Page 7 of The Perils of Pretending
“They don’t have great-grandkids yet, and since I’m the oldest, it’s all they want to talk about.” I think they forgot there’s more to me than becoming a husband and father.
“Oooooh.” She wrinkles her nose. “Yeah, that sucks. I can relate all too well.”
“For the record,” Michelle says, speeding up as she gets on the freeway, “I haven’t said one peep about marriage or babies to you, Sadie.”
“And I appreciate it more than you know.” Sadie reaches forward and squeezes Michelle’s shoulder. “But Grandma and her sisters won’t stop harassing me about being twenty-six and unmarried. I’m a menace to the Ashcombe reputation."
I turn thirty-two next week. If they think Sadie’s a menace, I’d be a downright disgrace.
“I’ll do my best to distract them,” Michelle says.
“Too bad you aren’t dating anyone, Mom.” Brody laughs. “That would take the heat off of Sadie.”
Michelle sighs. “Maybe someday. Your dad is a tough act to follow.”
I wish I’d had the opportunity to really know Darren. These guys all talk about him with such high regard. We met a couple times, but it wasn’t long enough to establish much of a relationship. I know enough to say he was nice and Brody wants to be like him, but that’s it.
Sadie tugs on the hem of her shirt. “Poppy says she has something to help me with Grandma since she’s not coming. I’ll be okay.”
I can tell Sadie’s lying. I hope for her sake that their grandma will take it easy on her. “Brody told me about the bucket list. Are you looking forward to that at least?”
Brody’s talked a few times about the trip his dad took him on when he turned sixteen. He mentioned the list Michelle gave Sadie for her supposed-to-be birthday trip with Darren. I love the idea of spending one-on-one time at a very pivotal moment in a child’s life. When I have kids one day, I want to do the same thing. Get them away from friends and distractions and talk about life.
I have a good relationship with Mom and Dad. I plan to incorporate a lot of their parenting into my own someday too, but I also love hearing about other amazing ideas like this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Sadie nods. “It’s the only reason I’m going.”
“Well, when we see each other for the holidays, I look forward to hearing about it.” I shouldn’t say holidays plural, since I won’t be spending Thanksgiving with Brody and his Hayes family this year. I won’t see Sadie again until Daphne has the baby at the end of September, then Christmas.
“You know what I’m looking forward to?” Brody says. “Getting Poppy’s discount at her store. I need a snack.”
Sadie smiles affectionately. “Poppy loves helping and taking care of others.”
Michelle exits toward the airport. “I always find what she gives me to be useful at some point on my vacation.”
Brody’s head bobs. “True.”
“How do I get in on this?” I ask, slightly teasing. “I could use some help with my grandma.” I’m not sure what Poppy could provide to ease my grandparents’ worries about my dismal love life, but anything is worth a try.
Sadie pulls out her phone. “I’ll text her and tell her you need something too. She’ll help you out.”
Sadie’s fingers fly across her phone screen.
“When’s your birthday, Max?”
Why does Sadie want to know? I narrow my eyes the tiniest amount, worried what she’ll do with the information. “July thirty-first. Why?”
Brody turns his head over his shoulder, looking at Max. “You know Poppy, she’ll want to look up your Zodiac sign.”
Ah, yes. Brody’s hippie baby sister. She’s pretty, in a flower child kind of way. As a man of science, I’m not into supposed signs from the stars dictating my life, but it seems to make Poppy happy and that’s what’s important.
Sadie tucks her chin in and her eyes widen. “Oh wow. That’s next week. Will you be home to celebrate in Utah, or will you be in Alaska still? Also, do you realize you have an extremely famous, though fictional, birthday twin? Do you like Harry Potter? If you don’t, I’m not sure we can keep being acquaintances. Every Halloween, I dress up as a character from the book series. I watch the movies all the time. I reread the series every summer—I’m in the middle of Prisoner of Azkaban right now. Frozen butterscotch drinks are my favorite when it’s hot. I’m slightly obsessed with the entire concept of magic among mortals in our day in age, good versus evil, and a hidden world muggles don’t know about. It’s why romantasy novels are my favorite to edit.”
Sadie’s cheeks turn pink. “Sorry for that word vomit. You don’t have to answer.”
Michelle sits up higher in her seat, peering at me in the rearview mirror. She speaks before I can tell Sadie I’ll be in Utah for my birthday and I do like Harry Potter. “When you think about how much time and energy Poppy puts into whatever she gives you, the gift morphs into a reminder that someone thought about you enough to compile a present tailored just for you. It’s a little token saying someone cares.”
I’ve always appreciated Michelle’s optimism. “That’s really considerate of her.”
