Page 61 of Every Good Thing
Ruthie salutes. “Aye, aye, captain.”
“Now, let’s get these in water.” Mrs. Moore guides Ruthie inside.
“How’s Mrs. Moore doing?” I ask Dot. “She looks a little…”
“Slow.” Dot leans up in her chair and pulls her vape pen from her pocket. “She says she’s fine, but I don’t know. Sometimes, she needs a shot, and sometimes, she doesn’t. I’ll talk to the nurses when we go on Friday.”
Six months ago, Mrs. Moore turned eighty, and her yearly bloodwork revealed blood cancer. She goes in for a cell-boosting shot weekly but receives it only if her white blood cell count is low. Often, it isn’t. Otherwise, the cancer has barely affected her. She keeps up with all her Bible studies, charity work, and gardening.
But Dot worries. Watching Mrs. Moore slow down worries me, too.
“So, let’s get back to Ben and your plan. I know a great little shop, very boutiquey, for some ooh-la-la lingerie,” Cherry offers. “Avery, the owner, is like my new gay best friend. I could get you a little discount.”
“Hold up.” Dot raises a hand. “Lena shouldn’t have to doll up her sexy bits just because Ben’s in a mood. This ain’t the fucking fifties.”
“Oh, I know that,” Cherry says. “It’s more about her confidence than his enjoyment. It’s like wearing lipstick always makes me feel more powerful. Uplifting lingerie uplifts.”
Dot nods her reluctant approval. “Lena could use the confidence.”
“And the sex,” Cherry adds.
“Thanks, but that’s not what this is about.”
“Connection is connection,” Cherry says. “If you want to be close with him, that’s one way to do it. Bonus—reminding him of what he has may keep him from looking elsewhere.”
“Normally, I’d say don’t project your bullshit on her,” Dot says to Cherry, “but considering the Lauren factor, she makes a point.”
“Ben’s no cheater,” I say sternly.
“No guy is… until they are,” Cherry says.
“Ben’s not a cheater, but Lauren Riley seems keen to make him one.” Dot blows out a long cloud that dissipates in a breath. “She was making mad come-hither eyes at him the other morning.”
“His eyes are the only ones I care about.”
“Oh, he didn’t look happy,” she agrees. “But they have unresolved history… and there’s that job offer.”
“He’s not taking it.”
Dot gapes. “Damn girl, you dodged a bullet there.”
“Absolutely!” Cherry agrees, sipping her wine. “Him working there every day… around her… protecting her… the bodyguard and the former fiancée, eesh. It sounds like a bad second-chance romance that won’t end in your favor.”
“What have I told you about reading those?” Dot snaps.
“Probably the same thing she says about my self-help books,” I say to Cherry. “Not to read them.”
“What’s the harm?” Cherry coos.
“The harm? Oh, only that you’ll have unrealistic expectations, either of yourselves or your significant others. No book will tame your insane schedule or give you more time in the day, and no guy’ll live up to your book boyfriends,” she says, motioning from me to Cherry.
“Oh, I know,” Cherry says. “But see? That’s the trick. I drop them before they ruin my fantasy, so real guys, book boyfriends… they’re all the same to me. Temporary.”
Dot and I share a glance that’s a mix between poor Cherry and dang woman.
“Anyway,” Cherry says, before we can argue, “Ben taking that job would put you in a state of constant panic.”
“It’s a relief, I admit. One less thing to worry about… and fight over.”
