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“Thanks for your blessing. It’s nice to have your support.”
Downstairs, Simon sat in D2’s recliner with the two cats nestled in his lap and his phone tucked under his ear. He was in the middle of a heated conversation in some Middle Eastern language while petting Sheila and Colleen.
As he talked, I located D2’s lint roller. I lifted one cat then the other from Simon’s knees and started removing pet fur. He clicked off his phone and said, “Does she have a shotgun? Do I need body armor?”
“They threw away the mold when they made her,” I said. “She’s an original, a one and only.”
“Your mother raised a beautiful and charming daughter, so I am obliged to her for life.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. As we kissed, he lifted my skirt, slipped his hands under the lace of my panties, and rubbed my tender buttocks.
I melted into him. “I think it’s good we live on opposite sides of the country. If she knew how we settled some of our disagreements, it might just put her in an early grave.”
“We must be careful not to mention that,” Simon said with mock seriousness as he waved me towards the stairs up to Mom’s half of the house.
She accepted Simon’s flowers and expensive chocolates with a polite thank you. When he asked if there was anything he could do to help, she changed the TV to the old movie network. She left it muted and thought for a moment. “You could give Sadie some time off so that she could stay here and help Dad and me get our lives back on track.”
“Sadie’s a free woman. She can stay as long as she likes,” Simon said with a quick buss to my cheek.
I kicked his ankle lightly, knowing she couldn’t see our feet. Simon wasn’t supposed to say that. He was supposed to invent some reason for me to go home as soon as D2 was settled. I couldn’t run Donohue Auto for a day, let alone until their lives were ‘back on track’—whatever the hell that meant. Sure, I knew the parts of cars; I had grown up with them, but I never worked in the shop. I didn’t know how long it took to do an oil change or balance a wheel. They had good staff. All Mom had to do was park herself in the corner and order people around, something she had a special gift for.
Mom flipped to a sports channel where stony-faced card players were hunched over poker hands. Without looking at Simon, she said, “Donohues look after themselves. I don’t know why you and Sadie don’t just shack up together.”
He smiled and said, “I want to make an honest woman out of her.”
“There’s no one more honest than our Sadie.” She was speaking to him but threw me a look that said my secret wasn’t safe. If I didn’t tell Simon, she would.
Simon
“I want you to ride downtown with me so we can talk for a while longer,” I said, enjoying the view of Sadie’s long, shapely legs as she swung them into the car. I thought of how strong they were when she wrapped them around me when we made love.
“Great flowers and chocolate; thanks Wayne,” I said, slipping in beside Sadie.
“I’m glad they did the trick.” Wayne grinned.
“Now, Sadie and I have some personal business to discuss.” I put up the privacy screen and Wayne reached for the stereo. I waited until we were out of the driveway before taking one of Sadie’s hands in mine.
“Ronnie Flynn,” I said simply, and her fingers curled around mine.
“Honestly, I did what I could to stay away from her. Why don’t you believe that?” Sadie’s voice jumped an octave.
“I do. I’m beginning to understand that Ms. Flynn is like Velcro, and she’s chosen to stick to you and me. I’m not as accessible but now she’s found a vulnerability with your family and has become an invader.”
“I’m glad you realize that.” Sadie sank in the seat and shimmied until her hip rubbed against mine. I buried my face in her hair.
“Once I’m back in Vancouver, she won’t have access to my family or anything. It should be easier to avoid her there.”
“But you’re not going to avoid her, are you, my love?” I lifted her hand to my mouth and sucked first her index finger, then her middle finger.
“Do you have any idea how distracting that is?” She wrenched her hand away and stuck the same two fingers into her own mouth before replying. “Why wouldn’t I avoid her? Isn’t that what you told me to do just a couple of days ago?”
“Things change.”
“What things?”
“I believe she’s already got her hook into your family. Your mom likes her. What did D2 call her? A foxy redhead? And I met her in the hotel lobby today. She was having lunch with your godmother.”
“Cherie Gareau?”
“You have more than one godmother?” I sounded sarcastic even to myself. I didn’t like that.
