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“We’re still together,” he said tightly.
“But not living together,” she clarified.
“Just say the word. It’ll take me about five minutes to pack up my stuff from the cabin.”
Don’t give in. Don’t give in.
It was the mantra running through her head these days.
She lowered her voice. “Are yo
u ready to talk to the counselor about your father?”
Zeke gave her a dark look. It was all the answer she needed.
Mimi shifted in her seat. “I asked you to lunch because I wanted to talk to you away from Claire and Cameron.”
He stilled. “Is everything all right?”
“Oh, yeah, it’s good.” She felt herself flush, which was ridiculous. He was her husband. The father of her children. She was acting like a sixteen-year-old asking the captain of the football team out on her first date. “Couples Bunco is in a few weeks and, you know, we’ve always gone before and—”
“Of course I’m going with you to couples Bunco. Did you think I wasn’t?”
“No, I just…under the circumstances…” She shrugged. “We’re doing a theme this year. Famous couples. We got Rick and Ilsa from Casablanca.”
Their food came and Zeke dove into his sandwich. “Does that mean I get to wear a fedora?”
“No fedora. But definitely a white tux.” Mimi took another sip of her coffee and tried to envision it. He would look gorgeous, as usual. She’d have to come up with something equally spectacular. Maybe Lauren could help her.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” he asked. “I hope you don’t think I’ve dumped all this in your lap. I’ll be happy to do whatever.”
“Take Tom out for a beer?” she suggested.
Zeke made a grumpy noise.
“He’s going to be your brother-in-law. The two of you should be friends.”
“Maybe,” he said. “Let me think about it.”
A prickly sensation skated up Mimi’s spine. Like she was being watched. Which, she probably was. Out of the corner of one eye, she could have sworn she saw Mrs. Bruner over at the next table take a picture of her and Zeke with her cell phone. If Zeke saw it, he chose to ignore it.
“So, what are you up to after lunch?” he asked.
“I have my Spring Into Summer festival committee meeting.” She hesitated, then handed him her outline. “This is a proposal I hope to get through the committee this afternoon. Do you mind taking a look and telling me what you think?”
Zeke laid down his sandwich and began reading through the papers. Mimi expected a quick perusal, but he took longer than she thought he would, like he was studying each and every little detail. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? She couldn’t tell from the expression on his face and she found herself beginning to squirm. Any second now, her foot was going to have a seizure.
He handed her back the paper. “Ten grand for Fatback Bubba and the Rattlesnakes, huh? You think they’re worth it?”
“For what I hear they’re worth it, plus some.”
“Okay. I think it’s good then.”
“Really?”
“Actually, it’s better than good. I think it’s brilliant.”
The way he looked at her made her feel brilliant, too. She let go of a pent up burst of air.
