy issues.”

“Wrong on both accounts, sis. I don’t have daddy issues. And I was the one who seduced Rick.” Robin laughed, pointing at the door leading to the backyard. “Right over there, in fact.”

“Ugh!” Lark grimaced. “I didn’t need you to paint that picture for me.”

Aidan pouted. “Trust me, the picture’s much worse when it’s of your own father smashing.”

Rick slammed his hand down. “How about no one pictures anyone at this table smashing,” he commanded. “All you need to know is that I’m crazy about this woman. Our connection is brand new, but we want to be able to explore it further.”

“Do you realize it’s virtually impossible for a couple with a significant age difference to make a relationship last a year, let alone five, or ten, or more?” Lark asked.

“Oh yeah?” Robin challenged. “Well then, explain George and Amal. Or… or… Celine Dion and her husband. They had a twenty-six-year age gap and stayed together for decades.”

“That’s your research?” Lark cringed. “Entertainment Tonight?”

“Mine’s just as factually-based as yours,” Robin slammed. “Hearts don’t follow logic. They don’t reason or rationalize. They just feel. So, like it or not, Rick and I are going to keep seeing each other. We don’t need your approval.”

“Mark my word, Robin, you’re going to regret this,” Lark said. “Maybe not tonight or next week. Maybe not even next year. But there will come a day, maybe in the not too distant future when you’re making Viagra smoothies for this drooling invalid, that you will come to realize what a colossal mistake you’ve made.”

“Uh, excuse me,” Rick interrupted. “But I do try to take good care of myself.”

“I’d rather experience everything that life has to offer and make a few mistakes along the way than be too afraid to make them at all,” Robin spat.

Lark’s dark eyes narrowed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means back off and let me live my life,” Robin told her. “I’m done with you bossing me around.”

“Wait a minute.” Aidan fidgeted in his seat. “If you two end up getting married and having a kid, is that gonna cut into my inheritance?”

“Relax,” Rick told him. “I think you might be getting ahead of yourself.”

Lark’s head whipped around. “Is that what this is all about, Robin? You being pissed at me for putting your inheritance in a trust? Because if you really need money that badly, I’ll write a cheque right now. Hell, I’ll gladly give you my share of equity in the cottage…”

“If you think I’m only with Rick for his money, then I’ve got two words for you.” Robin glowered. “Fuck… you.”

Rick leaned on the table. “Say whatever you want about me, Lark, but I’ve had more than my fill of you belittling Robin,” he told her. “Not only does she have a strong sense of who she is and what she stands for, but she’s one of the most extraordinarily clever, thoughtful, and loving people I’ve ever met. She more than proved that tonight in front of this entire community. I will absolutely not tolerate her being disrespected in my home.”

Robin squeezed his forearm. That’s my man.

“And Aidan, the same goes for you,” he continued. “I know this came out of left field, and it’s going to take some time to accept, but like it or not, Robin is important to me. And so are you. It’s possible for those two things to co-exist peacefully in my life, and I hope that somehow we’ll get to the point where they will.”

Aidan picked up his glass of whiskey, chugging until it was bone dry.

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