Chapter 16 #2
The sound of the other women coming back to the deck reached them, and her mother’s gaze flicked to the door. “It’s too much to explain right now. I’ll just say that he and I want different things, and what I need right now is to be away from him.”
Amy could feel her eyes widening. What was she saying? “You’re getting a divorce?”
“I did not say that,” her mother insisted. “I just need a break. So the Posse and I came here.”
“Why can’t you guys go to the resort? You can afford it.”
Her mother gave her that little smile she always gave when an argument was over. “It’s going to be fine. You’re making this a far bigger deal than it needs to be.”
“I don’t think so. I need this, Mom. I very much need this and for once I need what I want to be respected.”
“What are you talking about? We always respect what you want. Now listen, tomorrow we’ll go to Denison to shop. We won’t be back until late so it will be like we are not even here.”
“I’m not the only one here. I’m not the only one you have to consider.”
“I saw that,” her mother said, looking delighted. “Just who is that delicious dish? A very handsome man. But his girlfriend is too young for him.” She shuddered.
“It’s not his girlfriend,” Amy said wearily.
Her mother rolled her eyes. “That’s what they all say.”
“He’s a professional golfer, and he is here while he rehabs his knee, and she is…” Amy paused. “Well, she’s helping with the rehab. That’s all I know.”
“Well, that’s interesting,” her mother said. “It’s okay for a total stranger to invade your ten thousand square feet of space, but not your own mother?”
“He paid, Mom.”
She shrugged. “We can pay. But we don’t have to because we are friends with the owner.” She winked.
The sliding-glass door suddenly slid open, just as “We Three Kings” began to pipe overhead. June walked through. “This place is fantastic!”
“What’s the bedroom situation?” Melissa said, crowding in after June. “I am not sharing with Carol again. She snores.”
“Do not!” Carol shouted as she, too, squeezed inside. Hillary brought up the rear, carrying Duchess, who seemed happy as a lark now, her tail wagging.
The women began to move toward the kitchen.
“We turned on the pool heater,” Melissa announced. “We ought to be swimming in an hour. Oh, and there are pool toys in the pool house.”
“You think it will heat up that fast?” Hillary asked as she set Duchess on the floor.
“I think so,” Melissa said. “You should join us! Do you have a suit?”
Hillary’s face lit up. “Really? You don’t mind?”
“Of course not,” Carol said, and as she was closer to Hillary, she fist-bumped her arm. “The more the merrier.”
“Well, not for Amy,” her mother said.
“Amy will loosen up,” June said. “Amy, did you bring a suit? We could have a proper pool party.”
“Have any of you noticed how cold it is outside?” Amy asked.
“Yes, honey. That’s why I turned on the heater,” Melissa said. “What about the man?”
“He can come, too,” Carol responded.
“What do you think, Amy?” her mother asked.
Amy knew when she’d been defeated.
“I think…knock yourself out,” she said petulantly, and went back outside.
Harrison was on his back on a mat on the covered porch, beneath a space heater.
He’d wrapped a flat rubber circle around one foot and his wrists.
He slowly pushed his leg straight, brought it back to a bent position, and repeated it.
He glanced up at Amy. “By the sound of the chatter, I’m guessing no one is leaving anytime soon? ”
“I don’t know what to say,” Amy said, and sat down cross-legged next to him. “I’m so sorry.”
Harrison pushed his leg out again, and she could see the muscles in his thigh bulge through his gym shorts. “No need for you to apologize. I just wonder who else the family has lent this house to.”
“Someone’s grandparents? We don’t have any grandparents yet.”
Christmas music suddenly piped up—“Carol of the Bells.” The sound of women crying out with delight reached them, and Harrison and Amy looked at the house. “I think you better fill me in on the Bossy Posse,” Harrison said.
“Wait, what…you’re staying?”
He looked bemused. “Yeah, I’m staying. I paid for this place, remember?”
“You should demand a full refund. No, wait—I’ll do it for you. With interest. And pain and suffering.”
He smiled. “Start with how they got their name.”
“Self-anointed,” Amy said. “They’ve been friends forever. Melissa’s daughter Katie used to bully me in the first grade. I think she’s in the Marines now.”
“Interesting. Go on.”
Amy glanced at the kitchen windows. She could see them all milling about, probably taking inventory of what they’d ordered.
“June, she’s the short one—she and her family moved to Willow Valley about the time I started school.
Mom met her playing bunco. And then, Carol, who was Mom’s best friend when they went to school in Willow Valley, introduced them all to pickleball.
They do everything together. So do their husbands, although they don’t feel the need to come up with a name and matching sweatshirts. Or antlers.”
“Maybe they should,” Harrison opined. “It tends to stand out.”
Amy smiled wryly. She suddenly remembered her mother saying she and Amy’s dad didn’t want the same things in life.
She’d never heard either of them complain about the other.
Speaking of her dad, she remembered her promise to let him know if she heard anything.
She pulled her phone from her pocket to send a text.
Found mom. She showed up at my vacation house with the Posse. Looks like they are staying.
Something crashed inside, startling Amy and Harrison. Duchess barked from somewhere in the house.
The door opened. “Nothing to worry about! Your puppy ran into a nutcracker!” Carol called.
Amy waved. June stuck her head under Carol’s arm. “We just found the cutest Santas and snowmen! Windup toys!”
“Great!” Amy called back. The women popped back inside and pulled the slider shut. She looked at Harrison. “What do we do?”
“Good question,” he said, staring warily at the house. “Go with the flow? At least that way I’ll have some Bossy Posse antics to talk about on all my tours to come. Guys love to hear about stuff like this.” He reached across the space between them and touched her knee.
“Stuff like this? You don’t know what you’re saying,” Amy said.
“Pretty sure I do.”
“Pretty sure you don’t.” She shuddered to think what would happen if the Posse got him alone in a room.
“If it’s any consolation, Mom says they will be out shopping.
She said we wouldn’t even know they are here.
” Harrison’s gaze locked with hers. The idea clearly struck them as preposterous at the same moment, because they both broke into laughter at the absurdity of it.
“Listen, it’s fine,” Harrison said, still chuckling, and reached across the space between them, his hand finding her knee again. “I really don’t mind. I’ve spent way too many holiday seasons on my own. And besides, it’s just a night or two, right?” He grinned.
“Right.” She didn’t think that’s what Mom had in mind, but she would get rid of them. Somehow. She was not going to let her mother ruin this for her.
And in the meantime, she had to figure out what “this” really was.
This thing between her and Harrison. His hand was still on her knee.
She thought she might start by what she advised employees—the direct approach was always best. Just ask him.
But the Posse suddenly emerged, all talking at once again, and carrying a pitcher of what Amy could only assume was margaritas, their signature drink.