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“Look at it this way. It’s not a secret now. We don’t have to skirt around the issue. Christmas sucked when he was alive. I did the best I could trying to make it nice, but you know that was next to impossible.”
“Mom, after he died, Christmas was great,” Nick said. “It was a relief that he was gone.”
“Luke, do you feel that way?”
“Not really. Maybe because I was younger, I was protecting him. I’m still protecting him.”
“Why don’t you want to come home?” Grace finally asked.
“I have my own life in California,” Nick said. “It’s great out there, Mom. The weather is better; there are no hurricanes to run from and getting worse. My kids are surfing. You know what it’s like when you visit for your races. I’m so proud, I get to tell my friends my old mother is coming to run in whatever marathon you happen to be doing.”
Grace laughed out loud.
“And we love upstate New York,” Luke said. “You love it there in the fall. We were sorry you didn’t come this year.”
“I’ll be there next year for the marathon,” Grace said. “In November.”
“Did you qualify?” Luke asked, dumbfounded.
“That last race I did in Brooklyn was the one I needed. I came in second to the last in my division, but there were only ten of us over seventy.”
“Well, I think that’s just amazing. And, Mom, we don’t stay away because of Dad, okay? We’re just busy. My kids are like maniacs with the sports and the school activities. Nick’s are worse because they’re older.”
“I guess I’m lucky I run because I’ll just keep doing races where you live. But now I have something to tell you, and I need you to be open minded and loving about this.”
“Oh shit, you’re not hooking up with Polly again, are you?”
“No. Honest to god, Nicky, you can be a real asshole sometimes.”
The two men laughed out loud. “Okay, what is it?”
“Gus and I got married last Monday.”
“Gus Hebert? Rich Gus from the mansion?”
They knew very well that Gus was the dockmaster, and she was moved that they would try to be positive about it.
“Yep, Dockmaster Hebert,” she said. “Your stepdad.”
“Mom, I’m okay with it,” Luke said.
“I am too,” Nick replied. “I’m glad you’re not alone anymore.”
“Well, that was almost too easy.”
“So who got in the boat accident?” Nick asked.
“Justy Chastain’s girlfriend.”
“Someone finally hooked that guy!”
***
Preparing dinner in the kitchen in her new home, the former home of her sister-in-law, Annie was so happy they were finally out of that stinky apartment. This ritual of cooking dinner had become important to her for the reason that it seemed to bring Steve so much joy.
And then something Kelly said made her understand. Beverly had been out cold by the time they got home from school each day. Alfonso had cooked dinner, or he’d had Miss Spencer fix up something for them, or they’d eat wonderful food from Café Delphine.
The cleaning lady cleaned the house and washed and ironed their clothes, and Kelly helped Steve with his homework.
