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“Of course. Name the time.”
Pam looked at her phone. “How about an hour?”
They arranged to meet at eleven o’clock. In the meantime, she called Ryan.
“I’m working from home today,” he said.
“Are you at that girl’s place?” Pam asked.
“No. I’m here, in Babylon.”
“Perfect. Dan’s old house is for sale. I think I’m going to buy it. You’d be right across the street from your family.”
“Pam, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m trying to facilitate what’s good for my grandchildren.”
“Lisa would have a shit fit if she knew you bought it for me.”
“Are you interested?”
“I’m very interested.”
“Then you can pay me back. I know what Peter’s paying you. Remember, I own the company.”
“Oh, right,” he replied, snickering. “When is this going to take place?”
“I’m going to look at it in an hour. Can you come over?”
“I don’t want Lisa to see me there,” he said. “I still want to ask her if I can see the kids tonight.”
“No, of course not. An element of surprise when you move in will be nice.”
“You have it all planned out, don’t you?” he asked. “What’s going on?”
“What? You don’t have to look at it. I’m offering. I’m not trying to control.”
“What’s the point, though?” Ryan asked.
“You love Sea View. Your family lives here, and you’re not in the city today.”
“I can’t stand it,” he admitted. “I’m going to commute. Peter doesn’t know it yet, but really the only time I have to be in the office is on production days. The rest of the time, I can work remotely. I have to go to Las Vegas this weekend, and I’ll stay here at the apartment as often as possible.”
“I’ll see you at eleven,” she said. “We’ll talk more then.”
Back inside, Pam showered and beautified, ready to present her face to a stranger and Ryan. Her pride had grown exponentially since Dan had moved in. Instead of relaxing, she put in more time at the gym and salon than ever before. She worried she was obsessing, but there didn’t seem to be another way to deal with aging.
“You look great,” Dan often said. “I’m proud you’re my girl.”
Then she’d see him trying not to stare at some young woman when they were together, and chalking it up to him being a man wasn’t working anymore.
At five to eleven, she walked across the street to Dan’s old house. There didn’t seem to be any activity at Lisa’s, Laura’s, Sandra’s, or Alison’s houses. At eleven, a new Acura and Lisa’s old nanny car pulled up at the same time.
“Hey, you look beautiful,” Ryan said, hugging Pam.
“Hi, I’m Gloria,” the agent said, holding out her hand.
“I’m Pam, and this is my son-in-law, Ryan.”
