Susan Mallery - Almost Perfect

As Pia peeled out of her shorts and tank top, Liz tried not to be envious of the other woman’s long, lean legs. Height was required to look that good, she decided. While she wasn’t exactly vertically challenged, Pia topped her by a good three inches.

“This is nice,” Pia said, settling on the towel next to her and looking around. “It’s been years since I’ve hung out at the pool.”

“I’ve been here on and off since school was out,” Liz told her. “The hotdogs are good.” She glanced at Pia. “How are you doing?”

“Okay. I miss Crystal a lot, but work is keeping me busy, so that’s good. I bought a collar for Jake. Sort of as a way to let him know we’re committed to each other, now that Crystal is gone.”

Liz blinked at her, not sure what to say.

“I know he’s a cat,” Pia added with a smile. “We don’t actually have those conversations.”

“Good. Because I would have worried about you.”

“I was all set to put the collar on him when Dakota scared me off.” Pia paused. “She’s one of Ethan’s sisters.”

“I’ve met her a couple of times.”

“She said a friend of hers put a collar on a cat who’d never worn one and he about ripped his head off, scratching to remove it. He nicked a vein or something and there was blood everywhere. The last thing I need is to come home from work one day to a scene in a horror movie.”

Liz winced. “Are you sure Dakota wasn’t trying to be funny?”

“I don’t think so. Anyway, Jake won’t be getting his collar anytime soon.”

“Probably a good plan.” Liz thought about Ethan’s sister. “Doesn’t Dakota work at the camp?”

“She’s the head counselor, which doesn’t sound as important as it is. She has a PhD in childhood development. Raoul Moreno owns the camp. While it’s just a summer place now, he wants to expand it into a year-round facility. Dakota is helping him with that.”

Liz frowned. “Raoul Moreno. Why is that name familiar?”

Pia grinned. “Oh, honey, you haven’t seen him? He and I haven’t actually had a conversation, but I’ve spotted him around. Talk about yummy. Tall, dark and very pretty. In a macho, Latin kind of way. He played football for the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback. Smart and athletic. Does it get better than that?”

“Sounds like someone has a bit of a crush.”

“Only from afar. I’m not interested in having a relationship right now.”

“Why not?”

Pia hesitated. “I’m not very good at them. I want to be. I want to be nurturing and know fifteen different ways to stylishly cut a sandwich. But it’s not my thing. I like kids, in theory. I don’t know much about them. But getting serious and having one of my own? I don’t really think I’m the right person for that.”

There was something about the way she said the words. As if there was more, but she wasn’t comfortable telling the story. Liz didn’t want to press. Her friendship with Pia was still new. But she couldn’t help wondering what secrets her friend was keeping to herself.

“I don’t think skilled sandwich cutting guarantees great nurturing,” she said instead. “I only know two ways.”

“That’s one more than me. Besides, you’re a natural parent. I’ve seen you with Tyler. You two have a great relationship.”

“I’m a parent because I got pregnant,” Liz told her. “I was eighteen. Instinct or not, I was a kid and I know I made a bunch of mistakes. I spent the first year terrified I was going to drop him or something. I think loving is a whole lot more important than anything. Children need to know they’re wanted.”

“That’s true,” Pia said. “Not being wanted sucks.”

“I know.”

“It’s a nonissue,” Pia said flatly. “I’m between men and I intend to keep it that way. I have Jake the cat and that’s enough.”

“At least he won’t leave the toilet seat up.”

“Exactly. I heard from Crystal’s lawyer. She wants me to come in and talk in the next few weeks. She said there was no rush so I’m assuming there’s something in Crystal’s will about a formal transfer of ownership.”

“Be sure to tell the city,” Liz teased. “There’s paperwork with pet transfers.”

Pia lowered her sunglasses and glanced over them. “You’re not all that. You know that, right?”

Liz laughed.

Pia smiled at her. “I’m glad you came back.”

Liz groaned. “Don’t say that.”

“Still being harassed by the elderly?”

“They’re not all old.” Thinking about Fool’s Gold left her feeling confused. “There are some things about being here that I really like and some that make me insane.”

“Where does Ethan fall on the list?”

“He’s on both sides.”

“See? Men are a complication.”

“Tell me about it,” Liz grumbled. “I know he wants a relationship with Tyler and I encourage that. But then he goes and does something stupid like the injunction and I want to bitch slap him.”

“Can I watch? It would be the highlight of my week.”

Liz smiled faintly. “Probably not his.” She sighed. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“Because you don’t know how you feel about him? How could you? It’s been years, but you were in love with him once and now you have Tyler together. It’s got to be complicated. Trying to decide if you still love him.”

Liz felt the world tilt to the right. She grabbed on to her towel to keep from sliding away. Only nothing was really moving-it was all happening inside of her.

“I don’t love Ethan.”

Pia’s expression turned pitying. “Speaking as a professional, I can tell you that denial is a dangerous place to live. It really messes up any long-term planning. I’m not saying you love him, I’m saying you have to decide if you might.”

“No. I don’t accept that. He denied me in public-twice! He never tried to find me. I’m sure he hasn’t thought about me in years.”

“Interesting. So your feelings are dependent on his? I wouldn’t have thought you were that shallow.”

Liz sputtered. “Excuse me? That’s not what I’m saying.”

“It’s what you said.”

Liz sucked in a breath. “The point is I’m not interested in Ethan that way and he’s not interested in me. We have a child together. There are details that have to be worked out. Nothing more.”

Care about Ethan? Love Ethan? Not on this planet. She barely liked him. Okay, sure she wanted him, but that was different. Having a sexual connection was hardly significant.

“You’re wrong,” Liz added. “You couldn’t be more wrong.”

Pia picked up a bottle of water and opened it. “Isn’t there a line in Shakespeare about protesting too much? I can’t remember, but then, I’m not the literary one here.”

“No. You’re the crazy one.”

Instead of getting upset, Pia only smiled.

Liz glared at her, then crossed her arms over her chest and stared out at the pool. Love? That was just plain stupid. She didn’t love Ethan. She refused to do more than like him and that was just for her son’s sake. Anyone who implied otherwise needed some serious mental therapy.

TALK ABOUT A BAD IDEA, LIZ thought as she stood in front of the house where Ethan had grown up. Denise had called to invite her and the kids over for dinner. Sort of a family bonding time. Liz had wanted to say no, but hadn’t been able to think of an excuse. Ethan’s brothers were out of town, but the triplets would be there. Which meant five members of the Hendrix clan to face down.

Liz kept telling herself that Denise had been perfectly friendly the last time they’d talked. That everything would be fine. The problem was she couldn’t quite believe herself.

She clutched the flowers she held tightly, then led the way to the front door and rang the bell. The children clustered behind her, talking about the newly installed shower in the upstairs bath back home. For reasons Liz couldn’t understand, the glass blocks around the window had been a big hit.

The door opened.

“You made it,” Ethan said.

“Was there any doubt?” she asked, trying not to let her nervousness show.

“We were taking bets.”

“Great.”

“I’m kidding,” he corrected, stepping back. “Come on in.”

She walked inside. Tyler came after her and hugged his father, while Abby and Melissa huddled together. Denise appeared, looking relaxed and pretty in a matching light green crop pant and T-shirt set. There was a rhinestone pink flamingo filling the front of her shirt, and she had pink sparkles on her flip-flops.

“Come in, come in,” the older woman urged as she hugged first Tyler, then the girls. She took the flowers Liz offered. “Aren’t you sweet? They’re beautiful and I have just the right vase for them.” She frowned. “But it’s up high and I can’t reach it. Melissa, honey, can you get it for me?”

“Um, sure.” The teen followed her into the kitchen.

“I always wanted to be tall,” she could hear Denise saying. “You’re so pretty. I don’t even want to think about all the boys you have interested in you.”

“Me, either,” Liz agreed, allowing Ethan to ease her down the hallway toward the large kitchen. Abby and Tyler trailed after them.

The kitchen was light and bright, obviously the center of the home. The blue floor tiles warmed up the white cabinets and dark granite. There were stainless steel appliances and lots of storage space. It was the perfect kitchen for a large family.

Through the far door, Liz saw the table in the dining room had been set for nine and there was still plenty of room. Ethan’s family had always been large.

“We’re keeping it simple tonight,” Denise announced as she put the flowers in water. “Barbecued chicken and salads. I made a few fresh pies earlier today, so we have them for dessert. Now let’s go into the family room. It’s more comfortable there.”

She led the way into a big open space filled with comfortable-looking sofas and chairs, plenty of small tables scattered around a fireplace. A long bar stood against the far wall and a big TV was mounted on the opposite wall.

Ethan’s sisters were already in the family room. They stood as Liz and the kids entered, moving next to each other.

“Sweet,” Tyler said as he stared at them. “You’re really Dad’s sisters?”

“Uh-huh,” Montana said. “Which means we’re your aunts. Very cool. I know I’d like me for an aunt. I’m Montana. You’ve seen me at the library and I babysat once.” She pointed to her head. “Long hair. I’m the pretty one, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“You’re a lot of things,” Dakota muttered. “Hi. I’m Dakota, Tyler. This is a lot to take in, huh? Don’t worry. You’ll get used to there being three of us. This is Nevada.”

“Long hair, medium hair, short hair,” Tyler said. “That works.”

Liz put her hands on his shoulders. “Don’t get used to it too much. Women tend to change their hair.”

“We might,” Montana acknowledged. “Nevada just cut hers. She says this cut is more sensible.”

Nevada, the quietest of the triplets, only smiled. “I’m not out there looking for attention.”

“Or a man,” Montana added. “It wouldn’t kill you to date.”

“Like you go out every weekend?” Nevada quipped.

“I’m waiting for the right guy,” Montana explained.

“You mean the perfect guy,” Nevada said. “He doesn’t exist.”

“You’re all making me so proud,” Denise said with a shake of her head. She turned to Abby and Melissa. “You two are sisters. Do you fight?”

Abby grinned. “A lot. But it’s okay. We still love each other.”

“She can be a pain, but I’m used to it,” Melissa conceded.

“That’s encouraging.” Denise motioned to the sofas. “Everyone have a seat. Ethan, you’re in charge of the bar tonight. There’s lemonade for those not yet of drinking age. I made a very nice fruit sangria for the adults. Or we have the usual drink fixings.”

“Sangria sounds nice,” Liz said, taking a seat on one of the sofas. Both Melissa and Abby settled next to her. Tyler wandered over to the bar and sat on one of the stools. Everyone else found a place in the room.

The girls kept glancing at Ethan’s sisters. Finally Melissa asked, “What’s it like to be a triplet?”

“Easier now,” Dakota told her. “We have our own lives. We’re close but because we’re interested in different things, we don’t have the same friends, hang out at the same places.”

“Back in school, almost no one could tell us apart,” Montana said with a laugh. “We used that to our advantage.”

“Your names are nice.” Abby’s voice was low and shy.

Denise brought the girls each a lemonade. “And not my fault,” she stated. “Just remember that.”

“What do you mean?” Liz asked.

Denise sighed. “Giving birth to triplets isn’t easy and I had a very hard time recovering. The boys were scared and being very difficult for their grandparents. To make them feel better and give them a distraction, their father promised they could name the girls anything they wanted.”