Page 88 of This Is How It Started
I’m off to the side, basking in a self-congratulatory moment, when I see Adam walking toward me in a pair of shorts and an “I paused my game to be here” T-shirt. His hair is wet and slicked back as if he just got out of the shower.
“What the hell, Rach?”
I hadn’t really expected him to come. “It may have been a false alarm,” I say with an apologetic cringe. The last time I saw my mother, she was doing something innocuous like reorganizing the gift table.
“Now you tell me.” He glances around at the party in motion, and it seems to dawn on him that he’s woefully underdressed. He continues to take in the scene. “Nice. Sort of like the old times, huh?”
“Sort of. You want a drink?”What the hell,I think. The Golds never could resist a good shindig.
“Sure. Is that Hannah over there with Josie?”
I follow Adam’s direction and shield my eyes from the sun. My sister, who is at least dressed for the occasion, is holding a margarita in her hand, laughing at something Josie is saying. Hmm, maybe she knows the bride through Josie.
“Holy Moses, don’t look now,” Adam says. “But Mom and Brooke are standing together, talking.”
Oh, for the love of God, I knew this was going to happen. It was too damn good to be true. I make a beeline for them, hoping to head off a scene before it erupts in the middle of Shireen’s reception. Adam comes tripping after me. I wave my hands at Josie to get her attention and point to Hannah, who has her back turned to me, motioning toward my mother. Calling all Gold reinforcements, this is a code blue.
But when I reach my mother, who has a drink in her hand (never a good sign), and Brooke, they smile at me serenely.
“So far so good,” Brooke says, and for a minute I think she’s talking about her and Shana. About how they’re not trying to kill each other.
Then my mother raises her glass. “Kudos to the two of you. It’s a beautiful party.”
Adam is here, right behind me, as a witness. Hannah is a few steps behind us. When we’re all huddled together like a mini football team ready to sack my mom, if need be, she gathers us in a group hug.
“Isn’t this lovely?” she gushes, sloshing her drink on the three of us. “I have all my children together. Here. Where it all began.” She flags down one of the servers. “Will you take a picture of us.” But she doesn’t have a phone, so I hand him mine.
We pose like we used to when my father was alive and we were still a family. Goofy smiles, Adam jostling to be in the middle, Mom fluffing her hair.
The waiter steps back, fitting us all in the frame, ready to snap the picture, when my mother does the one thing that has the power to floor me. She calls Brooke to join us for the shot.
Chapter 31
Change Is Good
I’m sitting outside of the Windham Real Estate Agency, reading a text from Dr. Booth.
“Want to do dinner this week to celebrate?”
Last month, I sold his apartment. It took about ten minutes, no exaggeration. There were four offers on the table, all of them over asking. Finding him a place, however, wasn’t half as simple. But we persevered. In three weeks, if all goes well, he closes on a sweet townhouse near the ballpark where the action is.
Judging by his text, I get the feeling he wants to get out there again. I have no delusions that dinner isn’t a pretext for us going to bed together. And the crazy thing is I’m actually considering it. I miss sex. All the physical and messy parts of it. I won’t apologize for that. Not to myself—or to anyone else. I may be on the cusp of thirty-five, still in love with my late husband, but I’m not dead.
I deliberate for only a second before sending Dr. Booth a quick text that simply says, “Maybe.” Then I walk into the office where I haven’t shown my face in nearly a year.
Janney’s eyes open wide at the sight of me. “Well, hello, stranger. I assumed you wanted me to mail your commission check, like I did last time.”
“Nope. I came to get it in person and say hello to everyone.” And goodbye, though I’m keeping my license current just in case the venture with Brooke doesn’t work out. But I’m optimistic. More optimistic about this business decision than I’ve ever been about real estate. And markedly more enthusiastic.
Janney is hugely pregnant, and we spend time talking about names and how she doesn’t want to know what sex the baby is until he or she is born. I swing by the coffee bar and fix myself a latte because why not? I will miss the excellent coffee here and may drop by from time to time for a cup.
Niki comes in, bringing her entourage with her. Last I heard, she has her own team now. Her gaze flickers over me.Oh, it’s you,it seems to say.Nothing to see here.I flash her what I hope is a demonic smile. Then I wave her over.
“I have a lead for you.”
She looks mildly interested but dubious that any lead I might have is worth her time.
“Remember that offer you advised me on months ago?” Niki gives me an imperceptible nod. “A dear friend of mine bought it and wants to flip it. He’s a master carpenter, and what he’s done with the house will take your breath away. I’d like you to be his agent.” Of everyone I know in the business, she’s the one most likely to get Campbell the biggest return on his investment.
