Mrs. Patel fisted her hips. “Your mother said she hasn’t even met this girl yet. I could meet her, pass on her hello?”
She was relentless. I felt a newfound sympathy for Diya.
I smiled politely. I also felt the need to stick up for my mom. “That’s okay. We’re having dinner with the family next week.”
Mrs. Patel’s left eyebrow lifted again.
Okay, so maybe we would go to dinner. If Ellie was available. And willing. Fuck.
“Yes,” I said, meaning it. I stared her in the eyes. “So, maybe some other time.”
I guess that might have come out a little forcefully, because she blinked, and said, “Oh.”
Well, it worked. “It was really nice seeing you!” I waved. “Say hi to Diya for me.” I started angling the stroller away. Luckily, I hadn’t left Mrs. Patel with any other openings.
She huffed behind me, then sputtered, “Well, tell your father to be careful on those walks he’s taking. My cousin fell on his health walk. Cracked his head open like a melon.”
Good lord, that was ominous. “Will do!”
Dad was being careful. Wasn’t he?
“And I still think you should have taken Diya to prom.”
Diya and I had nearly puked when her mom had suggested it back then. She was now happily married with two kids.
I waved, letting Mrs. Patel have the last word.
Okay, so now I needed to ask Ellie about dinner, and probably the sooner the better. “Maybe weshouldvisit Mom for lunch, huh?” I asked Henry. She’d rushed out the door without packing one, I knew that much.
“Ba!” he said from the stroller.
Good enough for me.
CHAPTER 20
They’re Called Wisteria
SAM
As it turned out, Ellie was thrilled to see us. Or at least Henry. Still, I basked in her joy as she hugged our son against her. And in the smile she gave me over his head. I also basked the fuck out of how hot she looked in her work clothes as she squatted down to set Henry on his bottom on the grass. I wasn’t supposed to notice stuff like how good Ellie looked. But I’d fully given up on that after last week. I had to let my brain run wild, because if I didn’t, I did stupid things outside of my head.
Whether this was a good strategy was still up in the air.
We both dropped down onto the grass.
“Henry learned a new word today,” I said.
I told her about this morning.
“What’s this?” Ellie asked, shaking her hair at Sam.
“Hay!” he exclaimed.
“That’s right!” she tucked her hair behind her ear. “So smart, baby!”
She looked at me, beaming, and I had to pretend my heart wasn’t pinching painfully.
“Do you think he understands us?” I asked.
