The weight of irony in her mother’s words sat like an angry gorilla beating its fists on Lexi’s chest. She shook off the feeling, the pressure. Lexi rolled her eyes as she turned and headed for the kitchen. “Don’t mom me.”
“That’s my job. You’re almost thirty. You shouldn’t live at home.” Her mom followed behind.
“I’m twenty-five.” She couldn’t argue with the rest. She shouldn’t live at home and if she thought her mother would pay her bills, feed herself, and remember to pull herself out of bed on the bad days, Lexi would move out. Though Gwen’s depression wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been during the first year following her husband’s death, Lexi still did most of the things that were necessary to keep them afloat.
“Almost twenty-six. I was married to your dad by that age. For four years,” Gwen reminded her, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.
Lexi rooted through the fridge, found some eggs, ham, and cheese. Omelets would do. Not pastrami, but she’d settled for less.
“Make you a deal: You get out more, I’ll get out more. Besides, times have changed. People don’t get married so young anymore.”
Though it wasn’t stopping her former classmates apparently. Lena couldn’t have been much older than any of them and she was making partner in her law firm.
Maybe Lena didn’t have everything fall apart.Or maybe others were better than her at rebuilding. “I placed a grocery order. Why don’t you come with me to pick it up tomorrow? Stop for a piece of pie.”
Her mom shook her head. “I’m reading tomorrow. I wouldn’t mind a nice walk, though. By the river, maybe?”
Lexi snorted. “You’re reading every day, Mom.” She only picked activities that kept her in Lexi’s company or her own. “Come on. Just the store then, for the ride. Twenty minutes round trip. Didn’t you just say it’s healthy to get out of the house?” She grabbed a pan from one of the lower cupboards, set it on the stove.
When her phone buzzed in her pocket, she ignored it in the hope of Gwen actually changing her stance on getting out more.
“Where are you going tonight?” Gwen asked.Small steps.
“I ran into a couple girls from high school. Do you remember Jackie?”
Lexi grabbed a bowl, a whisk, and some spices. Her mom’s brows were furrowed when she set the items on the countertop across from her. “Here. You do this part while I cut the ham.”
“She was another runner, right? Not like you but she did track with you. She used to come over after school?” Gwen cracked the eggs, added some spices, and picked up the whisk, moving it around the bowl. If there was one thing her mom had a firm grasp on, it was the past.
“Right. Well, she’s getting married.” Lexi started chopping the ham across from her mom. Gwen was pretty absentminded about eating but once Lexi got things going, she chipped in. “She’s having an engagement party.”
“That’s nice that you’re going. You should bring a gift.”
Lexi stopped chopping, irritated by the idea that not only had she been roped into the party but she might have to spend money she didn’t have. She hadn’t thought of that.
Gwen watched her carefully. “Just something small, Lexi. Doesn’t have to be expensive.” She pushed the whisked eggs toward Lexi. When she wasn’t lost in memories or busy with her miniatures, Gwen was pretty astute at reading people’s moods. Too bad she hadn’t been great at recognizing her husband’s money problems. He’d hid it well, and Gwen had been happy to defer to him.
Washing her hands at the sink then drying them, she set a hand on Lexi’s shoulder as she walked by. “I’m glad you’re getting out more, sweetie. Call me when it’s ready.”
Lexi closed her eyes, pressing her palms flat to the cool counter. She counted to ten, breathing in and out slowly.Focus on what you can control.She set about making a meal that she’d eat alone. She’d leave her mom’s in the fridge because Gwen would fall back into the scene she was creating and not want to stop again.
Doing her best not to let the events of the day take her legs out from under her, Lexi grabbed a soda and her freshly made omelet, taking the seat her mother had vacated.
Since she was alone, again, she pulled her phone out of her pocket as she took a huge bite of her eggs. New texts were on her screen, making Lexi smile her first real smile in hours.
The Man You Share Everything With
She hadn’t checked his entry in her phone. Definitely funny. Lexi swiped the text open.
My older sister says we need to bring a gift.
Lexi
Who is this?
Her lips twitched with amusement as she imagined his response.
The Man You Share Everything With
