Page 83 of The Love Hoax

Like seconds before a bride walks down the aisle.

“Teachable moment?” Daniel says without an ounce of sarcasm.

It’s surreal hearing my son use the same phrase I espouse when they mess something up. I laugh through my tears. “Yep, very big teachable moment.”

I take the phone from Daniel, tapStarton the directions, and hand it back to him. “Come on, boys, let’s go home.”

Chapter Sixty

Evie

Isit on my bed, my laptop propped up in front of me, a Haagen-Dazs wrapper beside it. An empty bag of Doritos lies on the floor, a few wayward chips caught in the sheets.

I try to focus on the CSI episode. I already need to rewind twice, only realizing I’ve missed something vital when another body shows up. Gone are the sitcoms. I’ve moved onto shows that match my mood.

Robust snowflakes swirl past the streetlamp outside my window before falling to the ground and covering New York in a blanket of white. It’s beautiful and peaceful. At least until the pristine snow is spewed upon by car exhaust and turns black and grimy.

I’m a true romantic.

I wonder if it’s snowing in Yosemite.

Stop thinking about him.

Ten days have passed since I returned home, dejected and embarrassed. When I’m not stuffing my cheeks with candy, I’msending my revamped resume to law firms around the city. I’ve only scored one interview and it isn’t a great fit. Seems age discrimination is a thing.

Maybe I’ll go on welfare, gain fifty pounds, and move into a trailer park. Do they even have trailer parks in Manhattan?

I hear the door to the apartment open and close.

“I’m home!” Jeffrey calls out.

“How’d it go?” I shout, relieved he’s finally home from his date. I can now fall asleep without worrying.

Jeffrey stands in my doorway, looking tired and a bit frustrated. “Pretty awful. She spent the entire date talking about the mating habits of the praying mantis.”

I recall the woman in question is studying to be a zoologist. Still, I’m curious. “Praying mantis?”

“Believe me, Mom, you don’t want to know the details.”

Apparently, boring outweighs beautiful and smart. “Sorry, honey. I’m sure you’ll meet someone special soon enough.”

He runs a hand through his thick brown hair. He’s a handsome young man, a ‘lady killer,’ as my friends call him. Just like his father had been at that age.

He’s also in desperate need of a haircut but I don’t say so. After our trip back from Colorado, Jeffrey asked if he could stay with me while he looked for a part-time job. He has one semester left and will finish it locally. I’m loving every minute of having my baby back home.

I reach for my phone and set the alarm clock to wake me up early. I want to prepare Jeffrey’s favorite breakfast before his first class. Banana chocolate chip pancakes.

Jeffrey hasn’t budged.

“You okay?” I ask, sensing his discomfiture. Though my boys are grown, I’m still finely tuned into their moods.

“Yup, just wondering if you heard anything from him.”

Himmeans Adam. Jeffrey has brought him up before.

Ishake my head.

He frowns. It’s almost like he wants me and Adam to get together. But that ship has sailed.