Page 72 of Jaime
“So youdothink she’s going to take Evie.”
“I didn’t say that, but it does look like she wants to be involved with her somehow, doesn’t it?”
He sagged, nodding.
“That wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, would it?” I asked. “For Evie to know her mother?”
He swallowed but finally shook his head.
“No, it would be good,” he finally said. “I can’t help feeling threatened though.”
“I can’t imagine how hard this is.”
That finally drew his gaze, some softness entering it.
“You’re making it a little bit easier for me,” he said. “Thank you.”
Before I could respond, Liz marched back, grinning triumphantly. Evie was quiet, looking around with her trademark wide eyes. Suddenly, I realized how like Liz’s they were. Big and round with pale, straight brows. The color was the only difference.
“I did it! Look, she’s quieted down.”
Jaime smiled, real warmth seeping into the expression.
“That’s good, Liz! She’ll be used to you in no time,” he said standing.
I was surprised but pleased to see that, in the end, Jaime was most concerned with everyone winning out. He just seemed to think that, no matter what, it came athisexpense.
When we got back home, Liz insisted on making dinner, and I finally noticed that I’d been accosted with ignored phone calls and messages. Mostly from Naomi and Arty but a couple from my dad too. Everyone was dying to know how the studio tour had gone. At seeing the indignant angry face emoji from Naomi after being ignored all day, I finally relented.
“I’m just going to make a couple calls,” I told Jaime.
He nodded and I went outside, taking a seat in the rickety garden chair nearby before dialing.
“I'm alive,” I said at once.
“And?” she demanded, “what did Jaime say? Did you ask him to come with you?”
“No, no. Not yet... maybe not at all.”
There was a long silence.
“What? I thought you were dead set on being with Jaime.”
“I am. I’m just not dead set on the studio.”
“Because of him?”
I shrugged even though she couldn’t see me.
“I don’t want to rock the boat right now. He’s already going through a lot.”
“Okay,” she said slowly. “You might not want to put it that way for Arty. He’s so excited.”
I could practically hear her grimace.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll just tell him I need some more time to decide. I’ll make up a reason.”
She chuckled softly.
