“Sounds good," I say, standing. "I love garlic bread.”
“I hope that’s an emphasis on the garlic, because Lara loves to pile it on.”
Lara slumps in her chair. “A bath? But I want to stay up and talk to everyone.”
“Come with me,” Ellen says, holding out her hand. “I’ll take you upstairs.”
“Go ahead,” Sammy says. “Mommy will be up as soon as I say goodnight to Brady.”
“Okay, fine. Goodnight, Coach Brady. I’ll see you at T-ball.” She wriggles out of her chair.
“Actually, I’m on firehouse duty this weekend, so I won’t be able to coach.”
“Then who’s going to be our coach?” Lara pouts.
“Jake will handle coaching duties. I’ll be back the following Saturday. We have a game that day. Our last of the season.”
“Oooh. Do you think I’ll get to play?”
I nod. “You’ll definitely get to play.”
“Yay.” She does a little dance.
“Bath time,” Ellen says.
Sammy and I clear the dishes from the table. She stands by the sink and hands me items for loading the dishwasher. We work silently, our fingers grazing and dishes clanging. Lara and Ellen’s laughter echoes through the house while they horse around in the bathroom.
It’s a cozy, comfortable silence. Is it time for me to suggest we go out, get a coffee, spend time together the two of us? Is that something friends do? We are friends, right?
She rinses off a large bowl and hands it over. “I talked to Mom, and she’s going to spend the night tonight and tomorrow.” She picks up a water glass and stops before placing it in my hand. “After that, my ex, Mark, will be here.”
This is the first I’ve heard of Mark. I take the glass from her hand. Suddenly, I feel irrationally betrayed by none other than myself. All the attraction really was only on my end. Something I made up out of my own desperation.
Her ex is staying in her home. What kind of relationship is this? Some Southern California half-in, half-out of the marriage bed?
She hands me a bunch of silverware for the dishwasher basket. “Mark has been upset about the fire, and he misses Lara. She doesn’t know he’s coming. We’ve kept it a surprise. She’s going to be over the moon.”
“She must miss her father.”
“He and Lara are very close.” She wipes down the area around the sink. “We separated when she was three. She has no memory of us living together as a family, but we’ve been good about doing the holidays together and all her school events.
“Lara will be with him for Christmas this year. I’ll probably join them in LA for a few days.” She shrugs, then lets out a dry laugh. “He’s allergic to Whispering Pines.”
I close the dishwasher. “That’s hard to imagine.”
“He’s only been here a few times. I have about twenty cousins and aunts and uncles and all their families who live within a few hours of Whispering Pines. Visits can be overwhelming. Mark’s used to things being quieter, more laid back. He and I come from different worlds.” She laughs softly.
“He’s a good dad to Lara. If he had his way we’d have moved to Santa Barbara not Whispering Pines. I was looking at a place there for the digital detox retreat. I found one that was desert-beautiful, but the acreage was significantly less.”
It sounds like Papa Mark didn't want them leaving LA. Maybe the divorce wasn't his idea? Maybe he’s lobbying to get his family back?
Would he have started the fire?Somehow sneaked over to Bearclaw Lake and set the blaze? He’d have to be pretty psycho to do that. I don't think Sammy would marry someone that psycho. Or allow Lara to have a relationship with someone like that.
She places the towel next to the sink. “I feel guilty about Lara being away from Mark. I also think he’s going to date more seriously now that we’re gone. I’ve got no doubt he’ll marry again. Have more children.”
She shifts her gaze to the side like she’s looking for a thought that keeps escaping her. “I also know he cares, even if he wasn’t a decent husband. He’s already got a bunch of contractors lined up to bid on a new building for the retreat. He’s trying to be helpful.”
Pausing, she leans back against the counter. “Divorce is one of those things you never think is going to happen to you. Then you’re in your lawyer's office telling her you can't be with someone who broke his vows and cannot fathom the impact of his actions.”
