Life and Other Inconveniences(74)

“Emma,” Saanvi said, “your grandmother said you’re a therapist. I consult at Rose Hill, and we are looking for a family counselor, as ours went out on paternity leave. Part-time, but perhaps you would consider looking into it?”

Genevieve pulled her head in, disapproval radiating from her.

Whatever. “I did an internship with children and family systems at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago,” I said. “I’d have to think about it, since obviously I have a personal relationship with the place. But thank you for the tip.”

“Wonderful,” Saanvi said warmly. “I am not on the search committee, but I’ll suggest your name to the director, whom I assume you already know.”

“Of course,” I said. “I visit as often as I can.”

“Your sister is lovely,” she said, smiling. “I’m afraid we must be off, Genevieve, but as always, it is so wonderful to see you. Thank you for your hospitality. You must come for dinner this week. You too, Emma, and your charming daughter. No excuses this time, Genevieve. We are all busy women but we must eat.”

Oh, I liked her.

She called up the front staircase, and a second later, her son came gallumphing down, all legs and arms. Soon after, Riley did as well, Tess holding her hand. Riley looked away when I gave her the is he nice? look, but her cheeks turned pink.

So he was nice. Thank God.

Miller followed behind them.

Cocktail hour was breaking up; the other guests whose names I hadn’t quite gotten were saying goodbye, and Pop gave me a chin jerk and motioned that he’d call me. The Talwar family left after securing a dinner date, Saanvi reminding me to call Rose Hill. Jason left, too, getting a frosty nod from Genevieve, who then swept into another room, disapproval thick as oatmeal.

Interesting that Genevieve hadn’t mentioned the position to me. I was sure she knew about it. She was on the board of directors.

“Time to go home, Tess,” Miller said, reaching for her.

Tess jerked back, and almost fell, but Riley caught her just in time.

“No! No, Daddy, no!” she screamed, wrapping herself around Riley. “I hate you! I want to stay! No!”

“Enough, Tess,” he said firmly, prying her arms off my child’s legs.

“Time to go with Daddy,” Riley said.

“No! No! No!”

After a minute, Miller and I got Tess off of Riley. “Bye, Tessie,” my daughter said. “Don’t be sad! I’ll come play with you again.”

Tess’s screams were reaching 911 level. “I’m just gonna leave,” Miller said over the noise. “Please tell Genevieve thank you for me.”

“Take care,” I said as he tried to keep Tess from kicking and biting him. I closed the door after them, her screams fading as he walked across the lawn.

“Yikes,” Riley said. “My ears are ringing.”

“Me too. Thank you for never being like that.”

“Aw, she’s sweet. I mean, until now, she was sweet. Well, sweet’s not the right word. But she’s so funny, Mommy. She loved hiding on Rav and me, and we had to pretend not to see her little legs sticking out from under the pillows. I tried to brush her hair a little, but we didn’t get too far.”

“And how’s Rav? He seemed nice.”

“He is. Don’t get that look. He’s nice, and he’s a dork who plays video games and gets straight As.”

“Sounds hauntingly familiar.”

“He might help me on a project, if that’s okay.”

“What project is that?”

“Um, a summer thing.”

“For school?”

“Kind of. Extra credit.”

Teenagers needed their privacy, I knew. Still, I hated when there was stuff I didn’t know. “So long as I know where you are at all times, there’s at least one adult in the house with you, doors open, no bedrooms, phone check-ins every half hour.”

“And of course we’ll both wear our chastity belts.” She pulled a mock-serious face. “You sound slightly suspicious, Mother.”

“It’s the checklist they gave us in Mommy School.”

“He just seems nice, that’s all. It’s refreshing to talk to someone born in this millennium.”

“Oh, burn,” I said.

“It’s so cute when you try to be cool, Mom. That word is really passé, by the way. I’m going to my room to read, okay? I’ll say good night now.” She hugged me, and I breathed in her sunshiny smell, my heart vibrating with love and relief. The dark cloud that had shrouded her this past winter and spring seemed to have truly evaporated.

And Genevieve was—for now—surprisingly good for her. I watched as Riley went into the living room, where Donelle and Gigi sat, fresh drinks in their hands. They had the livers of Ernest Hemingway. Well. Genevieve did. I swear they taught cocktail consumption at Foxcroft. Donelle was a bit looser, a bit more giggly.

Riley kissed them both on the cheek and said a few words, and they both gazed after her as she left the room.

“Don’t skulk there in the hall spying, Emma,” Genevieve said. “Join us.”

I did, curling up on the velvet armchair. “You have nice friends,” I said.

“Don’t sound so surprised. And please get your feet off the chair.”