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“Well, if you’re that happy, I ….” A muffled sound interrupted her. “Oh, hold on, your father wants to talk to you.”
The phone rattled as she handed it off, then my dad came on.
“Did you get that protection order all set up?”
“It’s in process. I have a court date next month.”
“Good. What about your locks?”
Shit. That’d slipped my mind. “Calling the locksmith today.” I bit my lip and rushed on to the next sentence before I lost my courage. “I had a long talk with Tristan.”
“What? You shouldn’t have any contact with him, Zelda.”
I cringed at his disapproving tone, the one that made me feel like Eleven-year-old Zelda getting into trouble for sneaking liver to the dog under the table so I wouldn’t have to eat it.
“I know, I know, Dad. He came over to apologize. And you know what a monster his father was and what he went through as a kid.”
“Yes, I know all that. And I also know abusers are made, not born. I’m not saying Tristan is a bad person, Zel, but I am saying he’s a bad person for you. He’s never been your friend. Do you remember when he pushed you down at school and your tooth got chipped?”
“That was in third grade. And he apologized then, too. I can’t believe you remember that.” Memory like an elephant, that man, and as unforgiving as they get.
“So you’re willing to set aside two years of verbal abuse because of one apologetic conversation?”
“I didn’t say that. I just thought you should know that I’d had a positive discussion with him. He has a therapist appointment today. So he’s making an effort.”
“Well, I hope so, for his sake. But I don’t want you to cancel that protection order. He needs to know boundaries exist, Zelda. Don’t assume he won’t turn violent. That’s all he learned growing up under Robert Blaylock’s thumb.”
“You mean his fist.”
My dad grunted. “Yes, that’s the sad truth. I just want you to be smart and safe, Punky.”
“I know, Dad. I am.”
“Good. So what’s this I hear about you having a new rich boyfriend?”
I rolled my eyes. “Forget about the money, please? Drew asked me to be his girlfriend.”
“But the other fella’s still in the picture? The gym owner?”
“Aithan, yes. Drew’s comfortable with me dating him, and I don’t want to give up either of them.”
“Well, eventually you’ll have to choose.” That was Mom. She’d gotten on one of the other house phones. “Men don’t like to share for long, honey. Believe me.”
“You know, I don’t think that’s the case here,” I replied. “Drew’s one hundred percent okay with an open relationship, and Aithan said he’s fine with sharing.”
Mom replied, “Yes, well, that’s what theysay….”
“I’m hanging up,” my dad said and the phone clicked.
Mom giggled. “He’s not comfortable talking about S-E-X.”
I laughed. “Neither are you. You have to spell the word.”
“Oh!” She giggled again. “I guess I’ll have to get better if I’m going to meet your new boyfriends. Will you bring them here for Thanksgiving?”
“I dunno. I mean, I haven’t even discussed boyfriend-girlfriend status with Aithan. It’s still October, so we have time. And I don’t know if they have plans with their own families. So I’ll get back to you on that.”
“Okay, well, your father’s standing in the office doorway. We’re supposed to go grocery shopping. Please call your sister?”
