by Robin Roseau
Cassidy laughed, and I decided everything was good.
* * * *
There is just a little more to tell in this chapter of my story, and it was over lunch with Mom on the following Tuesday. I received a text. I ignored it. Then another. And another. Finally, Cherlyn said, “Just see who it is.”
“That’s rude.”
“It’s fine.”
I pulled my phone out and looked at it, then said, “Elvira.”
“Let me see.”
“Not happening.”
“Read it to me then.”
“She wants me to sext her.”
“She does not.”
“And she wants me to send a photo of you.”
“I thought you never lied to me.”
“It’s not lying if you know I’m making it up as I go.” But I turned the phone around and clicked a photo. “You could show a little cleavage.”
“I’m not showing cleavage for a photo you’re forwarding to your girlfriend.”
“Chicken,” I said. Then I typed on the phone for a moment and put it away. “There. It’s on do not disturb now.”
“Good. I want to paint your bedroom. I want you and Maggie to help. I’d like it done before summer so it doesn’t smell like fresh paint when you move in.”
“What color?”
“The two of you may decide, but I have veto power.”
“We wouldn’t do something tacky.”
“And yet, if you pick something I hate, I’m buying pink.”
I laughed.
“And making you wear pigtails when you’re home.”
“Nice try,” I said.
And that was when I felt a presence at my back, and then a hand on my shoulder. Cherlyn’s gaze shifted upwards, and I looked over my shoulder to see who was touching me.
“C-“ I started to say, then clamped my mouth shut. “What are you doing here?”
“You must be Cherlyn,” Cassidy said. She held her hand out, the one that wasn’t resting on my shoulder. “I believe you call me Elvira.”
For her part, Cherlyn stared. Finally, Cassidy dropped her hand and then pulled another chair over, sitting down to my right. She took my hand and then said, “I hope I’m not intruding.” She waved to the waitress – it wasn’t even ours – and said, “An ice tea, please.”
“Of course,” said the woman.
Cassidy turned her attention back to Cherlyn. “It’s one thing to know,” she said. “But it’s something else to be faced with the reality.”
“You’re not as old as I envisioned.”
“We’re of a generation,” Cassidy said. She looked Cherlyn up and down briefly. “I’m not sure, but if we had known each other, you might have been my babysitter, not me yours.”
“Perhaps,” Cherlyn agreed.
“We’re of a generation,” Cassidy repeated. “I’m the woman who is dating your daughter. But I’m also the woman who has been taking care of your daughter, while her birth parents have been utter assholes. Are we going to have a problem with that, Mom?” I was sipping at my water to cover my own nerves, and I nearly choked when she used that word.
“Not about that,” Cherlyn said. “I’m not sure how I feel about that word you’re using so sarcastically.”
“Is it the word or the tone that disagrees with you?”
“Certainly the tone.”
Cassidy nodded. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“So you weren't intentionally tying me back to my daughter’s birth parents?”
“Absolutely not. I was stressing the word and perhaps suggesting that I recognize you have some degree of authority here.”
Cherlyn inclined her head. “Then I will not take umbrage at the tone.”
“Good. No offense was intended.”
“And no offense is taken,” Cherlyn agreed. She smiled, briefly. “Some degree of authority?”
“Well, not over me,” Cassidy said with a small laugh. “Why Elvira?”
“I’m not sure, exactly.”
“You were picking something that might goad Astrid into sharing my real name.”
“Or might goad you into giving permission.”
“That mission failed,” Cassidy said. “I rather enjoy the image.”
“It failed, hmm?” Cherlyn said. “You’re here, aren’t you? Are you sure the name isn’t part of the reason?”
“I suppose I’m not sure,” Cassidy replied. Her tea arrived, and she sipped at it for a minute then set it down. “Do you think I’m horrible?”
“No.” Then Cherlyn looked her up and down, and she was quite pointed about it. “You earn enough to take the role you’ve taken in this relationship.”
“Maybe I’ve saved for decades.”
“I imagine you have, but are we really going to play misdirection games with each other.”
“What is your point?” Cassidy asked.
“And you’re physically quite attractive.”
“Thank you.”
“From our brief acquaintance, I believe you’re probably rather intelligent.”
“I like to think so, and the people around me tend to treat me as if they agree with me.”
“Astrid has said, rather repeatedly and forcefully, that she enjoys your company and the way you treat her.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“So what is wrong with you?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why did you need a…” she leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Sugar baby? You could have anyone you wanted.”
“Ah. That last part isn’t literally true,” Cassidy replied. “Maybe I’m clutching at youth, and how many twenty-year-olds are going to date someone my age, regardless of how well I take care of myself?”
“I thought we weren’t playing games of misdirection.”
“I’m stalling while I decide whether I’m answering you.”
“Does Astrid know the answer?”
“No.”
“I would have thought it would have come up,” Cherlyn said.
“Actually, it hasn’t,” I said. “Frankly, I don’t particularly care. I’m just thankful for Cassidy and everything she means to me.” I squeezed her hand. “After making sure she’d treat me the way I want to be treated, the only concern I’ve ever had is that she’ll grow tired of me.”
“Which isn’t going to happen,” Cassidy said, squeezing back. “Although, if this were to continue indefinitely, you would begin to stand on your own feet, economically speaking.” But she kissed my hand and then turned to look into my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I told her, a little overwhelmed.
We smiled at each other, and then she slowly turned back to look at Cherlyn. “You look as if you don’t know what to say.”
“I’m trying to decide if I should retract my question,” Cherlyn said. “I’m not sure Tim would understand this.”
“Ah,” Cassidy said. “So I’m not invited to family dinner.”
“Are you offended?”
“As Astrid isn’t invited to my family dinners, it would be awfully hypocritical of me.”
“And so your family wouldn't understand.”
“Perhaps they would understand far too well,” Cassidy replied. “I’m not worried about that. I am worried, however, because some members of my family are excessively judgmental, and I don’t want Astrid to have to face that. And believe me, she’d have to face it.”
Cherlyn nodded. The two sipped from their drinks, almost in unison, still eying each other. Then Cassidy asked, “Do we have a problem, Mom?”
“You’re really going to call me that?”
“Are you really going to continue to call me Elvira?”
“Until I’m given another name, yes, I am.”
“Do we have a problem?”
Cherlyn studied Cassidy for a good, long time, occasionally glancing at me. “No,” she said finally. “No problem.”
“Good,” Cassidy replied. “I’ve
taken a few liberties.”
“Oh?”
“I ordered a bedframe. They’ll be contacting you to arrange delivery. They’ll bring the box spring and mattress at the same time. Astrid will have the bedding.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Which is why I called it ‘taking a few liberties’,” Cassidy replied. “It’s a sleigh bed, similar to the one last summer.”
“I never saw it, but I’ve seen the style.”
“It will fit the space?”
“Not if it’s a king.”
“Queen.”
“Then yes, it will fit. The previous owners had it set up with a queen. Thank you.”
“I did it for Astrid.”
“And maybe because even when she’s not in your bed, you like to think of her as being in your bed?”
“Ah. Maybe. If so, it wasn’t a conscious thought. Is that a problem?”
“Not with me as long as it’s not with her,” Cherlyn said.
Cassidy drank from her tea then kissed my hand once more, then caressed my cheek. “It’s the end of the year. Finals are coming.”
“And papers.”
“I want to see as much of you as possible, but we’ll have the summer, so if I need to be patient, I understand.”
“Dinner tomorrow, but then I have to study. You can’t take me home.”
“Could I call tonight before bed?”
“I’d like that. Ten?”
“A little before,” she said. “I have an early meeting tomorrow.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“Good.” She stood, kissed the top of my head, and then turned back to look at Cherlyn. Then I realized she had a business card ready. She held it in her hand, glancing at it pointedly. Cherlyn’s gaze focused on it like a laser.
“If I give this to you, am I going to regret it?”
“You really don’t like the name I picked,” Cherlyn said.
“I’m amused as hell by it,” Cassidy replied. “The bed is one form of a peace offering. Coming here was another. This is a third. But call me Elvira if you want to.” She began to pocket the card.
I recognized a game of poker when I saw one.
“What do you want to give that to me?” Cherlyn asked.
“Will I regret it?”
Cherlyn pursed her lips, just for a moment. “No.”
“Everything we’re doing is entirely legal, but you could still cause problems for me.”
“I’m fairly certain I’d lose a daughter if I tried.”
“Damned right you would,” I said.
“Possibly two,” Cherlyn said. Then she looked up at Cassidy. “Do you believe I’m going to risk that? Our relationship is still fragile, and I have little doubt who she’d pick if either of us tried to force a choice from her.”
“If the only reason you won’t try to hurt me is because Astrid would get mad, I’m not giving you my card.”
“This entire relationship is weird,” Cherlyn replied. “But ultimately, I believe you’ve been very good for her. I also am told I should thank you.”
“For?”
“For Maggie’s change of heart towards me.”
“I didn’t tell her anything she didn’t already know.”
“But she listened when you said it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Cassidy said. She set her business card on the table and pushed it across the table. “Call me Cassidy if you want. Stick with Elvira, if it amuses you.” She took her hand from the card. “There’s something I want from you.”
“Oh?” Cherlyn didn’t pick up the card, not yet.
“If you have questions about me, now you have my number. Call me. Don’t hound either Maggie nor Astrid.”
“I’m not allowed to ask them about you?”
“Asking is one thing. Hounding is far more than asking.”
Cherlyn looked up at Cassidy for a moment and then nodded. “Agreed.”
“It was a pleasure,” Cassidy said. “Enjoy your lunch.”
And then she turned and walked away, both of us watching her. Finally I turned around in time to see Cherlyn putting the business card into her purse.
“Were you afraid I was going to snatch that up before you could?”
“Yes.”
“That was Elvira,” I said.
“She’s something. I can see why you like her.”
“She was pretty…”
“Stern?”
“Yeah. A couple of mountain lions, eying each other carefully.”
“I don’t mind that image at all,” Cherlyn said. She sipped at her water. “Okay. That was intense. Is she always like that?”
“No, but sometimes.”
She nodded. “I’m going to tell her myself, but thank her for me.”
“I will.”
* * * *
Summer arrived. I moved into Cassidy’s. We spent two days wearing each other out, and then the next evening, we had Maggie and Cherlyn over for dinner. I quietly talked to Maggie and said, “Don’t mention tickle benches.”
“Do I look insane to you?”
“Trouble, I say,” I replied. “You are trouble on two feet.”
“Right. My middle name. I can’t believe they met, and I wasn’t even there.”
“It was interesting.”
“I bet.”
Cassidy and I cooked, a simple meal, well-prepared. That was her mantra, after all. Then the doorbell announced our guests. I ran for the door before Cassidy could see to it, but she followed after me, so we met them together in her foyer.
Cherlyn pulled me into a hug and kiss, but Maggie headed straight for Cassidy for her own hug – no kiss.
“It’s good to see you, Maggie,” Cassidy said. “Welcome to our home, Mom.”
Maggie lost it. “She’s even got you calling her that!” She laughed, loudly.
“I had nothing to do with that,” Cherlyn said. “I’m still trying to decide if Elvira is being sarcastic.”
“You promised to behave,” Maggie complained.
“I’m not the one who started it.”
“My apologies,” Cassidy said. “I take it you would prefer I not call you that.”
The two squared off. Maggie looked at me and asked if I had popcorn ready. I pointed a finger at her then made a zipping lips gesture.
Finally, Cherlyn said, “You have a lovely home, and it looks like a nice neighborhood.”
Maggie laughed again. “She didn’t answer you, Cassidy.”
“I did notice that,” Cassidy said. “I have no idea what that means. Do you?”
“Not a clue,” Maggie replied. “But I think it means we really need some popcorn, Astrid.
“I think it means she hasn’t decided how she feels about it,” I said. “But I bet she continues to call you Elvira while she figures it out.”
We all turned to Cherlyn. She smiled and asked, “Do I get a tour?”
Well, well.
“Astrid,” Cassidy said. “Go stir something.”
“Right. Come on, Maggie. Let’s go stir something.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the kitchen. She chortled the entire way. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Now that we seem to have a happy ending, I’m amused as hell,” she said. She grinned. “You don’t get to use that word here, do you?”
“No.”
“Hell, hell, hell,” Maggie said. “Say it with me.”
“You promised to behave, too.”
“No, I didn’t,” she said. “You love me when I act up.”
“Right,” I said. “How is the stable?”
“Hard work, and I love it,” she said. “Want to feel my muscles?”
“Maybe another time,” I replied. I eyed her then turned to the stove, checking everything and giving a few things a gentle stir.
Maggie stepped over, and her tone sobered. “I wasn’t expecting things to turn quite in this direction.”
“Neither was I,” I said. “Do you think they’re
at each other’s throats?”
“No. I think they’re working on their relationship is all. They’re both accustomed to being top dog.” Then she laughed again. “But I’d pay my summer wages to get Mom into that bench.”
I snorted. “Don’t mention that again.”
“They’re upstairs,” she said. “I can hear footsteps. Mom wore her power boots. I don’t think Cassidy is impressed. What’s for dinner?”
“Brat poison.”
“Then you’re in trouble.”
“Nuh-uh,” I said. “I’m a sweet, angelic angel.”
“That seems a little redundant, and blatantly false at the same time. I asked what’s for dinner, and I got a smart ass remark. That is very un-angelic.”
“Chicken with a light roux sauce, served with rice.”
“Is there enough?”
“There’s plenty,” I said.
“Because I’m starving. You know, I think I eat twice as much working at the stable than I do otherwise, but I’m not getting fat.”
“You’re not fat.”
“I was.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Maybe a lot,” she said. She looked down at herself. “I’ll never be cute again.” I didn’t say anything to that. “Astrid?”
I turned to her.
“If I ask a question will you answer me honestly?”
“I’ll try.”
“Am I attractive now? You know. To women?”
“Maggie,” I said gently. “Yes.”
“I want the truth. I’m not your type, but some women might want me.”
“Did you just come out to me, Magster?”
“I’m just asking.”
I hadn’t really thought about it. You know how you get an image of what someone is like, and then you don’t really look at them again? Well, I had noticed Maggie’s changes last fall, but I hadn’t really been paying attention. Now I did. I stepped closer then walked around her, really looking. I came to a stop, looking up at her.
“Honesty,” she repeated.
“Don’t ask if you don’t want the truth,” I told her. “Just my opinion.”
“The bare truth,” she said.
“All right. You are not a classic beauty. You already know that. You don’t have a leading lady figure. Some people look for that, not because that’s necessarily any better, but because that’s what society tells us to expect.”
“Stop waffling.”
“I’m not waffling, but I am reminding you of something. Dressed like this, you’re a 5, in my opinion. Dressed differently, a 6. I don’t know if you’d make a 7. I have never seen you try. I don’t know any tens.”