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“I do.” Anita picked up one of the carrots. It was soft in her hands. “Yes, definitely from last year.”
“Oh.” Phyllis looked so deflated that she said, “That’s great you found them because I might be able to dry them in slices and use them in my art.”
“That’s so clever of you.” Phyllis’s entire face brightened. “I knew they’d have some use, even if they aren’t edible.”
Anita thought again about the “lonely” comment that Carly had made about their neighbor. “Phyllis, if you don’t have dinner plans, would you like to eat with us?”
Her brows popped up. “You two go ahead. I’m on a special diet.”
Anita couldn’t have been more surprised. Phyllis was very trim and went on a brisk walk every day. “What sort of diet?”
“The grapefruit diet,” Phyllis proudly stated. “It’s a seven-day plan and promises I’ll lose ten pounds. I started it yesterday.”
Anita scanned the woman’s face, from her gold-framed glasses to her carefully lined lips and lipstick. “You look wonderful already, Phyllis. I don’t think you need to lose one pound.”
The woman’s cheeks flushed, which she found curious.
“You’re sweet to say so.” She handed over the basket. “Now, enjoy your dinner with your daughter and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Anita grasped the basket of carrots. “All right. See you tomorrow.”
Closing the door, she shook her head. What did Phyllis see when she looked in the mirror? When could a woman stop worrying about her appearance? Apparently not in her seventies.
Anita headed into the kitchen and set the basket of carrots on the counter. She didn’t know if she’d be able to really use them, but she’d experiment.
She turned to the refrigerator and opened it, scouring the contents for a dinner idea that would decidedly not include grapefruit. She finally settled on tacos to use up the leftover chicken from the night before, but instead of calling Carly to come help with preparations, Anita turned on the television. The Phil Donahue Show was playing, but she didn’t pay much attention. She just wanted background noise to distract her from her thoughts as she prepared dinner.
As she was shredding the cooked chicken, the phone rang. She quickly rinsed off her hands, then picked up the receiver, hoping it wasn’t Glenn again. It was.
“Hello, Anita, I’m glad I caught you.”
“Oh, why’s that?” she asked, pushing down her irritation. She’d told herself she’d break things off with him the next time he called. But at this moment, she didn’t want to deal with it.
“I’m just down the road at a gas station,” he said in a cheerful tone. “What are your dinner plans?”
“Fixing dinner right now,” she said, then winced. Maybe she shouldn’t have said that...
“Ah, that sounds nice,” he said. “Want company? I can bring drinks.”
“I’m sorry, Glenn.” She wasn’t exactly sorry. “It’s just me and Carly tonight. She’s going through some things that need my full attention.”
He was quiet for a moment. “I think you need a night off. The kid can stay on her own for a bit, or maybe she could hang out with friends. I’ll take you somewhere nice.”
The sentiment was probably genuine, but it irked Anita because it felt like he was overriding her parenting decisions. “That’s kind of you to offer,” she ground out. “And I know this isn’t ideal over the phone, but I just don’t think our relationship is going anywhere. I’ve got to focus on my daughter and career right now. I thought I’d have more time for you, but it turns out I don’t. So I think we should just stay friends.”
Glenn laughed.
Was this funny? Amusing?
“You’re a real heartbreaker, Anita,” he said sarcastically, which told her he didn’t think she was a heartbreaker at all. “Just so you know, you’re missing out. I don’t see the men lined up at your door, so if you’re turning me down, then your loneliness is your fault.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but Glenn barreled on. “You’re the one who flirted with me, and I wasn’t too excited that you had baggage, but I was willing to stay open-minded.”
“Carly isn’t baggage,” Anita cut in. “She’s my daughter.”
“Well, put yourself in my shoes,” he said. “Why would I want to raise another man’s kid?”
“No one has asked you to raise her,” she cut in again.
