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David
Laura is avoiding me.
If it wasn’t so annoying, it would actually be impressive. Considering we’re staying in a small two-bedroom cabin in the mountains, avoiding me takes a considerable amount of effort and ingenuity. She’s somehow orchestrated it so that she’s never alone with me, at least not while we’re both awake.
We’re sharing a bed, and yet, she’s never near me.
It’s been two days, and I haven’t managed to get a conversation with her alone once.
I know she’s angry with me for the transfer. I amtryingto be considerate about that—but I’m finding it difficult. After all, I hardly want this transfer myself. I’m willing, of course, but for her to be so incensed makes no sense. Perhaps she thought that the ruse would continue longer, that I would bring her with me to France. Perhaps she expected me to work her a transfer as well?—
Only, no. Laura isn’t like that. She wouldn’t be so calculated, so manipulative. If she was using me for a position at the company, I would know that. I would know if Laura was using me. And, to be frank, she would probably tell me herself. Whatgood would this do? We’ve fought before—she knows I am more likely to retreat than give in.
No, Laura is too smart to try that.
So what evenisher problem?
I cross the kitchen where she’s aggressively stirring a batter and pretending not to notice me enter the room. I lean a hip against the island, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Laura, can we?—”
“Nope.” She pops the ‘p’ and then, loudly yells, “Kids! Cookies!”
The kids run in, and I find myself oddly infuriated with my own flesh and blood for accidentally siding with Laura in this fight. I smile at them, though, because my irritation with them only ever lasts for a millisecond.
Lewis tottles in, yawning. He’s wearing a literal onesie that looks like a bear. Angie picked it out for him for Christmas, and she seems overjoyed every single time she sees him in it.
Lewis was so pleased that he cried. Despite her sour mood, even Laura was grinning and taking photos when he first debuted it on the trip.
“Did I hear cookies?”
“I didn’t say I was sharing,” Laura replies automatically. Then she winks at Benji before sticking her tongue out at Lewis. “Withyouat least.”
Benji giggles. My heart melts. Apparently, their truce the night of their video game bonding has held up.
“Can I help?” Angie begs, bouncing on her feet.
Laura’s eyes snap to Angie’s arm, still in a thick plaster cast. “How about you help me put them on the cookie sheet after I’m done stirring?”
Angie agrees eagerly and then bounces over to me. While she’s in a good mood, I scoop her up and prop her up on myhip like I did when she was a baby. She winds her too-long legs around me and presses her head to my cheek.
She’s growing up so fast,I think mournfully. Then I look at Benji, grinning and arm wrestling his soon-to-be stepfather, and I think,both of them are.
“Do you think you could convince your girlfriend to give me cookies?” Lewis asks me.
I laugh, almost bitterly, before I remember no one knows we’re fighting. They also don’t know we’re not actually dating. Years of keeping myself on a tight rope helps, and I school my face into a casual expression.
“I’m staying out of it,” I say. Angie wiggles, and I release her. Laura’s done making the batter and holds out an ice cream scoop to Angie.
“This is a little tough for me. Do you think you could help?” she asks Benji.
Benji looks at her disbelievingly, but I can see he’s hiding a smile. “Fine, if you’re notstrongenough.”
Laura snickers and then waves a hand.
Jessi comes in, a book in hand and her glasses on the bridge of her nose.
“Wow,” she murmurs to me as she slides onto a stool. “Laura’s gotbothof them helping?”
