Page 39 of The Husband Diet
‘Larry. Larry Dignam. Thank you, sir. Wow. You just made my day. Is there any chance you might be considering a comeback?’
Julian stilled. ‘I don’t think so, mate.’
The man looked into his eyes and it was as if there had been an understanding that would have gone way over my head if I hadn’t understood the pain he’d been through. Losing your status as a champion must have been hard on such a young man.
Julian then turned to me. ‘Erica, why don’t I take the kids to their Italian lessons? It’s the one on Sudbury Street, isn’t it? I’ll be back in five minutes. OK?’
I couldn’t argue with him. But when Julian drove off with my waving kids in his jeep, I resented it. This wasmyfamily,myproblem, and it was up to me to solve it on my own.
Julian came back in time to take me down to the mechanic’s. I’d totaled the front and the radiator, as well. Taking the bus home or calling a cab wasn’t an option, according to Julian.
‘I live right near here,’ he said. ‘I can drive the kids to school in the morning and then take you to work until your car’s ready,’ he said as he was driving me home.
I turned to look at him. Either he didn’t have a life or was trying to fix mine.
‘Uh, no, that’s OK, thanks.’ That was all I needed – Headmaster Foxham on 24-hour guard duty.
‘It’s no trouble at all.’
‘I have a husband, you know,’ I lied, then turned to check his face.
Did I mean I had a husband who could drive me or a husband who wouldn’t appreciate me driving around with a good-looking guy?
He nodded dutifully and said, ‘If you don’t mind my asking…’
I sighed. ‘Let’s have it.’
‘When the mechanic asked for your registration document, I couldn’t help noticing you had a lot of parking tickets in your glove compartment.’
And his point was? Why did everybody think I didn’t know how to park? This guy was worse than a damn bloodhound. Why was he constantly on my case?
‘Speeding –notparking tickets,’ I corrected tersely, then shrugged, because I knew he was going to ask me anyway. ‘And they’re paid, in case you’re wondering about that, too. But yes, I’m always in a hurry – and always late.’
‘Not picking up the kids you aren’t,’ he said kindly.
I smiled. At least he noticed the good things, too. ‘No, and work. Except for those two, I’m late everywhere else. You name it – the beautician, my dentist appointments. So eventually, I stopped going. To the beautician.’
Not that that was info he needed. Besides, it showed big time. I sighed. I was still – always – a mess. Why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut?
He turned to grin at me. I know it was intended to be a friendly one to put me at ease, but the fact was that I found it – him – sexy as hell. Nowthatwas pure unmotherly behavior, forget skipping a school meeting or whatever.
‘Where am I going?’ he asked, tearing me out of my reverie.
‘Oh. Uh, Quincy Shore Drive. Make a left at the lights. It’s all the way down, number 3566.’
I was sure he’d already driven past the house to make sure it wasn’t a dump or a fake address. Some principals could be real paranoid. Some mothers, too.
‘Can I ask you a stupid question, Julian?’
He threw me a wry grin as we crossed a busy intersection. ‘Of course.’
I hesitated. It wasn’t any of my business. ‘Are you sure you can’t go back to playing baseball? Or at least coach outside the school? Or give the kids counseling or anything baseball-related? Warren tells me you’re the best coach a boy could have.’ There. I’d been as nosy as him. But it felt right to reciprocate, to show some level of caring.
He chewed on his lower lip for a while before answering and I could tell it was costing him a big effort. Why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut?
‘That part of my life is over, Erica. For good.’
Wow. That sounded pretty final. ‘Don’t you miss it?’ I insisted, getting braver by the minute.
