Page 75 of Seven Summer Weekends
Pru wasn’t having it.
“That’s all fine and good, but unless she’s going to relocate to somewhere like Portland, I don’t see her supporting herself, here, as a potter!”
“She’s not a potter, she’s a sculptor,” Lisa said sharply, adding emphasis to the word.
“A ceramicist?” Kizzy corrected.
“I’m not any of those things,” Addison protested. “Yes, Kizzy is right that I loved it, but it’s not a job. At least not yet.”
“Well, it will never be if you go back to advertising full-time and let them suck the life out of you again. What do you think about asking for more time to explore the other option? It’s such an incredible opportunity to be in a CC Ng show,” Lisa fired back. “Or maybe wait for the next offer?” She turned to Kizzy for backup. “She got the first job you sent her on. Can we assume there will be others?”
“Well, not as prestigious maybe, but it’s safe to say—yes.”
“That’s a good idea. And selling the house will let you afford to try out sculpting!” Lisa added. It was obvious where her head was.
“Not so fast. Why are you so quick to jump on the first offer for the house?” Pru asked.
“I think that has something to do with the guy next door,” Kizzy quietly interjected.
“I agree with number three on your list—not looking back in Bad Ben Morse’s direction, but I want to hear all the terms forthe job and the house.” Pru had always been the most logical of the four of them.
“That’s fair, “Addison agreed.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with number three,” Kizzy insisted.
She was so obviously love spoiled right now, even while going through a divorce. Addison questioned her reliability on the issue.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Kizzy,” she said, “but I’m not sure you’re that levelheaded about matters of the heart right now.”
“I hear you, but I’m not basing my opinion on my own thing. I’m basing it on yours. Before Ben walked out that morning, what were you feeling for him?”
The question took Addison aback when she was leaning toward moving forward. She looked at Lisa for a therapist’s support.
“Just answer her. You shouldn’t sweep your feelings under the rug.”
“I may have been falling for him,” Addison began. They all shot her a look of doubt. It was impossible to deny that she loved him. “OK, I fell for him. Hard. It’s not easy to explain, because his whole up-and-down vibe is the opposite of anything I usually go for.”
Lisa mixed a cough with the word “boring,” and everyone but Addison laughed.
“The Ben Morse who came to Montauk was already completely in love with you. I’m sure of it,” said Kizzy. “His face, when he saw that I was with Terrence, was indescribable. I’ve never seen someone so happy to see me in all my life.”
“Wow, you described it pretty well,” Lisa said, with a hint of longing.
“I thought he was kind of jerky, honestly. Not a fan,” Pru admitted.
“He’s not a jerk. He’s amazing!” Addison jumped in, realizing she had switched right into defending him.
“I’m not talking about sex. I’ve read his books and I doubt someone could make up all of that without a good amount of carnal knowledge,” said Pru. “But being good in bed does not make a good mate.”
Addison surprised herself, becoming over-the-top protective. “He’s good out of bed too. And he’s funny, and caring, and I could tell from the way he treats his dog that he would make a great dad. He’s scared, is all. I scared him. He lost his wife!”
She knocked back the rest of her drink in one huffy gulp.
“Look at that, you answered your own question. The first guy we have ever heard you passionate about, and you ran away as soon as it got hard,” Lisa said.
“I didn’t run away. He ran away.”
“Well, if you care about him so much, maybe you should be waiting for him when he returns,” said Kizzy.
