36. Chapter 36
Chapter 36
David had just put Jacob down for his nap when Valerie called.
“How was your talk with Paige?” she asked.
He could hear the optimism in her voice.
“It didn’t happen,” he told her, sitting down on the couch in the living room. “I didn’t even see her. Ashley was late picking up Jacob, so I still had him with me, and when I called and told Paige, she said we’d have to talk another time and that was it.”
“Was Ashley late on purpose, do you think?”
Valerie’s optimism had been replaced with pessimism.
“Probably. I mean, she’s not the most punctual person under normal circumstances, which is why I told her to pick up Jacob at the park thirty minutes before I was supposed to meet Paige. That’s usually an adequate window for her but she showed up ten minutes after I was supposed to meet Paige. Literally as I was getting Jacob into his car seat to bring him home. She apologized, said she was really sorry, that she didn’t mean to be late, which is what she usually says when she’s late, but it felt like bullshit. God, I was pissed.”
“So now what?”
“I try again. I’ll be smarter about it the next time, though.”
“Let me know if I can help. I can absolutely watch him so you don’t have to deal with Ashley.”
“That would be great. Thanks, Mom.”
As he set his phone on the coffee table, he noticed Ashley leaning against the doorway to the living room with her arms crossed, having obviously been listening to his conversation with his mom.
He frowned at her. “Are you trying to piss me off even more?”
“It’s not my fault you didn’t see me standing here while you were talking shit about me to your mom.”
“I wasn’t talking shit. Everything I said was true.”
She gave him a flat look. “Look, I’m sorry you didn’t get to talk with your ex-wife, but I’m not letting all of that fall on me. I know I was late, but she could’ve stayed and talked to you. She chose not to, so that’s on her.”
“It’s on her? Are you out of your mind?”
“You’re treating her like she’s a delicate flower, baby, and she’s not. For Christ’s sake, she’s known about Jacob for months, so she should be able to deal with him by now and stop being so dramatic.”
“She’s not being dramatic, so turn that shit off,” he told her with frost in his voice. “And I’m not treating her like a delicate flower. You’re treating her like she doesn’t deserve any empathy.”
“That’s because she doesn’t deserve any. Jesus, I’m so goddamn sick of your ex-wife! I never liked her and I like her even less now—”
“Believe me, I know you never liked her, but you need to quit being an immature bitch and start acting like an actual grown-up.”
Ashley made a sound of utter disgust. “You know, ever since she came into our life a few months ago, you and I have been having problems. We were doing great, and then we run into her at that restaurant and everything goes to hell.”
“That’s seriously what you think? That our problems are her fault?”
“Yes. But obviously you don’t.”
“No, I don’t, because I’m not blinded by irrational hatred.”
“I’m not blinded by irrational hatred.”
“Yes, you are. Most of this is because of you, Ash.” He gave her a long, hard look. “I know, you think she started it by saying something mean to you at Bender’s, but you started it long before that, by blocking her. Then, after you put her in the hospital, you continued to do stupid shit, like getting pissed about a book that has nothing to do with you, getting pissed that I went to see her about the book, and screwing with my meeting today. Are you seeing a pattern here? All of the problems you and I have been having are because of your poor reactions and your poor decisions.”
Her face was flushed with anger and he could see everything he’d said had not had its intended effect—which was made abundantly clear when she raised her middle finger to him, then turned and left. Less than thirty seconds later, he heard the door to the garage opening and closing, followed by the sound of her car starting and leaving.
In the blessed silence she’d left behind, he picked up his phone and texted Paige.
DAVID: I really am sorry about today.
DAVID: My mom will be watching Jacob the next time we meet, so that won’t happen again.
PAIGE: Okay.
DAVID: So, are you available Tuesday at 5 p.m.?
PAIGE: No, I’m not. Sorry.
DAVID: Wednesday at 7 p.m.?
PAIGE: I’ll be working until at least 9 p.m.
DAVID: Thursday at 5 p.m.?
PAIGE: No. But maybe Saturday morning? I don’t work until noon.
DAVID: I can’t. Jacob has a play date.
PAIGE: I’m normally free on Sundays, but this Sunday Jules and I have plans most of the day.
DAVID: Jesus, this is ridiculous. Maybe I should just make an appointment with you.
PAIGE: Hold on. That’s actually not a bad idea.
DAVID: I was kidding.
PAIGE: I wasn’t. It really is a good idea.
DAVID: Really? Isn’t that unethical, or illegal, or something?
PAIGE: It’s not illegal. As for unethical, I won’t say anything if you won’t.
PAIGE: Besides, I work almost sixty hours a week and get paid for forty.
DAVID: All right.
PAIGE: I’m available tomorrow at 2 p.m., Wednesday at 11 a.m., or Friday at 4 p.m.
DAVID: I can do Friday. I’ll see you then.