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“I’m annoyed someone didn’t stay to help.”
“It’s okay. Julie and Kassandra brought everything in from the terrace.”
“Where’s Kassandra?” Pam asked. “She was just here.”
“She said Tony was going to come home to talk, so she left. I wonder what it is about Sea View and infidelity.”
“Max and Andy and Will are faithful,” Pam said. “Dan is, as far as I know. I think people are just badly behaved no matter where they live.”
“That’s so sad.”
“I know. Ugh.”
Pam set about filling the dishwasher while she waited for the coffee to brew. She fixed Lisa a plate of cut-up fruit like she used to when Lisa was a girl.
“Mother, I’m pregnant.”
Pam turned from the sink and looked at her daughter. “Oh, Lisa.”
“I know. Three months. It’s Ryan’s, of course. I’m not telling him.”
“No, I agree. Let him cool off somewhere else. Peter said he’s back into the groove.”
“Good! He’s going to pay Alison’s child support. I don’t need it, and I don’t want him lurking around because he’s paying for it.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll have the baby, and if he even notices, I’ll lie and say it’s Zach’s, even though there’s zero chemistry between us.”
“This Zach?” Pam asked, confused, pointing to the couch.
Lisa sputtered, barking out a laugh. “It was his idea. I won’t lie to the people of the hood. The men and women of Sea View will know the truth. But unless Ryan cares, he won’t figure it out. You saw how he was with the girls today. Madelyn even screamednowhen he tried to pick her up. They like the peace already.”
“Who knows you’re pregnant?”
“Just you and Zach. I suddenly felt close to you and didn’t want to hurt you again by keeping a secret.”
“Thank you, dear. You’re all I have. You and the grandchildren. You saw Brent with me today, didn’t you? ‘Grannie, can I sleep over next week?’”
“Aw, that’s so nice.”
“I fixed up Brent’s old room. I wish I’d never converted it to Randy’s office. I lost so many details when that happened—marks on the walls and paper airplanes Brent had made and taped to the walls.”
“You still have the planes in a box in the basement, Mother. I saw it when I took the box of photos that had Ginger Harrow’s stuff.”
“Do you know who knew her well?”
“Who?”
“Kassandra!” Pam said. “She and Tony spent time with Ginger and Andy when they came to the Hamptons to golf. I didn’t want to say much in front of Sandra. She might not appreciate it.”
“I don’t know, Mom. She might be interested, too. Sandra’s got the thickest skin of any woman I know. Except for maybe you.”
The coffee was done, and the women took cups out on the terrace, sitting wrapped in afghans, watching the sun move closer to the horizon.
“This reminds me of days of my youth,” Lisa said. “Bundled up watching the sunset with my mother and father and brother.”
“Such wonderful memories. When I think of the past, I tend to only remember where I went wrong. It’s so painful.”
