Jane
“Lucas wants to be a nurse, Florie wants to live with a poet in the Midwest, and Lydia is dating a Finn.”
“They’ve always been a handful. Remember your Stroll party when Jimmy was little and ate all the mini candy canes off the tree?”
“Yes, and the time Lydia and her friends ate too many Christmas cookies and Tina barfed all over the rug.”
“They’re good kids. We did a good job.”
Jane pushed the clothes out of the way, stood up, and left the closet. “I feel better now, after talking with you. I just wish Brick Three had someone to talk with. I mean, he sees your husband for lunch now and then, but I don’t think the two of them talk seriously.”
“Remember when Donald and I were going through a tough time in our marriage and we went to see a marriage counselor and the counselor was chill and wise. He talked to us about how many sessions we would want and what we could hope to achieve. He talked about forgiveness and intimacy and how sex changes over the years. Then he asked Donald what he was thinking about, and Donald said, ‘Alaska.’ ”
Jane laughed so hard she got a pain in her side and had to sit on the bed. “Oh, Betsy. So much drama and very little of it mellow.”
“We carry on.” Betsy sang a line from a Tim McGraw song.
“We’re all living in a country-western song,” Jane said. “Okay, I’m going down to see how I can help Brick Three. Love you.”
“Love you,” Betsy answered.
Who could ever make it through life without a best friend, Jane wondered as she headed down the stairs.
She had to focus on the dinner party tonight. Brick Three’s father and Beatrice were coming for drinks and dinner. She’d just tied on her apron when she heard noises from the front hall.
“Hi, Mom!” Lydia called.
Before Jane could pat her hair into place, her first child entered the room, holding hands with a tall, severe-looking man with the thick white-blond hair and ice-blue eyes of an anime hero. He wore an exceptionally fine navy jacket and gray trousers.
Jane felt the urge to curtsy.
So, this was Jari. They all said hello, and Jane offered them coffee and Christmas cookies, but Lydia interrupted.
“We’re fine, Mom. I’m going to show him some family photos.”
Lydia led Jari out. Jane stood in the kitchen, trying to remember what she’d come in here for.