Billie’s smiled faded.“I don’t have a watch.”
He glanced at Jane.“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Charlene wouldn’t have done anything really horrible.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Oh, dear.I guess she would.Billie, did you and Charlene play cards?”Billie pulled out her softball and studied the seams.Jane knew that look.“Just tell me.”
“A couple of games.”
“Poker?”
“No.”Billie shook her head.“We did a counting game.She gave me cards and I had to count them.Whoever got closest to twenty-one won.We played for cookies.”
She moaned.“I told her not to teach you card games.”
“It’s hopeless,” Adam said.“She’s always been that way.I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.She taught me to play poker when I was around Billie’s age.It never bothered me much before.”
“It makes a difference when it’s your kid.”
Their eyes met.For a second she regretted her statement.But Adam didn’t lash out at her.There was a flash of understandingbetween them.Something warm and shared that made her long for all the moments they’d missed as a family.Had he been right?Had she deprived Billie of two parents?And what about the things she’d deprived herself of?Sharing the responsibilities made the load seem lighter.
“I see that,” he said.He took another drink.“Early to bed for you tonight, Billie.And no more card games.”
Her good humor vanished.“You can’t tell me what to do.”
“I certainly can.”
Jane moved next to him.“Adam, I don’t think—”
“We’ve established that point.”
Her temper flared.“This is neither the time nor the place to bring that up.”
“Don’t yell at Adam,” Billie interrupted, using her own brand of logic.Jane stared at her.Just seconds beforeshe’dbeen the one saying he couldn’t tell her what to do.
“Don’t talk to your mother that way,” Adam said, setting his glass on the counter.“You may not like what she’s saying, but you will listen and respect her.Do you understand?”
Both women stared at him.Jane recovered first.“I think we’ve had our first fight as a family.”
Adam folded his arms over his chest.For a second she thought he was going to stay mad.Then he grinned.“Was it good for you?”
“Yeah, it was.”
Billie stared at both of them.“You guys are weird.I’m going outside to play ball.”
“Dinner’s in an hour.Don’t run away this time.”
Billie rolled her eyes.“I won’t.Geez, Mom.Give me a break.”With that, she ran out the back door.
Without her the kitchen seemed smaller.That didn’t make sense, Jane told herself, but the feeling persisted.Perhaps it was the way Adam studied her.She walked over to the refrigerator and began pulling vegetables out of the bin at the bottom.“I thought we’d have pasta.I hope that’s all right.”
“It’s fine.”
She picked up the broccoli and stared at it.“Thanks for telling her to listen to me.You didn’t have to take my side.”
“I did it instinctively.The parents against the kids, I guess.”
