Page 74 of Suddenly Dating
“Do you live in East Beach, Lola?” Mr.Westbrook asked. He was holding the silver shaker above his shoulder, swaying side to side as he shook the contents.
“Um... yeah,” she said, sounding as if she didn’t know where she lived. “For the time being.”
“Uh-huh. And what do you do for a living?”
“Oh, I ah... I was a paralegal—I mean Iama paralegal, but just not right now.”
“She’s writing a book,” Harry said, and looked pointedly at Lola, shaking his head a little, as if he didn’t understand her.
“A writer! Now that’s a talent I admire,” Mr.Westbrook said, as he poured the liquor into four martini glasses. “I’ve long thought I wanted to write a book,” he added.
“You should totally do it, Dad,” said Hazel. She had perched on the arm of the couch and was studying nails that looked freshly manicured. “People who pursue their passions are the happiest.”
“Well, I think the time to pursue my passion has run out for me,” Mr.Westbrook said jovially, and handed his daughter a drink, then brought one to Lola. It was so full she was certain she couldn’t take it from him without spilling some of it on the Oriental rug at her feet.
“What do you write, Lola?” Hazel asked.
“Fiction. Women’s fiction,” she said.
“Wait,” said Hazel, lifting her gaze from the study of her nails to eye Lola again. “You two met in East Beach?”
Lola nodded.
“Wow. And here I thought Harry was so busy working he didn’t have time to hang out with friends. Certainly not his family. We haven’t seen you in a month, Harry! Oh God, that reminds me—guess who I ran into the other day?”
“Who?” he asked.
“Your ex,” she said, and her mouth gaped open, as if that news surprised even her.
Lola wasn’t looking at Harry, but sitting next to him, and she could feel him tensing. She reached for that martini.
“Oh yeah? How was she?”
Did she detect some emotion in his voice? Reluctance? Sadness? Maybe she hadn’t heard anything at all. Maybe her overactive imagination was overreacting.
“She seemed good. Glam, as usual,” Hazel said. “She asked a lot of questions aboutyou,” she said, pointing at Harry. “Oh, I’m sorry, Lola. Has Harry mentioned his ex?”
“Um... yeah,” Lola said, and risked a look at Harry. “He mentioned he’d ended a relationship recently.”
“Boy, did he ever,” Hazel said, and Mr.Westbrook laughed.
Harry didn’t. He was staring at his sister. “What’d you say, Hazel?”
“Well of course I told her you were doinggreat,”she said as Lola took a sip. “I told her you were working out of East Beach. Just so she’d know you hadn’t had to move to some pit in Brooklyn.”
Lola coughed.
“Careful there, cowgirl,” Mr.Westbrook said.
“Nothing wrong with Brooklyn,” Harry said evenly.
“Maybe not. But I wouldn’t want to live there. I swear we get more of our patients from Brooklyn than any other borough. Anyway, I thought it was interesting she was asking about you,” Hazel said. “You know what I think? I think the grass wasn’t so green on the other side, and now she realizes she had it better with you after all.”
“Very astute observation,” Mr.Westbrook said. “You may be on to something, Hazel.”
“She said you two were taking a break,” Hazel said. “That gives her an entry back, you know? Anyway, I’m having lunch with her next week. Maybe I can ask her.” She winked at Harry.
“Mind if we save the analysis of my former girlfriend for a time when I don’t have a friend sitting right next to me?” Harry asked. “I’m sure Lola doesn’t want to hear all the details of my relationship.”
