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“But what do youdo?” Ash asks.
“Ash,” Moira says in an embarrassed tone.
Sandra waves her hand as though not at all offended. “I clean, I let the gardeners and pool boy in, I change lightbulbs, I open and close windows, I make lists, I watch a lot of movies …” She shrugs her eyebrows at me when she says that.
I smile at her. “She does crazy things like dusting the inside of cabinets and cleaning light fixtures. I came home early one day to find Sandra lying on the kitchen floor with a can of white paint. She was touching up the baseboards.”
The boys stare at my housekeeper like they’re looking at a real-life dragon. “We could use you in Alaska,” Wyatt tells her.
“No kidding,” Moira agrees.
The kids make short work of brunch, finishing everything on their plates while the adults go a little slower. After they run off to play, Prisha says, “So, Moira? You and Ethan?”
Moira blushes, then glances down at the table. “He’s a great friend.”
“That he is.” Yeah, Prisha’s not buying the whole friendship thing. “You must be pretty amazing yourself, because I never, in a thousand years, would have thought this guy would turn into a family man.”
“He’s going to be a great father someday.”
Reaching out, I put my hand on Moira’s. “Your kids are certainly selling me on the experience.”
Prisha releases a bark of laughter. “I can hardly believe what I’m seeing.”
“What?” Moira and I ask at the same time.
“Far be it from me to point out the obvious, but …”
Oh God, I can’t let Prisha point out the obvious. Historically, that has never gone well. Moira’s eyes grow wide in anticipation of my friend’s next words, so I hurry to interrupt. “It’s obvious that I love having you here.” I can’t have Prisha declaring my feelings before I do. I still need some time to convince Moira that she belongs with me.
“Um, yeah,” Prisha says. “Heloveshaving you here.”
Moira smiles politely. “We love being here.”
The boys burst through the sliding doors at that exact moment in the direction of the pool. At the same time, Moira and I call out, “Walk!”
They slow down to the world’s fastest speed walk, then torpedo themselves into the pool. Prisha bursts out laughing. “Walk!” she says, imitating me. “Oh my God, are you going to start with the dad jokes now?”
“Very funny,” I tell her. “I just didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
I glance over at Moira, but my face falls when I see her. She doesn’t even look remotely amused. Pushing her chair back from the table, she says, “Excuse me.” As she hurries toward the house, Prisha and I are left wondering what’s going on in that beautiful head of hers.
Chapter35
Moira
Somehow in a very short time, Ethan has started acting like a dad to the boys. As much as it fills my heart, it also terrifies me. I came to California hoping we might discover we had a future together, but now that I see his life here, I can’t see myself in it. It’s just too much, and my brain has become a war zone of conflicting emotions.
I have never wanted someone as badly as I want Ethan, and it’s scaring the hell out of me. The pain of being left by the people I’ve counted on most keeps cropping up to remind me what’s at stake. It’s not just my heart, it’s my boys too, and it’s my job to protect them.
Everything here is a dream—the lavish lifestyle, the swaying palm trees, the never having to lift a finger. As much as I’ve been letting myself enjoy my time here, I know deep down that it can’t be forever. And I’m scared to death by how much it’s going to hurt when it’s over.
Realizing I can’t hide in my bedroom for the rest of the day, I return to the patio. Ethan and Prisha are still at the table. “Hey,” I call out. “Sorry about that, I had to use the restroom.”
“You okay?” Prisha asks, not believing my excuse for a second.
“Of course! How could I not be good?” I sound positively maniacal.
“So, Moira, tell me, what’s your favorite thing about California so far?”Thank you, Prisha, for helping me push past the awkwardness.
