Page 179 of Fighting the Pull

“Emilie and Scott are moving in together. She has two roommates where she is now, they’re getting another one. But Scott’s place is too small, so they’re looking for something bigger. That means his old place on the Upper East Side will be open. Mom wants it.”

Christ, that woman.

“Does he rent or own?”

“He rents.”

“Can she afford it?” he asked.

“No.”

As she spoke, she was stepping into her gown. She pulled it up her shoulder then came to him, lifted her arm and angled her side his way.

“Zip, please.”

He finished tucking in his shirt and zipped her.

“And your sister was calling you about this because…” he prompted warily, because he could guess, and what he’d guess would piss him off.

“She wants to know if I’ll subsidize it for Mom. Me and Oskar, she asked him too. You will note the absence of Emilie contributing to that.”

That was what he would guess.

“Elsa,” he said low.

She waved at him in a dismissive gesture and went to go look at herself in the mirror. “I know. I know. I’m not going to. But I think that means it’s going to be me who has to have a talk with Mom about her expectations and her age and how she isn’t exactly ninety years old and infirm and has outlived her retirement so she needs to rely on her children to take care of her.”

“Maybe let her figure that out on her own,” Hale suggested.

She turned to him. “Actually, I’m going to sit down with her and suggest she move to Boston. Oskar was always her favorite anyway. It’s cheaper to live there, not super cheap, but not Manhattan expensive. She’ll be closer to her grandkids. And maybe he’ll be able to help her find a job somewhere. Or she can be their nanny or something.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

She nodded, and in a rustle of sequins, she walked out of the closet and back to the bathroom.

He grabbed his suit jacket and tie and tossed the jacket on his bed on his way to the bathroom.

She was seated at the vanity there that had never been used. But now it had her makeup and skincare and hair stuff scattered all over it.

She was finishing her hair.

“You okay about this?” he asked.

“She’s my mom. We’re not close, but she’s my mom. I want her settled.” She stopped fiddling with her hair and turned on the little bench to face him. “She also isn’t like this. I mean, I don’t think she is. She’s never had to be before, so maybe I’m wrong. She’s not needy or grasping. She can be passive aggressive and manipulative, but not about things like this. I think she’s freaking out. I think she’s fifty-four years old and has to start a new life, and that’s daunting. I’d find it daunting, wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“So I have to dig down and find some patience and help her find her way.”

“You’re a good daughter,” he said softly.

She gave him a gentle smile and turned back to the mirror.

He went to the basin and used the mirror there to put on his tie.

He was adjusting the knot when Elsa came up behind him and curved her arms around him.

“Just have to put on my shoes and jewelry and I’m ready,” she said.

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