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“Sure…okay.” There is nothing more to say.
“There’s someone special going to be there. And I want her to hear it.”
I suspect she’s talking about Cheryl Morford. Adam’s wife.
Melanie is very good at pretending she wants to impress Cheryl. But then, with Cheryl being New Hope’s leader’s wife, it would be breaking not only rank but also every other cardinal rule to show otherwise.
She told me once about the importance of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
I’ve never forgotten it. I wonder if it goes both ways.
At times, I’ve suspected Cheryl knows about her husband’s transgressions. Lately, however, I’ve had my doubts.
“V—are you even listening?”
“Share my testimonial about the new vitamins. Yes. I got it.”
“Exactly. Just make sure you keep it upbeat. And dress well.”
“Of course.”
“Oh, and V…”
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t fuck this up.”
I scoop Matthew into my arms, lean in, and plant a kiss on his forehead. “Let’s get you in the bath,” I tell him as I tickle his tummy. “Nanny Gina is coming back to watch you.”
I wait for the rebuttal I’m certain is coming.
“I want Nanny Lisa.”
“Nanny Lisa can’t come tonight.” I tickle him again. This method of alternating pleasure and pain—or in this case, pleasure and disappointment—is something I learned during my first trip to the rejuvenation center. That’s where my training takes place.
He squirms in my arms. “Why?”
Sometimes I tell the truth. But only when it’s harder to lie. “I don’t know. She just can’t.”
“Fine. Mommy stay.”
It’s good to know where I rank, I suppose. I tousle his hair. He notices the smile on my face. I make sure of that. “Mommy has to work.”
“You always work.”
I smile again. This isn’t true. But the truth is subjective. Guilt is a powerful motivator, one of the few things I’m proud he’s learning so young.
“Tell you what…if you are a good boy for Nanny Gina, I’ll bring you a new car.”
His eyes light up, satisfaction creeping over his features as though the idea had been his own. It doesn’t last long. He’s smart. Too smart. I can see he’s mulling the offer over. Finally, he shakes his head. He hasn’t yet learned to conceal the things that give him away. “I want a truck. A green truck.”
Of course he does. I’ve saved up at least a dozen Hot Wheels for occasions such as these, but I know for a fact that I don’t have a green truck in my arsenal. “I’ll see what I can do,” I say, offering my sincerest smile. “Now, let’s get you in the bath.”
He shakes his head and digs his heels in. “Pinky promise.”
My heart grows three sizes. I’ve never been more proud.
I slip my finger in his. “Pinky promise.”
