“Yes, probably, but sometimes talking to an outsider helps.”
Mark said that exact thing when he told me who she was.
“But you’re not an outsider. You know Mark.”
“But I don’t know you. I don’t know your feelings or what your life was like before all of this.” She gestures to the house. “I’m fresh ears for your side of the story. Now, should I make us some tea?”
I manage to stop the tears as I watch her make herself at home in my house. I didn’t even answer her question.
Can I trust her?
I stand to meet her in the kitchen.
She turns to face me, and her smile is back.
“Boy, he wasn’t kidding when he told me you were beautiful.”
I give her a small smile. “If we talk, how do I know you won’t tell Mark what I say?”
“Because I’m almost eighty, dear, that’s not how my generation works.”
I nod.
As soon as the tea is ready, I give her a quick rundown of the last twenty-four hours.
“That sure is a doozy, but all fights can be fixed.”
“I’m not so sure this one can. If he thinks I’m only here for the money . . . I don’t know. I should probably move out and what? What will I do? Where will I go?”
“Oh, that’s just silly. You can’t run.”
“Well, won’t it be weird for me to stay?”
“Do you want to stay?”
“Yes. I want to be where Mark is, but I can’t let him just change everything he knows in life to be with me.”
“You should let him make that choice.”
Again, words he said to me last night.
“I”— the tears start— “I had to make it for him. If he didn’t choose me, I don’t think I’d have been able to get through that. Pushing him away was the way to go, and now that I’ve done it.” I bury my face in my hands. “I want to take it all back.”
A wrinkled hand touches my arm.
“I’m sure he feels the same way.”
I can only hope.
“Now, show me this nursery you’ve been working on.”
I’m happy for the change of subject but wish I had more to offer.
“It’s not ready yet.”
Let’s add that to the list of things Mark and I still have to work out.
“Not ready? Mark told me he finished it as a surprise for—oh, yeah. He didn’t propose, so you never saw it. Well, put my foot in my mouth on that one, didn’t you, Coraline?”
