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Tru shakes her head firmly. “No. No children.”
My heart tumbles around my chest. Damn it. She wanted kids with the rat. I can’t decide it it’s unfair he never gave her any, or a blessing. I feel her pain, though, and it’s a special kind of torture that there’s nothing I can do about it.
My dad watches Pauline the whole walk to the table in the corner. Then he turns his head and grins at me.
Dirty old man.
They’ve been over there about ten minutes when Pops reaches over and smacks my shoulder.
“Hey. What was that for?”
“You’re watching her like she’s under surveillance.”
“At least I’m not leering at her.”
“I was talking aboutTru.”
I try not to rise to the bait. “I’m not watching Tru.”
My dad huffs. “You’re worried about her.”
I shake my head. “In case you’ve forgotten, my livelihood is wrapped up in whatever is going on over there.”
I wish Stella was here, not something I wish very often. Stella needs to get her own life so she stops insinuating herself into everyone else’s, but she has a big heart. And huge ears. If she were here right now, she’d be able to listen in and report back. Who am I kidding? Stella would have invited herself to their table and just asked what she wanted to know.
My dad jars me out of my plot to infiltrate the enemy camp when he says, “That’s not why you’re watching her. You like her.”
I slide him a look. “Dad, stop.”
“She’s a nice girl.”
“She’s uptight and annoying and she’s trying to steal my business out from under me.”
“You like her.”
“I’m busy. Maybe you should go home.”
“Son, I’m the only one in here. You’re never busy.”
When Pauline leaves, walked to her car by my father, Tru tries to tell me everything went fine. But she’s quiet, more withdrawn than usual. She’s not fooling me, so when we close the bar, I convince her to come with me for a walk with Fifi.
She’s too quiet, but the night is still and pleasant, and finally she breaks her silence. “I really like her. Pauline.”
I didn’t expect that. Wouldn’t most women hate the other woman, even if they were technically also the other woman? “She seems...nice.”
“God, no wonder Richard...it doesn’t matter. Obviously, Pauline is more his type than I was. She’s probably every man’s type. I almost feel sorry for him that he was stuck with me.”
I would like to strangle Richard.
“Richard is a flea.” Which was the only appropriate F-word that came to mind when I started speaking. In reality, Richard is a dumb fuck who better hope he never meets me. “Don’t feel sorry for him that he had you and abused your trust. He didn’t deserve you. He’s an asshole.”
“Well, Pauline didn’t know about his other life either. He traveled a lot. They have a son. I can’t take money from a single mom.”
“It’s your money, Tru.”
“Is it? I don’t know. If we were legally married and he had a son from a previous relationship, he’d have to pay support.”
“With his money, Tru. His money. Not yours.”
